RIP Sylvia.

You may not know it because her name has disappeared from the headline since the 1980's, Sylvia Robinson passed away a few days ago. 

It's nothing to say that Sylvia Robinson made history, by founding, with her husband Joe Robinson, the mythic Sugar Hill Records. In its first years, the label released three major early hip hop anthems : "Rappers Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang, "The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel" by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, and another track by Flash & The Five "The Message". If you know your rap history, there can't be any denial about these songs being genuine foundations. 

Sugar Hill Records also sheltered rap stars Melle Mel and Positive Force. Even Candi Staton was once signed on the label. 

But hip hop wasn't Sylvia's first interest. As a singer herself, she was involved into black music. With her entrepreneuring mind, Sylvia created the label All Platinum, helping acts like The Rimshots, The Moments, Retta Young, and George Kerr, among others. All Platinum even released a Malcolm X record. 

Sylvia's own career was pretty chaotic ; she scored hits (remember this ? and that ?) in the 1950's, then waited until 1973 for another moment of fame, with her sexually explicit "Pillow Talk". 

Anyway, Mrs. Robinson will mainly stay in the music history as a label founder and as the "mother of hip hop". 

Thank you Mrs. Robinson.