The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop and Fu… Read Full Bio ↴The Sugarhill Gang:
The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop and Funk group, known mostly for their biggest hit, "Rapper's Delight", the first hip hop single to become a Top 40 hit. The track uses the bass line from "Good Times" by Chic as its foundation. The members, all from New York City, called themselves Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank, and Master Gee. They were assembled into a group by producer Sylvia Robinson who also founded Sugar Hill Records along with her husband record mogul Joe Robinson.
This pioneering group inaugurated the history of recorded hip-hop with their single "Rapper's Delight", a multi-platinum seller and radio hit in 1979. The group was created to profit on a supposed novelty item. New Jersey-based producer and indie label owner Sylvia Robinson had become aware of the massive hip-hop block parties occurring around the New York City area during the late '70s, so she gathered three locals form her town of Englewood, NJ: Guy O'Brien, who was the original Master Gee; another local rapper, Michael Wright, who called himself Wonder Mike, and non-rapper Big Bank Hank. The vocalists were then teamed up with three session musicians, including future Living Color bassist Doug Wimbish. Together, they recorded all the Sugarhill Gang’s work.
"Rapper's Delight" borrowed the main bassline from Chic's "Good Times" and became a worldwide hit, reportedly selling more than eight million copies. For some time, the trio developed a poor reputation within certain social circles: The fact that they were essentially amateurs assembled by Sugar Hill Records upset many hip-hop pioneers who had been paying dues in the street party circuit. According to many, Big Bank Hank’s entire verse on “Delight” was “borrowed” from a notebook of rhymes written by Grandmaster Caz, a local rapper with the Cold Crush Brothers, for whom Hank was the manager. Allegedly, this was done on the promise that he’d help Cold Crush get a record deal. It never happened, and the Cold Crush Brothers were relegated to being a cult phenomenon. Also, Chic’s Nile Rodgers filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement over “Delight” (the first such of legal battles for rap, with many to come); it was settled out of court, leaving Rodgers with a large cut of all future royalties. Despite the embarrassment, the group endured.
Grandmaster Flash:
Joseph Saddler (born January 1, 1958 in Bridgetown, Barbados), better known as Grandmaster Flash, is a hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, becoming the first hip hop artists so honored.[1]
Flash played illegal parties and also worked with rappers such as Kurtis Blow and Lovebug Starski. He formed his own group in the late 1970s, after promptings from Ray Chandler. The initial members were Cowboy (Keith Wiggins), Melle Mel (Melvin Glover) and Kid(d) Creole (Nathaniel Glover) making Grandmaster Flash & the 3 MCs (with Melle Mel being the first rapper ever to call himself an "MC"). Two other rappers briefly joined, but they were replaced more permanently by Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams, previously in the Funky Four) and Scorpio (Eddie Morris, also used the name Mr. Ness) to create Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Soon gaining recognition for their skillful raps, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five pioneered MCing, freestyle battles, and invented some of the staple phrases in MCing. The group performed at Disco Fever in the Bronx beginning in 1978. Cowboy created the term "Hip Hop" while teasing a friend who had just joined the US Army, by scat singing the words "hip/hop/hip/hop" in a way that mimicked the rhythmic cadence of marching soldiers.[citation needed]
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five were signed to Bobby Robinson's Enjoy Records and in 1979 released the classic "Superrappin'". They later signed to Sugar Hill Records and released numerous singles, gaining a gold disc for "Freedom," and also toured. The classic "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel," released in 1981 was the best display of Flash's skills (combining elements of Blondie's "Rapture," Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band's "Apache," Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" and Chic's "Good Times." It also marked the first time that record scratching had been actually recorded on a record. The group's most significant hit was "The Message" (1982), which was produced by in-house Sugar Hill producer Clifton "Jiggs" Chase and featured session musician Duke Bootee. Other than Melle Mel, no members of the group actually appear on the record. It went platinum in less than a month. In 1983, Flash appeared in the movie "Wild Style" and sued Sugar Hill over the non-payment of royalties. The group split between Flash and Mel before disintegrating entirely. Flash, Kid Creole and Rahiem signed to Elektra Records and continued on as simply "Grandmaster Flash" while Mel and the others continued on as "Grandmaster Melle Mel & the Furious Five."[3] In 1984, Mel released a 12" single, "White Lines," which stole without crediting the bassline to Liquid Liquid's "Cavern" and went on to become one of his signature songs. Although frequently credited on the records, Flash doesn't actually appear on "The Message", "White Lines", or many of the other Furious Five songs (if you don't hear scratching on a track, then Flash isn't on it).[citation needed] Mel notably appeared on Chaka Khan's I Feel for You (winning the first of his three Grammy awards) and both in the movie and on the soundtrack of the film "Beat Street". Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five reformed in 1987 for a charity concert, and in 1988 to release an album that did poorly. Melle Mel closed out the decade by winning two more Grammy awards for his work with Quincy Jones. There was another reunion, of a kind, in 1994, although Cowboy died in 1989.
