The song ‘Rapture’ by Blondie (1981) was the first single featuring a rap to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Debbie Harry, lead singer of Blondie, has said many rappers, including the Wu-Tang Clan and Mobb Deep, told her it was the first rap song they ever heard.

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Rapture (Blondie song)

“Rapture” is a song by the American pop/rock band Blondie from their fifth studio album, Autoamerican (1980).

In January 1981, “Rapture” was released as the second and final single from the album. The song became their fourth and last single to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for two weeks. It was the first number-one song in the U.S. to feature rap vocals. The song peaked at number four in Australia and number five in the United Kingdom.

“Rapture” is a combination of disco, funk, and hip hop with the rap section forming an extended coda.

Music video

The music video made its U.S. television debut on Solid Gold on January 31, 1981, and not only became the first rap video ever broadcast on… Continue Reading (5 minute read)

12 thoughts on “The song ‘Rapture’ by Blondie (1981) was the first single featuring a rap to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Debbie Harry, lead singer of Blondie, has said many rappers, including the Wu-Tang Clan and Mobb Deep, told her it was the first rap song they ever heard.”

  1. SuperCat_

    also had some early rappers/DJs in the music video, can’t remember exactly but I think Grandmaster Flash was in it

    EDIT: it’s Fab Five Freddy, Flash was supposed to be in it but was replaced by Basquiat apparently

    Reply
  3. fujfuj

    “And you don’t stop, sure shot, go out to the parking lot…”

    Reply
  4. attaboy_stampy

    lol that is a rap

    I haven’t heard that song in like 20 years or more, but I can still remember the lyrics about the alien showing up to shoot you dead then eat your head then the man from mars goes and eats cars then when no more cars he eats the bars “where the people meet.”

    Reply
  5. StepYaGameUp

    I mean the lyrics are weak but the beat is a banger

    Reply
  6. RetArmy

    First rap song goes to,……Wait for it…….The CDB, Devil went down to Georgia.

    Reply
  7. KitBitSit

    I remember this from a documentary on rap, *The Evolution of Hip Hop,* also the collaboration between Aerosmith and Run DMC, on *Walk this Way* as a start to introducing rap to white audiences.

    Apparently, the popular *Rapper’s Delight* wasn’t considered serious rap by rappers of the day.

    Reply
  8. Thetman38

    Man from mars, Eating cars

    Reply
  9. StarMoonSun66

    Rapper’s Delight was 1979 but only went to #4

    Reply
  10. amh_library

    TIL “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith only made it to the top 10. I thought for sure it reached no. 1.

    Reply
  11. prettyfly4aporkpie

    Even listening to it today, that’s a fukkin weird song

    Reply
  12. ebernal13

    And it was called “flash” in the early days. Great song.

    Reply

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