Sylvia Robinson: The Godmother of Hip-Hop

As the demand for the presence of women in music production begins to increase (and rightfully so!), it’s only right that we take a moment to reflect on the trailblazer, the pioneer, whose brilliance on the boards led to the first major hip hop song: Ms. Sylvia Robinson.

Sylvia Robinson, known as ‘Little Sylvia’ in the beginning of her music career, was a singer, record producer, and label owner known for trailblazing the sound of commercial hip-hop by the end of her career. After finding success as ½ of the chart topping R&B duo ‘Mickey and Sylvia’ during the late 1950’s, the “Strange Love” singer discovered her talent for production in the early 1960’s with the song “You Talk Too Much” by Joe Jones. Unfortunately, however, because she was a black woman in a white male dominated field, Robinson never received production credit for this record.

In 1961, Robinson produced another record called “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine” for Ike & Tina Turner which earned them their first Grammy nomination, but yet again Robinson was denied producer credit and it went instead to the label owner Juggy Murray. Later, in a 1981 interview with Black Radio Exclusive, Robinson said “I paid for the session, taught Tina the song; that’s me on guitar”.

Fast forward to the late 1970’s, Robinson and her husband Joe decided to found Sugar Hill Records, specializing in the young new sound of music, hip hop. In 1979, a young hip hop group signed to their label called The Sugarhill Gang released the hit single “Rapper’s Delight”. 

“Rapper’s Delight” was the first rap single to take over the radio and charts and to sell over a million records. And this time, as the head of her own label, Robinson gave herself the credit she deserved! In 1982, Robinson produced the record “The Message”, performed by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, which later on was named on Rolling Stone’s  “50 Greatest Hip Hop Songs of All Time”. 

Within a few years, Robinson and her husband had built one of the top independent labels in America, paving the way for the hip hop and rap genres as we know them to be today. More importantly, Robinson pioneered a career in music production for women producers to come, a legacy that will never be forgotten. 

Sylvia Robinson passed away on September 29, 2011 at the age of 75.