"Unveiling the Roots: Rap Legends Reflect on 'Rapper's Delight' and Early Hip-Hop Influences"

In celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary, several rap legends including Queen Latifah, Chuck D, Method Man, and E-40 recall their first memories of hearing rap and how it impacted them. Many of them cited The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" as the first rap song they heard, but their answers reveal the sense of discovery that marked rap's early years. These artists reminisce about connecting with rap through songs by acts like Afrika Bambaattaa, Grandmaster Flash, and Run-D.M.C., highlighting the transformative impact of these early hip-hop influences.