Grandmaster Flash has a clothing line, "G.Phyre", and has signed a deal with Doubleday who will publish his memoirs. He hosts a show on Sirius Satellite Radio & he recently won the BET I Am A Hip Hop Icon award.
Melle Mel (now known as Mele Mel) has a clothing line with Sedgwick & Cedar. He released the childrens book/cd/dvd "Portal In The Park" in November 2006 and he released his first ever solo album "Muscles" on January 30, 2007. The first single & music video is "M3 (The New Message)", released on the 25th anniversary of "The Message".
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was the first hip-hop/rap group ever inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 12, 2007 by Jay-Z.
Step Off
The Sugarhill Gang vs. Grandmaster Flash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Step, step, step, step, step off
Because you got to get lost because you know you're soft, uh-huh.
Step, step, step, step, step off
Because you got to get lost because you know you're soft, uh-huh-huh.
Step, step, step, step, step off
Because you got to get lost because you know you're soft.
When I realised I was the king of the rhyme.
I got on the microphone and what do you see?
Huh, the rest was my legacy.
I was born to be the king of the be-bop swing,
To have stallions and medallions, big diamond rings.
I own a castle and a yacht, two million in gold
Because rap is the game that I control.
I'm like Shakespeare, I'm a pioneer
Because I made rap somethin' people wanted to hear.
See, before my reign, it was the same old same,
"To the ba with the ba", that street-talk game,
So if you ever, let me make this clear,
If you ever think that we're steppin' out of here,
You ever think you're gettin' up, down, around or in,
Huh huh, you better think again, my friend
Because the door is closed and we're in town
And the only place you can go is down!
Step, step, step, step, step off.)
Well, I'm Kieth Cowboy and you're my cow,
So what you MC's gonna do now?
It's gonna be a slaughter and here's my plan.
You won't even get bread and butter, my man.
Gonna put you on the racks like a pair of slacks
With another wack rapper tied to your back,
And if you want to hang yourself out to dry,
It's the beautiful round-up in the sky.
I'm the carry-out kid when my trigger's in cock.
I'll be carryin' out bodies stiff as a rock.
Carryin' out a million dollars in my pockets and hand,
But I carry out orders from no man,
'Cause anything you want to do, I already did.
You used to see me rock the house when you was a kid,
But in my MC school, my class is packed
And tricks are for kids so I left your ass back.
The bow-legged brother, there'll never be another.
I buy a mansion for my mother.
The 24/7, the cool-Aid smile,
Say, "Hey, crack a lemon and look at my pile."
[Chorus]
Come on.
Now you know just who I am
And what I do because I'm in demand,
Because I look good.
Do you hear, my man?
And if you can't take that, you chump your old hand.
One girl at a time get an MC
So how could you think that you rank with me?
If you only did your homework, you would surely find
When Scorp' get girls, they all be fine
And the only girl that you could take of mine
Is the one that I left way behind
And plus you're cheap, you're petty, your music is trash.
You need to go to the bank and get some cash
Because talkin' don't pay, you're driftin' away.
When I see you on the stage, I'm-a blow you away.
You're right.
There is no diff between me and you
Except I look good and you look through.
