Entertainment

‘Rapper’s Delight‘ Preserved as ’Cultural, Artistic and Historical Treasure’ in Library of Congress

The Library of Congress prides itself, at least in theory, on preserving some of America’s most treasured artifacts, whether those artifacts are physical objects, video records, audio recordings, or what have you. These include such august items as recordings of former slaves telling their life stories, recordings of anti-McCarthyite journalist Edward R. Murrow, and even the recording of Leonard Bernstein’s first concert with the New York Philharmonic.

Oh, and as of today, a song called “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang, apparently considered to be the first commercially popular rap song. The Federal Times reports:

The Library of Congress said today it will preserve everything from a tinny 1888 recording of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to Prince’s incendiary album “Purple Rain” as part of its latest slate of entries to the National Recording Registry.

The Library each year preserves 25 recordings it feels are “cultural, artistic and/or historical treasures for generations to come.” This year, a wide variety of recordings will be added, including:

  • Bo Diddley’s songs “Bo Diddley” and “I’m A Man,”
  • Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” recognized as the first hit rap song,
  • Booker T and the MG’s “Green Onions,”
  • Vince Guaraldi’s jazzy soundtrack to “A Charlie Brown Christmas,”
  • Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors,”
  • Parliament’s album “Mothership Connection,”
  • A May 1977 concert by the Grateful Dead, and
  • Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love.”

25 recordings a year. That’s it. And apparently, along with icons like the Grateful Dead, Donna Summer, Bo Diddley and Charlie Brown, this is what they consider to be a “cultural, artistic and/or historical treasure:”

Real American history in action there. Your tax dollars at work, ladies and gentlemen.

Comments (86)

1 2
  • FreedomPurveyor
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:07pm

    This song is awesome, author is nuts

    Report Post » FreedomPurveyor  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:24pm

      I agree, they be haten.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • usmcmexdi
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:35pm

      White, Black, Brown, Yellow, Pink, Green, or whatever other color. This song was the begining of RAP. It is historical, it was a great song that just about everyone was listening to at the time. The author of this article either doesn‘t know music and the significance of certain songs or he’s trying to incite some type of racial stirring.

      Report Post »  
    • cologoddess
      Posted on May 24, 2012 at 2:36am

      I love this damn tune – always have and always will :)

      Report Post » cologoddess  
    • Godzgrl247
      Posted on May 24, 2012 at 5:07am

      I agree! I remember dancing to this song! Oh! and the statement about racial stirring; I‘m starting to believe that’s the case with many of the stories here on the Blaze. If they were concerned about real stories, why has the Blaze been so silent about the case of Bob and Nancy Strait here in Tulsa?

      Report Post » Godzgrl247  
    • rangerp
      Posted on May 24, 2012 at 7:12am

      This is foolish. There is no such thing as “Rap Music”.

      Music has elements, and there is a balance to these elements. To have music, you need melody, harmony, rhythm, tone, and tempo.

      Can you humm the melody of a rap song? the answer is “no”, because there is no melody. Rap is a beat, with lyrics, thus it is not music.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • Mmcxii
      Posted on May 24, 2012 at 7:40am

      Contrary to popular belief, the first rap song was recorded four years earlier (1975) by the hard rock band Aerosmith, written by Stephen Tyler and Joe Perry. It was was titled Walk this Way.

      Report Post »  
    • 00gabooga
      Posted on May 24, 2012 at 8:43am

      This song is great! Best part? No women are called the B-word, no calls for violence or thuggery, no mention of drugs, etc. It was all about getting people on their feet and dancing. The Sugar Hill Gang was about as much of a gang as the Cosby Kids were. Rap started out as good clean fun with songs like this and turned into a pile of filth with gangster rap a few years later.

