The Sugarhill Gang came out with “Rapper’s Delight” in 1979, the first hip-hop single to crack the Top 40. I was commissioned to do this poster by Warner Brothers and the promoter of the party (at the 2004 South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas), and because their graphic design budget was so slim I asked if I could use the artwork for posters to sell on my website. About a year and a half later, I got a letter from Sugarhill Records’ lawyer threatening to sue me over this poster, which I had permission to do, though they denied any knowledge of it. As it turned out, they just liked the design and wanted to use it, and the only way to force me to let them use it was by suing me, even though I would have (and ultimately did) let them use it anyway.

Signed edition of 300. 18 x 24 inch screen print.

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