Take that.
Step, step, step, step, step off
Because you got to get lost because you know you're soft.
Little pieces of a dream is all you mean
Since the day you stepped into the MC scene.
Bitin' your moves, takin' fake awards,
Sayin' everyone else is perpetratin' the frauds,
But you're nothin' but a clone of a flesh and bone.
Now you're tryin' to play gone on the microphone,
But I tell you 'bout a night and you know I'm right
When you listen to us rockin' to the broad daylight,
And then you looked in the sky and you started to cuss,
But then you prayed to God that you could be like us.
Then God was great and God was true
And he tried to show you how to be like you,
But you still didn't get where you wanted to go
When you gathered in a group and got your own show
'Cause without the source, the force won't survive.
For eternity, the source is alive.
You forgot the words of your creator
And now he's made you a perpetrator,
Forever in a world of you and a girl,
A few grams in a pipe to make your head swirl.
You must spread the words of the master teacher.
You die by the rhymes and the streets'll eat you.
The words are a gift we will never flaunt.
That's why we're gonna get everything we want.
Just like a shadow in the night on a sight unseen
And I'm the bonafide vocal master supreme,
And I'm here to run it down for the ladies and gents
For my rhymes make dollars plus they make sense,
See, you're down with Cowboy, you'll be rockin' the show.
With King Lu, Tommy Gun and, huh, Scorpio,
Kamikaze Clayton Savage and Easy Mike
And goin' down in the books is the king of the night,
So if you're ever in a battle, I'm-a make you my slave
And I'm-a give you a shovel so you can dig a grave.
Leave behind all your fame and wealth
So you can say one rhyme, then bury yourself, huh.
I may sound possessed, but you know I'm blessed
With the will to make sense of all this mess.
I'm the power of the sun that shines in the sky
And I'm the only MC that'll never die,
So just rock and don't stop 'til you hit the top,
But when you see Mellie Mel, you're gonna have to drop.
And not only that,
Step, step, step, step, step off
Because you got to get lost because you know you're soft, uh-huh.
Step, step, step, step, step off
Because you got to get lost because you know you're soft, uh-huh-huh.
And for all you MC's, you heard my story
On my super-fly, cold-crushin' fame and glory,
How I rocked the children and the young ladies.
I even rocked the country that was overseas
'Cause I can rock anybody from any crew.
Because I did it to Chaka, I'm-a do it to you.
I'm-a show you how I rocked it, why'all, all night long,
But when I rocked with Chaka Khan, I just said,
"Chaka Khan, let me rock you, let me rock you, Chaka Khan.", I said,
"Let me rock you, that's all I want to do.
Chaka Khan, let me rock you, let me rock you, Chaka Khan.", I said.
"Let me me rock you 'cause I feel for you.
Chaka Khan, won't you tell me what you want to do?
Do you feel for me the way I feel for you.
Chaka Khan, let me tell you what I want to do.
I want to love you, want to hug you, want to squeeze you too,
So let me take me in your arms, let me fill you with my charms, Chaka
'Cause you know that I'm the one to keep you warm, Chaka.
I'll make you more than just a physical spell.
I want to rock you, Chaka baby, 'cause my name is Mellie Mel."
Say what, why'all.
Say what.
To the DJ scratch, the metro match
'Cause we're comin' out fresh with a brand new batch,
So takin' you off into the galaxy
Is Vicious, Vicious, VICIOUS LEE!
The lyrics to "Step Off" is a warning to all other MCs to step off The Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash's turf with their soft rhymes, cheap lyrics, and fake awards. The song tells a story through the eyes of the king of the be-bop swing who steps up to the microphone to establish his legacy. He claims that rap is the game he controls and made it popular, to begin with. The chorus repeats the phrase "step off" as a warning to other rappers to take a step back and avoid a confrontation. The verses consist of a litany of jabs at other MCs, establishing the band's dominance in the rap game.