      Report Post » 00gabooga  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on May 24, 2012 at 10:45am

      I guess this is about as off color as the song gets (still very clean by today’s standards with their rape lyrics);

      “he cant satisfy you with his little worm
      but i can bust you out with my super sperm
      i go do it, i go do it, i go do it, do it , doit ”

      source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/onehitwonders/rappersdelightlyrics.html

      Report Post »  
  • falschimjaeger
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:02pm

    •Bo Diddley’s songs “Bo Diddley” and “I’m A Man,”
    Yes
    •Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” recognized as the first hit rap song,
    Oh heck no
    •Booker T and the MG’s “Green Onions,”
    Ok
    •Vince Guaraldi’s jazzy soundtrack to “A Charlie Brown Christmas,”
    Not really
    •Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors,”
    Good choice
    •Parliament’s album “Mothership Connection,”
    For the ganja crowd
    •A May 1977 concert by the Grateful Dead
    Same as Parliament
    •Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love.”
    Yeah, I can live with it.
    Now my question is how many tax dollars did it take to come up with this list?

    Report Post » falschimjaeger  
    • TurboCat
      Posted on May 25, 2012 at 2:07am

      Always loved that song. Couldn’t help but dance to it and try to sing the words whenever I heard it. One really funny thing I saw recently saw was Bret Baeir at some shindig and he got called up on stage and for some reason choose to do The Rapper’s Delight! Funniest damn thing I ever saw! It was so cute!

      Report Post »  
  • loveoursoldiers
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:58pm

    Another Obama fantasy thrust down our white American throats.
    “Take that, whitey.”. I imagine he chuckles as he smokes his cigarette or whatever. Hey whitey…. there’s more for you folks.
    You ain’t seen nothing yet. We is gonna change this country and create new customs.. just as Michelle said cause she cannot stand the ones you white folk does.
    She be proud of dis country soon.. as soon as you white folks get your white a**es out and vote for me.. again.
    ( thinks to himself.. god they are dumb)

    Report Post » loveoursoldiers  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:26pm

      Naw, he wil be leaving us soon. Another Jimmy Carter, cept he won’t be building any houses anywhere.

      Report Post » macpappy  
  • POdVet
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:30pm

    This is an opinion piece by one editor from the Blaze, it does not represent the entirety of the tea party or conservatives, and most likely not even the majority of the staff at the Blaze. The author obviously does not like rap. Many people do not like country or classical, and they are entitled to their opinions. I do not particularly care for this song, but I do recognize it has a place in our continuing cultural heritage. Just like Disco, it is a part of our history and even though many now claim they were never into Disco, simple truth is the albums sold millions so obviously someone was buying them.

    Report Post »  
  • curtisedward
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:20pm

    Wow, not a fan, huh? I hate lots of music but being “good” is not what this is about. However, I think that the library of congress has already ‘preserved’ these recordings as is their purpose in granting sound recording (SR) copyrights. Whether these recordings go public domain or not should be irrelevant. All are supposed to be preserved indefinitely, at least I thought so when securing copyrights to my own recordings. The authors strange obsession with hatin’ on rap (and indirectly gov’t copyrights, “tax $’s at work crack) replaces pertinent facts that would be helpful.

    Report Post »  
    • 3monkeysmomma
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:39pm

      all I can contribute here is:

      i said a hip hop the hippie the hippie
      to the hiphip hop, a you dont stop
      the rock it to the bang bang boogie say up jumpedthe boogie
      to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat

      now what you hearis not a test–i’m rappin to the beat
      and me, the groove, and my friends aregonna try to move your feet

      l

      Report Post » 3monkeysmomma  
  • another pucker
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:17pm

    I was 9, living in Lubbock, Texas, and being bussed. I remember it well. Did anyone notice how when the 3rd guy started and said, “Bam” and did the hips they only showed the middle of his chest. That was the good old days. You could use your mind to imagine, someone didn’t feel the need to ram it down your throat. Like with Elvis, how many girls went nuts and they never showed below his waist. Oh, sometimes the imagination can be so much better. This is why we don’t create anymore. We are not allowed to imagine or daydream because someone is taking away our imagination or putting our children on ADHD medication. I can’t go on, I am so disgusted by what the baby boomers allowed to happen to us because when they had to stop taking mushrooms they couldn’t imagine on their own anymore. I love the boomers in my life because they are hard working consevs. but they are parents of only children who look for every way to maximize their social security without ever asking the question, “What could I have done different”? I experience alot of selfishness in who I know. This is how we got where we are. I want to retire and vacation every other weekend on every dime I get without any concern about the future!
    This is my rant as a homeschooling mom who only ever wanted family in my life!

