by Stephen Cook
While they didn't garner the critical praise of their label cohorts,
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
, the Sugarhill Gang still produced their share of memorable slices of early hip-hop. Helping to bring
Sylvia Robinson
's Sugar Hill Records into the limelight, the label's namesake group erred more on the funk side of the hip-hop equation, plying a steamy, all-night mix of go-go grooves, straight funk singing, and rapping. 8th Wonder features the hits &Apache& and the title track, as well as such slick funk burners as &Hot Hot Summer Day& and the incredible bit of uptown dance alchemy &Funk Box& (shades of
Prince
here). 8th Wonder may not be as good a starting point for newcomers as roundups on Rhino and Sequel, but it certainly will be one fans won't want to miss.