The song is highly competitive and braggadocious, with each rapper claiming to be the best. The lyrics describe the luxurious lifestyle and material possessions that come with being a successful MC. Keith Cowboy warns his competitors that they won't even get bread and butter, and Grandmaster Flash compares himself to Shakespeare, making rap music that people want to hear. The Sugarhill Gang boldly declares that the door is closed, and the only place for their competitors to go is down.
Overall, "Step Off" by The Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash is a song about MCs who are puffing themselves up, claiming to be the best, and warning off other MCs who might try to step into their territory. The song uses repetition, figurative language, and clever wordplay to create an image of MCs who are unbeatable, highly competitive, and thoroughly in control of their music and message.
Line by Line Meaning
Step, step, step, step, step off
Back off and step away, because you're weak and need to disappear.
Because you got to get lost because you know you're soft, uh-huh.
You need to disappear because you know you lack talent and skill.
I was sittin' on the corner just a-wastin' my time
I was idle, not doing anything productive.
When I realised I was the king of the rhyme.
I suddenly recognized that I was the best at rapping.
I got on the microphone and what do you see?
I took the microphone and impressed everyone with my skills.
Huh, the rest was my legacy.
That moment defined my entire career and reputation.
I was born to be the king of the be-bop swing,
I was destined to be the best in the hip-hop genre.
To have stallions and medallions, big diamond rings.
To have wealth, luxury, and extravagant jewelry.
I own a castle and a yacht, two million in gold
I possess extravagant properties and a huge amount of money.
Because rap is the game that I control.
I dominate the rap industry and have full control over it.
I'm like Shakespeare, I'm a pioneer
I am comparable to Shakespeare in terms of being an influential figure.
Because I made rap somethin' people wanted to hear.
I revolutionized rap music and made it popular among the masses.
See, before my reign, it was the same old same,
Prior to my success, rap music was stagnant and repetitive.
"To the ba with the ba", that street-talk game,
"To the ba with the ba" was the clichéd style of street-talk in rap music.
So if you ever, let me make this clear,
If you ever have any doubts, let me be unequivocal about this.
If you ever think that we're steppin' out of here,
If you believe we're going to back down or leave this scene,
You ever think you're gettin' up, down, around or in,
You think you have any chance of success or influence,
Huh huh, you better think again, my friend
You need to reconsider and realize your mistaken belief.
Because the door is closed and we're in town
We are in control and not allowing others to take our place.
And the only place you can go is down!
Your only option is to fail and decline.
Well, I'm Keith Cowboy and you're my cow,
I am the leader and you are subordinate to me.
So what you MC's gonna do now?
What can other MCs possibly do in response to my dominance?
It's gonna be a slaughter and here's my plan.
I have a plan to completely defeat and humiliate my opponents.
You won't even get bread and butter, my man.
You will not receive any support or success.
Gonna put you on the racks like a pair of slacks
I will subdue and control you like a piece of clothing.
With another wack rapper tied to your back,
I will burden you with the presence of another untalented rapper.
And if you want to hang yourself out to dry,
If you want to expose yourself and fail publicly,
It's the beautiful round-up in the sky.
You will face a glorious downfall and humiliation.
I'm the carry-out kid when my trigger's in cock.
I am highly skilled and effective when I'm prepared.
I'll be carryin' out bodies stiff as a rock.
I will defeat my opponents and leave them lifeless.
Carryin' out a million dollars in my pockets and hand,
I carry significant wealth and success with me.
But I carry out orders from no man,
I am independent and do not take orders from anyone.
'Cause anything you want to do, I already did.
Anything you aspire to achieve, I have already accomplished.
You used to see me rock the house when you was a kid,
You witnessed my incredible performances from a young age.
But in my MC school, my class is packed
I have many aspiring rappers learning from me.
And tricks are for kids so I left your ass back.
Tricks and gimmicks are juvenile, so I surpassed your level.
The bow-legged brother, there'll never be another.
I am unique and irreplaceable with my distinctive style.
I buy a mansion for my mother.
I can afford to purchase a luxurious house for my mother.
The 24/7, the cool-Aid smile,
I am constantly successful, always confident and smiling.
Say, "Hey, crack a lemon and look at my pile."
Look at my wealth and abundance, it's impressive.
