Library Rock's Backpages

The Beastie Boys: The Grate White Hopes

Vernon Gibbs, New Look, January 1986

RAP RECORDS first started selling big in 1979 with the Sugarhill Gang's 'Rapper's Delight'. They were considered little more than the grating noise of the underclass. Even black-oriented stations, where the records got most of their exposure, handed down the verdict that rap was a novelty and would soon disappear.

Total word count of piece: 602

Subscribe

Becoming a member is easy. Membership gives you access to all the thousands of articles in the library.

Click here to go to Subscribe page.

Click here for academic and other group subscriptions.