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Super Rappin' (Various Artists) on LP

In 1979 at the age of 62, Bobby Robinson was an incongruous figure, standing at the back of a Bronx club watching a performance from GRANDMASTER FLASH and The Furious Five. According to writer Dan Charnas, "Flash thought Bobby was either a cop or a father on the lookout for his wayward daughter." But the experienced record man, whose record shop Bobby's Happy House had been the first black-owned business on Harlem's 125th Street, was on the lookout for talent.

The Sugarhill Gang's 'Rapper's Delight' was flying out of Bobby's record store and through family connections - his nephew Gabriel (aka Spoonie Gee) was staying at his apartment - Bobby signed Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, and The Funky Four Plus One More to a one-record contract. The fruits of the deal were Flash's 'Superappin' and The Funky Four Plus One More's 'Rappin' And Rocking The House'. Unlike the manufactured sound of 'Rappers Delight' this was the real thing! 'Superappin' was an epic 12-minute wonder that opened with an incredible call to arms: "It was a party night, everybody was breakin'/ The highs were screamin' and the bass was shakin'/ And it won't be long 'til everybody knowin' that Flash was on the beat box". Whilst perhaps too raw for national success it was rumoured to have sold over 100,000 copies in New York setting the rap scene alight. ENJOY!