Master Gee (musician)

Last updated
Master Gee
Master Gee at HipHop Museum.jpg
Background information
Birth nameGuy Anthony O'Brien
Born (1962-06-15) June 15, 1962 (age 62)
Origin Teaneck, New Jersey
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s)
Years active1979–present
Labels
Member of The Sugarhill Gang

Guy Anthony O'Brien (born June 15, 1962), known by his stage name Master Gee, is an American hip hop recording artist and DJ. He is a founding member of the hip hop group the Sugarhill Gang. On the band's signature song, "Rapper's Delight", he raps, "I said M-A-S, T-E-R, a G with a double E, I said I go by the unforgettable name of the man they call the Master Gee". He was 17 at the time of recording the song, alluded to by the lyric, "I guess by now you can take a hunch, and find that I am the baby of the bunch".

Contents

Biography

O'Brien grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, where at an early age he was exposed to a steady stream of doo wop and rhythm and blues, and established himself as an energetic emcee in the pioneering Phase 2 hip-hop crew. [1] During the early infancy of the commercial hip-hop movement in 1979, Master Gee, Big Bank Hank and Wonder Mike were discovered by producer Sylvia Robinson [2] and brought together to form The Sugarhill Gang. [3] He is the older brother of Leo O'Brien, better known as Richie Green from The Last Dragon.

O'Brien stepped away from Sugar Hill Records in 1984, and established himself as a successful entrepreneur in the magazine industry. During the group's departure from the label, Joey Robinson Jr., son of Sugar Hill producer Sylvia Robinson, used the stage name Master Gee. O'Brien and Wonder Mike went to court over the use of the group's name and stage names [4] as documented in the film, I Want My Name Back. [5] In 2014, name usage was amicably resolved, and Master Gee has since re-emerged as a mainstay in the hip hop community and music industry.

O'Brien appeared on GQ's Most Expensivest , hosted by 2 Chainz in 2023.

He currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area, and actively performs worldwide with The Sugarhill Gang and as a solo DJ.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonder Mike</span> American hip hop artist

Michael Anthony Wright, known professionally as Wonder Mike, is an American hip hop recording artist and member of the Sugarhill Gang. The group was part of the hip hop movement in the 1970s and 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sugarhill Gang</span> American hip hop group

The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop group formed in Englewood, New Jersey in 1979. Their hit "Rapper's Delight", released the same year they were formed, was the first rap single to become a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching a peak position of number 36 on January 12, 1980. This was the trio's only U.S. hit, though they would have further success in Europe until the mid-1980s. The trio reformed in 1994 and embarked on a world tour in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapper's Delight</span> 1979 single by The Sugarhill Gang

"Rapper's Delight" is a 1979 hip hop track that serves as the debut single of American hip-hip trio the Sugarhill Gang, produced by Sylvia Robinson. Although it was shortly preceded by the Fatback Band's "King Tim III ", "Rapper's Delight" is credited for introducing hip hop music to a wide audience, reaching the top 40 in the United States, as well as the top three in the United Kingdom and number one in Canada. It was a prototype for various types of rap music. The track interpolates Chic's "Good Times", resulting in Chic's Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards threatening to sue Sugar Hill Records for copyright infringement; a settlement was reached that gave the two songwriting credits. It also interpolates Love De-Luxe's "Here Comes That Sound Again". The track was recorded in a single take. There are five mixes of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylvia Robinson</span> American singer and record producer (1935–2011)

Sylvia Robinson, known mononymously as Sylvia, was an American singer and record producer. Robinson achieved success as a performer on two R&B chart toppers: as half of Mickey & Sylvia with the 1957 single "Love Is Strange", and her solo record "Pillow Talk" in 1973. She later became known for her work as founder and CEO of the pioneering hip hop label Sugar Hill Records.

The Sequence was an American female hip–hop trio from Columbia, South Carolina, who formed in 1979. The Sequence is noted as the first female hip hop trio signed to the Sugar Hill Records label in the late–1970s and early–1980s. The group consisted of Cheryl Cook, known as "Cheryl The Pearl", Gwendolyn Chisolm, known as "Blondy", and lead singer and rapper Angie Stone, known as Angie B, who were all high school friends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cold Crush Brothers</span> Hip hop group

The Cold Crush Brothers are an American hip hop group that formed in 1978 in the Bronx, New York City. They were especially known for their memorable routines which included harmonies, melodies and stage-stomping performances. The Cold Crush Brothers still perform in the United States as of 2023. "A snapshot from hip-hop's 50th summer: A live mixtape"..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Bank Hank</span> American hip hop artist (1956–2014)

Henry Lee Jackson, known by his stage name Big Bank Hank, was an American hip hop recording artist and manager. Also known as Imp the Dimp, he was a member of the trio The Sugarhill Gang, the first hip hop act to have a hit, with the cross-over single "Rapper's Delight" in the pop charts in 1979. He contributed to many documentaries based on the rap music industry. Lyrics to his verse from "Rapper's Delight" were allegedly plagiarized from rhymes written by Grandmaster Caz.