    XOXOXO

    Report Post »  
  • ydaani
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:13pm

    Glenn, being a former DJ, was no doubt familiar with his song and, while I don’t presume to know this for sure, I think even he would acknowledge the historical significance of this song.

    Report Post » ydaani  
  • go2gym
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:34pm

    I had the 78 vinyl boyeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! Still know all the words! LOL

    Report Post »  
  • Afrobomber
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:29pm

    BOOOO the author of this post! Relax your buttcheeks, sir. If you hate this song you probably hate anything fun, and likely sit around listening to angry talk radio all day thinking this country is going to hell in a handbasket, wondering where all these darkies are coming from, halfway ready to kill anyone who disagrees with you…Oh wait.

    Report Post »  
  • nobull14
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:15pm

    Can I go throw up now ?

    Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:35pm

      There is no such thing as “Rap Music”.

      Music has elements, and there is a balance to these elements. To have music, you need melody, harmony, rhythm, tone, and tempo.

      Can you humm the melody of a rap song? the answer is “no”, because there is no melody. Rap is a beat, with lyrics, thus it is not music.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • chips1
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:43pm

      I’ve never heard that one. Can you hum a few bars?

      Report Post »  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:15pm

    I agree with all of these choices. ‘Rapper’s Delight’, released in 1979, is an historically important song and definitely deserves to be preserved – why the bad attitude Mytheos Holt?

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • drphil69
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:00pm

    I remember that song well. It really was the first hit rap song. As I recall it had no profanity or sexually explicit language. Love it or hate it, rap is a genre and rappers’ delight was the first to make it mainstream.

    Report Post »  
    • jeanr
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:12pm

      It’s a great song, yes. But also profane in parts. I think it‘s Hank’s part where he talks about his super sperm and Superman being a homosexual.

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:46pm

      Superman came from Krypton, not Kenya.

      Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:56pm

    …
    Rap belongs in the dumpster out back.

    Report Post »  
  • VanceUppercut
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:48pm

    And now ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Conway Twitty.

    Report Post »  
  • hi
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:46pm

    I said a hip hop hibbie to the hibbie to hip hip a hop you don’t stop rappin to the bang bang a boogie say up jump the boogie to the rhythm to the boogie to be!

    That is my song!!

    Report Post » hi  
    • jhaydeng
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:54pm

      It started a movement that’s for sure! Especially using a sample from Chic!

      Report Post »  
  • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:38pm

    This is THE ONE AND ONLY Rap song I ever liked. Classic! Everything that came afterward was and is pure garbage.

    Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • AmericanFightingMan1
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:47pm

      There are no libraries in countries where this is called treasure.

      Report Post » AmericanFightingMan1  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:09pm

      I’m not saying it should be in the Library of Congress… I’m just stating exactly what I stated above… I liked it and it’s a classic and all after is dookey doo IMO. I’m a fan of Classic Rock and the oldies myself. And when I say “oldies” I‘m not talking ’80′s music either, lol.

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:54pm

      Every written word that is published is preserved by the library of congress. It is in fact known as the library of last resory.

      Report Post » macpappy  
  • FiveSolas
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:35pm

    This post is a bit snarky, no? I’m not a big fan of Hip Hop, but even I know this is a “historically and culturally significant” recording. It birthed an entire genre of uniquely (at the time) American music. Plus it has continued to have lasting cultural impact as it has been sampled by hundreds of artists, and has been used in many movies, TV shows, etc. In fact, it has transcended a mere “song” and become a part of our national cultural fabric. The very fact that it has become a cliche speaks to its importance. You can make an argument that you don’t like this type of music, you can even argue that it isn’t “good” music on par with the recordings mentioned in the post. But, you cannot make the argument that is is insignificant. If the Library of Congress is charged with preserving cultural heritage through important audio recordings, this song certainly fits the bill. I wonder if they have any “Chic” in the collection…

    Report Post »  
  • Solorram1964
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:34pm

    This is stupid lyrics from stupid person ,we in this country are better then this garbage!!!

