Good Times/Rappers Delight. Ian breaks it down.

A line that never gets old. I wish, however, that people would learn that “sampling” means “a digital recording of”. The Sugarhill Gang didn’t “sample” “Good Times”.
More accurately, they ripped it off. SHG almost got sued by Nile Rogers & Bernard Edwards.

Here’s the brief story:
"Rapper's Delight" didn't just sample the beat; the string stabs were also lifted, so the entire "Delight" track was made up of pieces from the Chic song.

"Good Times" was written by Chic's guitarist/producer Nile Rodgers and bass player Bernard Edwards. Rodgers heard "Rapper's Delight" for the first time when he was out at a club and the DJ played it. After he threatened a lawsuit, the credits on the song were changed. Originally, Sylvia Robinson and the three rappers were listed as the song's writers, but now the only composers listed are Rodgers and Edwards, who receive all the songwriting royalties it brings in (Edwards' share goes to his estate, as he died in 1996).
 
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More accurately, they ripped it off. SHG almost got sued by Nile Rogers & Bernard Edwards.

Here’s the brief story:
"Rapper's Delight" didn't just sample the beat; the string stabs were also lifted, so the entire "Delight" track was made up of pieces from the Chic song.

"Good Times" was written by Chic's guitarist/producer Nile Rodgers and bass player Bernard Edwards. Rodgers heard "Rapper's Delight" for the first time when he was out at a club and the DJ played it. After he threatened a lawsuit, the credits on the song were changed. Originally, Sylvia Robinson and the three rappers were listed as the song's writers, but now the only composers listed are Rodgers and Edwards, who receive all the songwriting royalties it brings in (Edwards' share goes to his estate, as he died in 1996).
Yeah, that "lift" made 'Nard and Nile a lot of money. I wonder if any of the other artists whose work was "borrowed" by Sugar Hill Records made similar arrangements.
 
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