Now you know just who I am
You now understand my true identity and capabilities.
And what I do because I'm in demand,
You know that I am highly sought after for my talents.
Because I look good.
My appearance is impressive and appealing.
Do you hear, my man?
Listen carefully, my friend.
And if you can't take that, you chump your old hand.
If you can't accept this truth, you are inexperienced and foolish.
One girl at a time get an MC
For every girl, there is only one MC they desire.
So how could you think that you rank with me?
How can you believe that you are on the same level as me?
If you only did your homework, you would surely find
If you had done your research, you would know
When Scorp' get girls, they all be fine
The girls that Scorp' attracts are all beautiful.
And the only girl that you could take of mine
The only girl you can have is the one I no longer want.
Is the one that I left way behind
The girl I discarded and didn't care about anymore.
And plus you're cheap, you're petty, your music is trash.
Additionally, your music is of low quality and lacks substance.
You need to go to the bank and get some cash
You need to raise your financial status.
Because talkin' don't pay, you're driftin' away.
Talking alone won't bring you success, you're facing failure.
When I see you on the stage, I'm-a blow you away.
When I witness your performance, I will completely overshadow you.
You're right.
I agree with you.
There is no diff between me and you
There is no difference in skill and talent between us.
Except I look good and you look through.
The only distinction is that I am attractive and you are overlooked.
Step, step, step, step, step off
Back off and step away, because you're weak and need to disappear.
Because you got to get lost because you know you're soft, uh-huh.
You need to disappear because you know you lack talent and skill.
Little pieces of a dream is all you mean
You only represent small fragments of a dream, nothing significant.
Since the day you stepped into the MC scene.
From the moment you entered the MC world.
Bitin' your moves, takin' fake awards,
Copying and imitating my style, claiming undeserved recognition.
Sayin' everyone else is perpetratin' the frauds,
Accusing others of being fake and fraudulent.
But you're nothin' but a clone of a flesh and bone.
But in reality, you are nothing more than a copy of a human being.
Now you're tryin' to play gone on the microphone,
Now you're attempting to act like you're important on the microphone.
But I tell you 'bout a night and you know I'm right
Let me remind you of a past event, and you know I am correct.
When you listen to us rockin' to the broad daylight,
When you hear us performing with great energy and success.
And then you looked in the sky and you started to cuss,
Then you looked up and began to curse or swear.
But then you prayed to God that you could be like us.
But then you wished and begged to be as successful as us.
Then God was great and God was true
God listened and fulfilled your desire.
And he tried to show you how to be like you,
God attempted to guide you to embrace your own identity.
But you still didn't get where you wanted to go
But you still didn't achieve the success you desired.
When you gathered in a group and got your own show
When you formed a collective and created your own performance.
'Cause without the source, the force won't survive.
Without the essence or origin, the strength won't endure.
For eternity, the source is alive.
The essence remains vibrant and influential forever.
You forgot the words of your creator
You neglected the teachings or guidance of your originator.
And now he's made you a perpetrator,
As a result, you have become an offender or wrongdoer.
Forever in a world of you and a girl,
Forever stuck in a narrow perspective of yourself and your relationships.
A few grams in a pipe to make your head swirl.
Using drugs to escape reality and destabilize your thoughts.
You must spread the words of the master teacher.
You need to share the teachings of the ultimate instructor.
You die by the rhymes and the streets'll eat you.
Defeat is guaranteed when faced with powerful lyrics and street culture.
The words are a gift we will never flaunt.
We will never boast or show off the power of our words.
That's why we're gonna get everything we want.
That's why we will achieve all our desires.
Just like a shadow in the night on a sight unseen
Similar to an unnoticed shadow in the darkness.
And I'm the bonafide vocal master supreme,
And I am the unquestionable supreme master of vocals.
And I'm here to run it down for the ladies and gents
I am here to entertain and impress both women and men.
For my rhymes make dollars plus they make sense,
My lyrics are not only lucrative but also meaningful.
See, you're down with Cowboy, you'll be rockin' the show.
If you're associated with Cowboy, you will be part of an amazing performance.