    Report Post »  
  • TheReasonableLib
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:34pm

    Why does theblaze hate everything about black people? Why do conservatives hate black culture so much?

    Report Post »  
    • We are Americans
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:52pm

      That’s what I was thinking. I screen shot yesterday’s Blaze
      3 out of the top 5 articles were anti-black.
      Glenn wants a race war. It’s his brand of love.
      Article dosnt comment on any of the other 24
      songs in a negative light. What will future generations
      think if they see this video? Happy black people
      singing and dancing. Arent they all supposed
      be angry n hating whitey?

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:11pm

      Hate to burst your soap box bubble but I liked it. I know several hits that derived from this groundbreaking style. I’m glad for their recognition.

      Go swallow your words now.

      Report Post »  
    • nappy
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:12pm

      How were the articles “anti-black”?? OR are you just used to the MSM doing their best NOT to print the truth.. but please.. tell us how they’re anti-black.

      Report Post »  
    • HoneyBager7x7
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:16pm

      Maybe the article is trying to highlight a song and a era when black people were happy and that this is something that should be remembered stored for future generations. Ever think about it that way?

      Report Post » HoneyBager7x7  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:29pm

      And when the country actually was past the race issue…..on all sides. Of course, the race pimps didn’t actually want that.

      Report Post »  
    • TheReasonableLib
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:31pm

      @ Copatriots: Good for you, but by and large conservatives in general and theblaze in particular have exhibited a disdain for blacks and black culture. This snarky article about the song, consistent articles about the black panthers. You try to clear it up by saying “The main stream media won’t report on this” but never have I seen a positive story regarding modern black life on here. Never. A charter school that took on black males in chicago that the state had given up on had a 100% graduation and college entrance rate, prior to their entrance only about 20% of the boys were reading at grad level. Nothing on the blaze about this. Then of course there was the applauding of a man who said “don’t play the good samaritan to blacks in distress.” Try explaining that one to God on judgement day and I guarantee he won’t buy the lies either.

      @honeybadger: No, because that is in no way what the author intends. He’s trying to say that this is neither art nor is it culturally significant. I‘ve noticed it’s a common theme here. And by the way what makes you think blacks are somehow not happy now?

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:39pm

      Hmmm…..good points, LIB. So, what‘s your position of the media’s hypocrisy of their current treatment of Conservatives?

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:43pm

      And……by the way, I emphatically do no accept your premise.

      “but by and large conservatives in general and theblaze in particular have exhibited a disdain for blacks and black culture.”

      You should direct your anger at LBS, Jackson, Sharpton, Clinton and the entire Democratic Party.

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:45pm

      * LBJ

      You were clearly born in the late 70′s or later. This country was clearly was past race issues. That didn’t actually work well for you libs.

      Report Post »  
    • FlowerBell
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:45pm

      Maybe it’s because the liberal media covers NONE of it. They just turn their heads the other way and put their fingers in their ears and sing La, la, la, .
      Whatcha bitchin’ bout? Is everyone supposed to be paralyzed with political correctness? All you have to do is open your eyes and do a little research of your own to know that the truth is not racist.

      Report Post » FlowerBell  
    • chips1
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:56pm

      I‘m from the 50’s and all my records are black.

      Report Post »  
    • TheReasonableLib
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:07pm

      @ copatriots: Modern media is a sham in more ways than one. Yes they are by and large biased against conservatives, but it’s more than just that; they don’t hold politicians responsible any more at all, not that politicians are even TRYING to be honest anymore. At this point the media does more damage than good.

      Report Post »  
    • TheReasonableLib
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:19pm

      @ copatriots: That’s fine, we can agree to disagree, and maybe my language was too strong, but I see a trend here lately among conservatives, and I don’t like it. All of a sudden so many black people are “thugs” and such blatantly racist stuff like what I mentioned above about not playing the good samaritan is “just being honest.”
      The country has never been past racial issues, I can guarantee you of that. As somebody who has lived through racism and whose parents actually grew up in the deep south during the civil rights movement I can speak of it. You don’t truly know it until you experience it. When you go to an Appalachian mining community on your way to see family down south and they ask if you’re “one of those n*****s who steal stuff” at the age of 14 you learn something about racism.

