“Big Apple Rappin’” (rap by Spyder-D, 1980)
“Big Apple Rappin’” (1980) was released by Spyder D (Duane Hughes) on his own label, Newtroit Records. Big Apple Rappin’: The Early Days of Hip-Hop Culture in New York City 1979–1982 (2006) is a compilation released on Soul Jazz Records that includes “Big Apple Rappin’” (the longest selection at 10:18 minutes).
“Mine is the title track ‘Big Apple Rappin’. I made history with that being the first rap record that was written, produced and released by a rapper on his own record label. All praise due to my Mother Doris Garrett who is mentioned as Executives Producer on the 12” single” was posted on Twitter by Spyder D on January 9, 2020. “Big Apple Rappin’” mentions many people who were involved in the early rap scene in New York City at that time.
Wikipedia: Spyder-D
Duane Hughes, better known by his stage name Spyder D, is an American old-school rapper and producer from New York City.
Career
1980s
“Big Apple Rappin’ was released on his own Newtroit Records in 1980, placing it among hip-hop’s earliest single releases.
Wikipedia: Big Apple Rappin’
Big Apple Rappin’: The Early Days of Hip-Hop Culture in New York City 1979–1982 is a compilation released on Soul Jazz Records. It contains songs by various artists from the early days of New York hip hop.
(...)
No. Title Writer(s) Credited Performer Length
1. “Big Apple Rappin’” D. Hughes, E. Rice, P. Pierce, W. White, B. Motley Spyder D 10:18
Genius.com (lyrics)
Big Apple Rappin’ (National Rappin’ Anthem)
Spyder-D
Produced by Spyder-D
Release Date January 1, 1980
(...)
New York, New York
This is the place to be
Turn up the sounds, turn on your ears
‘Cause this is Spyder-D
(...)
We got W-W-R-L
With Gary Byrd to rock it well
We got New York City all night long
The Big Apple, to the break of dawn
We got little Spyder-C and Kid Flash
We got Spyder-D makin’ cold-cold cash
We got IS8 and Tom Brown
Funkin’ for Jamaica with his sure shot talent
We got the World Trade Center and the Bronx Zoo
The fellas on Farmers and Hollis Avenue ...
Twitter
Spyder D
@spyder_d
Replying to @kusworthy
@kusworthy I remember the day we recorded Big Apple Rappin’ like it was yesterday. Yesterday was late 1979 and so much has changed in 36 yrs
1:33 AM · Aug 27, 2015·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Todd Anderson
@_toddanderson_
doesn’t take much more than hearing Spyder D’s “Big Apple Rappin’” to get me in a good mood.
10:02 PM · Apr 13, 2016·Twitter for Mac
Twitter
Spyder D
@SpyderD
Nearly 40 years ago, in December of 1979, me and my friend Tito Lewis set off on a mad dash from Michigan to New York in the middle of a snowstorm, to await the arrival of the initial pressing of the now classic “Big Apple Rappin’” https://youtu.be/Fir-xNa0p28
7:53 AM · Sep 5, 2019 from Fayetteville, GA·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Mr. P Chill
@MrPChill
In 79 & 80 there were a handful of rap records that were phenomenal. Big Apple Rappin’ is one of them. This is also historic in the fact that it’s the first rap record that was released on a label owned by the artist, making @SpyderD a pioneer in both music & entrepreneurship.
Quote Tweet
Spyder D
@SpyderD
· Sep 5, 2019
Nearly 40 years ago, in December of 1979, me and my friend Tito Lewis set off on a mad dash from Michigan to New York in the middle of a snowstorm, to await the arrival of the initial pressing of the now classic “Big Apple Rappin’” https://youtu.be/Fir-xNa0p28
12:08 PM · Sep 5, 2019·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Spyder D
@SpyderD
Mine is the title track “Big Apple Rappin’”. I made history with that being the first rap record that was written, produced and released by a rapper on his own record label. All praise due to my Mother Doris Garrett who is mentioned as Executives Producer on the 12” single.
Quote Tweet
cyborgTR808
@cyborgTR808
· Jan 9, 2020
Replying to @SpyderD
They are good albums ... those covers in the YT video.
4:53 PM · Jan 9, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
neosouldude
@neosouldude
Replying to @IsaNahilaS
@spyderd origins of disco rap. This was the longest. Big apple rappin was long…
1:17 AM · Feb 16, 2020·Twitter for Android
Twitter
neosouldude
@neosouldude
Replying to @R_Wesley_W7 @SpyderD and @skillz_mark
@SpyderD. Had some hits but his jam was big apple rappin. In them days they called it disco rap. Because it was long on a 12 inch record.
5:34 PM · Jun 20, 2020·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Spyder D
@SpyderD
According to the app Who Sampled Who, Prince did sample one of my early joints Big Apple Rappin’. Of course that’s a huge and humbling honor.
7:45 AM · Sep 24, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
YouTube
Spyder-D - Big Apple Rappin’ (1980)
Dec 28, 2020
MAXMELIX