The 1979 Chic song whose bass line was reused in the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” is “Good Times.” Its instantly recognizable groove helped connect late-1970s disco with the emerging sound of hip-hop.
“Good Times” was written and performed by Chic, with the foundational bass part played by Bernard Edwards. When the Sugarhill Gang recorded “Rapper’s Delight” later in 1979, Sugar Hill Records used studio musicians to recreate the groove rather than simply placing the original Chic recording underneath the rap. This is why descriptions may call it an interpolation or replayed bass line rather than a straightforward sample.
The borrowing became historically important. “Rapper’s Delight” introduced rap to a huge mainstream audience, while the Chic groove gave the record a steady, danceable foundation. Nile Rodgers initially objected to the unauthorized use, but he and Edwards ultimately received songwriting credit after the connection was recognized.
Listeners sometimes say that “Rapper’s Delight” sampled the entire song. More precisely, its backing track prominently re-created elements of “Good Times,” especially the bass-and-drum groove, while adding its own arrangement and extended rap performance.