Clifton "Jiggs" Chase is an American musician, composer, and influential record producer from New Jersey, United States. One of the earliest known recordings is his organ playing on the 1967 Buddy Terry recording Natural Soul, alongside Woody Shaw.

The Treacherous Three was a pioneering American hip hop group that was formed in 1978 and consisted of DJ Easy Lee, Kool Moe Dee, L.A. Sunshine, Special K and Spoonie Gee, with occasional contributions from DJ Dano B, DJ Reggie Reg and DJ Crazy Eddie. They first appeared on record in 1980 on the B-side of Spoonie Gee's single, "Love Rap".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five</span> American hip hop group

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were an American hip hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in 1978. The group's members were Grandmaster Flash, Kidd Creole, Keef Cowboy, Melle Mel, Scorpio, and Rahiem. The group's use of turntablism, breakbeat DJing, and conscious lyricism were significant in the early development of hip hop music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar Hill Records (hip hop label)</span> American record label

Sugar Hill Records was an American record label specializing in hip hop music that was founded in 1979 by husband and wife Joe and Sylvia Robinson with Milton Malden and funding from Tony Riviera and Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records.

<i>Sugarhill Gang</i> (album) 1980 studio album by the Sugarhill Gang

Sugarhill Gang is the self-titled debut album by influential rap group the Sugarhill Gang. It is considered to be the first hip hop studio album, leading to more studio albums by other rappers.

<i>8th Wonder</i> (album) 1981 studio album by the Sugarhill Gang

8th Wonder is the second album by the American rap group the Sugarhill Gang. The album was released in 1981 for Sugar Hill Records and was again produced by Sylvia Robinson and James Cullimore. Though not as successful as the group's previous album, the album did feature the minor hits "8th Wonder" and "Apache" and featured an appearance by another Sugar Hill Records rap group, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five on "Showdown".

<i>Jump On It!</i> 1999 studio album by The Sugarhill Gang

Jump On It! is a 1999 studio album by American hip hop group The Sugarhill Gang made of children's music and was the first hip hop album made by rap artists for children. The album was the only one recorded after the trio of Big Bank Hank, Master Gee, and Wonder Mike reunited in the 1990s and was promoted by a jump rope contest for children in coordination with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, who received a portion of the proceeds from album sales. The album was devised by Rhino Records executive Richard Foos and was intended to be paired with a line of children's clothing, educational videos, and television programming.

Jarret Lloyd Vincent, better known by one of his stage aliases Bim Sherman, was a Jamaican musician and singer-songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lala Song</span> 2009 single by Bob Sinclar featuring The Sugarhill Gang

"Lala Song" is the first single taken from French record producer and DJ Bob Sinclar's sixth studio album Born in 69, released on 3 April 2009. The song samples the 1979 hit "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang, featuring in fact rappers Hen Dogg, Master Gee and Wonder Mike from the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grandmaster Caz</span> American rapper

Curtis Brown, better known by the stage names Grandmaster Caz and Casanova Fly, is an American rapper, songwriter, and DJ. He was a member of the hip hop group The Cold Crush Brothers from 1979 to the mid-1980s. He is best known as the (uncredited) main writer of Big Bank Hank's raps on the seminal 1979 hip hop single by The Sugarhill Gang, "Rapper's Delight".

<i>Rappin Down Town</i> 1983 studio album by The Sugarhill Gang

Rappin' Down Town is the third album from New York City-based rap/hip hop group The Sugarhill Gang. Released in 1983, this album includes the minor R&B hits "The Lover in You" and "The Word is Out."

Darnell Robinson known professionally as Darnell Roy is an American rapper, record executive and record producer. He appeared in First Family of Hip Hop as the president of Sugar Hill Records.

<i>The Sugar Hill Records Story</i> 1997 compilation album by Various Artists

The Sugar Hill Records Story is a 1997 compilation album compiling singles released by the Sugar Hill Records label. It was released by Rhino Records who had purchased the North American rights to the labels catalogue in 1995. On its release, it received positive reviews from Vibe, Spin and AllMusic.

References

  1. The Foundation (2017-06-14), THE SUGAR HILL GANG - FOUNDATION LESSON # 9 - JAYQUAN, archived from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2019-02-13
  2. Petrick, John; and Levin, Jay. "Rapper Big Bank Hank of Englewood-based Sugar Hill Gang dies at age 57", The Record (Bergen County) , November 11, 2014. Accessed November 12, 2014. "Big Bank Hank and two other young rappers, Englewood’s Mike 'Wonder Mike' Wright and Teaneck’s Guy 'Master Gee' O’Brien, were discovered by Robinson’s mother, Sylvia, a founder of Sugar Hill Records in the 1970s."
  3. "Accept No Substitutes". www.thafoundation.com. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  4. Reeves, Marcus (July 9, 2013). "Sugar Hill Gang's Master Gee and Wonder Mike Talk Finding Loopholes". BET.com. p. 1. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  5. Fennessy, Kathy (July 19, 2012). "The Sugarhill Gang Wants Their Name Back". The Stranger. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.