Sylvia Robinson dies

The woman some call the mother of hip-hop has died. Sylvia Robinson, who had a hit as a singer-songwriter with the sexually charged "Pillow Talk" but was later known as one of hip-hop's early founders for releasing "Rapper's Delight," rap's first mainstream success, died Thursday, according to publicist Greg Walker.

Robinson, born Sylvia Vanterpool, died of congestive heart failure at the New Jersey Institute of Neuroscience in Secaucus.

Along with her late husband, Joe, Robinson was the owner of Sugar Hill Records. In 1979, the label released the song that would become widely known as rap's first hit, "Rapper's Delight," by the Sugar Hill Gang.

After gathering three rappers — Master Gee, Wonder Mike and Big Bank Hank — to record the 15-minute song, the party groove became a sensation. The Sugar Hill Gang faded into rap history, with no other songs that possessed the flourish of its original hit.

Robinson's roots in the record industry were deep. She was a blues singer in the 1950s, recording for Columbia and Savoy Records on songs like "Chocolate Candy Blues." Later, she was part of the duo Mickey & Sylvia.

Sylvia Robinson, a singer, songwriter and record producer who formed the pioneering hip-hop group Sugarhill Gang and made the first commercially successful rap recording with them, died on Thursday in Edison, N.J. Ms. Robinson lived in Englewood, N.J.

Some called her “the mother of hip-hop.”

“It was Sylvia’s genius that made ‘Rapper’s Delight’ a hit.”

The song was “Rapper’s Delight,” and the Robinsons chartered a new label, Sugar Hill Records, to produce it. Ms. Robinson’s survivors include her sons Joey, Leland and Rhondo and 10 grandchildren. Mr. Robinson died of cancer in 2000.
Along with her late husband, Joe, Robinson was the owner of Sugar Hill Records. In 1979, it released the song that would become widely known as rap's first hit, "Rapper's Delight," by the Sugar Hill Gang.

The Sugar Hill Gang faded into rap history, not recording other songs that would match its original flourish. Robinson's roots in the record industry were deep. She was a blues singer in the 1950s, recording for Columbia and Savoy Records on songs like "Chocolate Candy Blues."