      @flowerbell: Truth isn’t racist, it’s your distortion and usage of “the truth” that is racist as you use it as a means to an end. Yes, the NBPP are a hate group, when you use their words to advance division it is racial. The NBPP is a sham and nobody with a brain pays the morons who probably don’t even have 100 members any attention. Furthermore there is no “New” Black Panther Party, only a bunch of pretenders.

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:29pm

      Hmmm…..are you transitioning this discussion, LIB?

      So, is The Blaze better or worse than the other modern media you encounter? Why do you check news and post here?

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:33pm

      Did you ever think that “modern” honest, Godly, patriot WHITES are sick and tired of comprising every, single thing they are and being told they are greedy, racist, awful people every fn step of the way?

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:40pm

      Trust me when I tell you I experienced racism against blacks and was horrified. That generation, my generation, built the foundation of getting past race issues……and this country was well on our way. You are deceiving those reading this to suggest that this country was not past race issues. 0bama is just one example of my proof.

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:42pm

      There would be no trend if your LIB hero would for once act presidential and honestly mitigate it. The buck starts with ZERO.

      “but I see a trend here lately among conservatives, and I don’t like it. “

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:44pm

      And, um, you’re lying about positive “black” stories. Try Allen West, Thomas Sowell, Corey Booker; just to name a few.

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:53pm

      And for your final error, I am actually from Appalachia. One of my best friends was from the only black family in our school. He also happened to have the paper route and our family adored him. He was like a brother to me. I really got pfffed 15 years later when I had to sit through “cultural diversity” training in the late 80′s.

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:03pm

      Maybe the bigger question is…..tell me how you possibly support being a LIB? I actually expect no response as it is indefensible unless you think gay marriage, contraception and killing babies are your top priorities.

      Must go for now……thanks for the dialog.

      Report Post »  
    • Jerry Frey
      Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:00am

      Maybe because rap is crap. In 1997, during a tour of the Perryville battlefield, I told people black culture was destroying black people – how many stories do we see day after day about black thugs attacking white people at McDonald’s?

      Report Post »  
  • jeanr
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:32pm

    Parliament can’t be in the American Library of Congress. Bootsy Collins is from outer space!

    Report Post »  
  • Solorram1964
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:31pm

    Who Cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Sicboy
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:29pm

    Hated the song as a kid, especially Debbie Harry’s version. On the other hand, Grand Master Flash was awesome.

    Report Post » Sicboy  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:26pm

    Now I suppose that is all the black culture has done for themselves…..rap music..pitty.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
    • We are Americans
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:55pm

      Yes, pity n rap r all of black cultures contributions
      to the country. Shouldn’t u change ur name to
      Welovewhiteamerica

      Report Post »  
    • nappy
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:29pm

      why don’t you prove him wrong by offering up all of the other incredible contributions! You missed a perfect opportunity to enlighten everyone and chose silliness over substance.

      Report Post »  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:43pm

      @weareamericans
      Well, I can tell you that this Shabazz guy has sure changed my attitude. Yep, just a bit.

      Report Post » macpappy  
  • Bonnieblue2A
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:25pm

    Too bad the lyrics to rap songs that followed were not as harmless and innocent as those of the Sugar Hill Gang‘s Rapper’s Delight. Instead to the gutter of violence and misogyny rap went.

    Report Post »  
    • jeanr
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:33pm

      I am guessing you aren’t a rock or country fan either, then. You sick, twisted freak.

      Report Post »  
    • nappy
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:26pm

      @jeanr

      You pretty much just underscored the poster’s point. good job, stupid.

      Report Post »  
    • jeanr
      Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:48pm

      I take it you aren’t a long time listener of GB, are you Nappy?

      Report Post »  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:22pm

    Well, they did need coasters to place their coffee on.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love