With King Lu, Tommy Gun and, huh, Scorpio,
Alongside King Lu, Tommy Gun, and Scorpio.
Kamikaze Clayton Savage and Easy Mike
Including Kamikaze Clayton Savage and Easy Mike.
And goin' down in the books is the king of the night,
Being recognized as the unparalleled king of the night.
So if you're ever in a battle, I'm-a make you my slave
If you ever challenge me, I will dominate and control you.
And I'm-a give you a shovel so you can dig a grave.
I will give you the means to bury yourself.
Leave behind all your fame and wealth
Abandon your fame and fortune.
So you can say one rhyme, then bury yourself, huh.
So you can utter one final verse before your downfall.
I may sound possessed, but you know I'm blessed
I may sound intense, but I am undoubtedly blessed.
With the will to make sense of all this mess.
With the determination to make meaning out of chaos.
I'm the power of the sun that shines in the sky
I am a force of nature, radiating brilliance.
And I'm the only MC that'll never die,
And I am the only MC that will remain eternal.
So just rock and don't stop 'til you hit the top,
Keep performing and never stop until you achieve success.
But when you see Mellie Mel, you're gonna have to drop.
But when you encounter Mellie Mel, you will be humbled.
And not only that,
Furthermore,
Step, step, step, step, step off
Back off and step away, because you're weak and need to disappear.
Because you got to get lost because you know you're soft, uh-huh.
You need to disappear because you know you lack talent and skill.
And for all you MC's, you heard my story
For all the other MCs, listen to my narrative.
On my super-fly, cold-crushin' fame and glory,
About my impressive and influential fame and success.
How I rocked the children and the young ladies.
How I captivated and entertained young people and women.
I even rocked the country that was overseas
I even gained popularity and success beyond national borders.
'Cause I can rock anybody from any crew.
I can impress and entertain anyone from any rap group.
Because I did it to Chaka, I'm-a do it to you.
Because even Chaka Khan was impressed, so I will overpower you.
I'm-a show you how I rocked it, why'all, all night long,
I will demonstrate how I delivered an incredible performance all night.
But when I rocked with Chaka Khan, I just said,
But when I performed with Chaka Khan, I simply said,
"Chaka Khan, let me rock you, let me rock you, Chaka Khan."
"Chaka Khan, allow me to impress and entertain you, Chaka Khan."
I said, "Let me rock you, that's all I want to do.
"Let me captivate and entertain you, that's my only desire.
Chaka Khan, let me rock you, let me rock you, Chaka Khan."
Chaka Khan, allow me to impress and entertain you, Chaka Khan."
I said, "Let me me rock you 'cause I feel for you.
"Allow me to captivate and entertain you because I have strong emotions for you.
Chaka Khan, won't you tell me what you want to do?
Chaka Khan, please let me know what you desire.
Do you feel for me the way I feel for you.
Do you have the same intense emotions for me as I do for you.
Chaka Khan, let me tell you what I want to do.
Chaka Khan, allow me to express my desires to you.
I want to love you, want to hug you, want to squeeze you too,
I want to show you affection and embrace you tightly.
So let me take me in your arms, let me fill you with my charms, Chaka
Allow me to embrace you and enchant you with my irresistible qualities, Chaka
'Cause you know that I'm the one to keep you warm, Chaka.
Because you know that I am the one who can provide you comfort and warmth, Chaka.
I'll make you more than just a physical spell.
I will make you experience more than just physical attraction.
I want to rock you, Chaka baby, 'cause my name is Mellie Mel."
I desire to entertain and captivate you, Chaka baby, because I am Mellie Mel."
To the DJ scratch, the metro match
To the scratching technique of the DJ, the perfect synchronization
'Cause we're comin' out fresh with a brand new batch,
Because we are emerging with a new and innovative approach.
So takin' you off into the galaxy
So we're taking you on a journey to the astral realm
Is Vicious, Vicious, VICIOUS LEE!
And that journey is led by Vicious Lee, the one and only.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RANDY CLIFFORD EBRIGHT WIDEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind