Unveiling the Legacy of Master Gee: How One Man Changed the Course of Hip-Hop History
Guy Anthony O’Brien, commonly known as Master Gee, is a multi-platinum recording artist, founder and the voice of the legendary Hip-Hop group The Sugarhill gang. He is an inaugural class inductee into the Hip-Hop Museum Hall of Fame and widely regarded as one of Hip-Hop’s pioneering icons. He has been at the forefront of some of the most groundbreaking trends and movements in modern pop culture. He has been a trendsetter in music, dance and fashion.
Master Gee is an internationally acclaimed Hip-Hop icon, musician, renowned for his powerful performances and dynamic life shows, podcaster, entrepreneur, highly sought-after public speaker and storyteller, enthusiastic professional golfer, fitness and health expert.
He began his journey with The Sugarhill Gang, one of the most iconic and music acts of all time. The godfathers, the first Hip-Hop superstars and one of Hip-Hop’s most revelled icons attained superstardom with the hit record “Rappers Delight”. The song is regarded as one of the 100 most important American musical works of the 20th century and one of the most recognizable songs in the world.
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With over 12 million units sold, the group not only scored the very first Hip-Hop song but the biggest selling Hip-Hop record of all time. It became one of the biggest songs in music history. There’s song “Apache/Jump on It” brings on the dance craze made popular by Will Smith and PSY – Gangnam Style. With over 80 million streams on Spotify, Apple, iTunes, Amazon, over 80 million YouTube views, sold out concerts around the world, monthly viral moments on Tik Tok and Instagram for their song “Apache”, the Sugarhill Gang proves to be a favourite amongst millions of fans for all ages.
Master Gee’s pioneering work was solely responsible for bringing the then brand-new sound of Hip-Hop to mainstream attention, and helping the genre turn into a genuine pop-culture phenomenon nationally and around the world. Every rapper since, from Jay Z to Drake, owes The Sugarhill Gang a debt.
With international multi-platinum success came world tours, soundtracks, unforgettable performance on the UK’s legendary Top of the Pops, American Bandstand, Soul Train, television and acting (Mario Van Peebles).
That enduring connection between Master Gee and his fans received a dazzling jolt in the form of “La La Song”, in 2009. A global smash for the Sugarhill Gang, it was produced by international superstar DJ/producer Bob Sinclar. It quickly became an uber hit overseas, securing “Song of the Year” for many European countries, including Italy – adding another notch to his impressive chart history.
Today we find Master Gee living his best life yet, spending his time touring the world, blessed to share his head records with millions of people every year, in the studio and in front of cameras!
Full of positive energy and unstoppable optimism, Master Gee regularly appears in documentaries, radio and on TV chat shows such as CNN, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Conan, MTV, The View with Whoopie Goldberg, BBC, The Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy (Ireland’s most popular television show), Arte (France), Rtve (National TV Spain, Walla! News (Israel), Don’t Hate the Playaz (ITV UK), The Big Narstie Show (Channel 4 UK) as well as connecting with his legions of followers and fans on the stage at the Art of Rap Festival (USA), Singapore Grand Prix, Secret Solstice Festival (Iceland), Sonar (Spain), V Festival (UK), Clockenflap Festival Hong Kong, Billboard Live (Japan) and many more.
Also host of THE SUGARHILL GANG PODCAST out now on Apple Podcast, Spotify and all other platforms. With celebrity guests Big Daddy Kane, Aloe Blacc, Talib Kweli, DJ Cassidy, Bob Sinclar, A Trak and many others.
Keep tabs on Master Gee and grab your seat on the train before it leaves the station.
About The Hip-Hop Shop
The Hip-Hop Shop is the flagship retail and event space of the National Hip-Hop Museum. Open since January, 2023, it features the East Coast’s largest selection of hip-hop memorabilia, including: vintage apparel, sneakers, toys, memorabilia, vinyl and art. The shop is located at 1919 18th Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20019. Merchandise also is available for online purchase at nationalhiphopshop.com.
About The Museum
Launched in 2019, the National Hip-Hop Museum of Washington DC is the world’s first Hip-Hop museum. As the leading organization in hip-hop preservation, history and education, this 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization comprises The House of Hip-Hop, The Hip-Hop Shop, Lifted Lounge and The Hip-Hop Museum Pop-Up Experience. Executive Director is Master Gee, a multi-platinum recording artist, founder and the voice of the legendary hip-hop group, The Sugarhill Gang. The centerpiece of the NHHM is a collection of over 5000 exclusive and authentic pieces of memorabilia, artifacts, posters, sneakers and other rare and historic items representing all aspects of the culture. Drawing on hip-hop’s longstanding tradition of empowerment and social awareness, the NHHM includes a series of community-oriented seminars and workshops focusing on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, health and wellness and social justice. The museum is located at 2622 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001. For more information, visit nationalhiphopmuseum.org.
CONTACT: Christine Bowen hiphopmuseumdc@gmail.com
Discover the story of Master Gee, a founding father of hip-hop and member of the Sugarhill Gang, and his enduring impact on the genre.
Keywords: Master Gee, Sugarhill Gang, hip-hop history, founding fathers of hip-hop, music legacy
#MasterGee #HipHopHistory #SugarhillGang
