Master Gee (musician)

Guy Anthony O'Brien is an American rapper known by the stage name Master Gee. He is a founding member of the hip hop group The Sugarhill Gang. On the band's signature song, "Rapper's Delight", he raps, "I said M-A-S, T-E-R, a G with a double E, I said I go by the unforgettable name of the man they call the Master Gee". He was 17 at the time of recording the song, alluded to by the lyric, "I guess by now you can take a hunch, and find that I am the baby of the bunch".

Master Gee
Background information
Birth nameGuy Anthony O'Brien
Bornc. 1962 (age 60–61)
OriginTeaneck, New Jersey
Occupation(s)Rapper
Years active1979–present

Biography

O'Brien grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, where at an early age he was exposed to a steady stream of doo wop and rhythm and blues, and established himself as an energetic emcee in the pioneering Phase 2 hip-hop crew.[1] During the early infancy of the commercial hip-hop movement in 1979, Master Gee, Big Bank Hank and Wonder Mike were discovered by producer Sylvia Robinson[2] and brought together to form The Sugarhill Gang.[3]

O'Brien stepped away from Sugar Hill Records in 1984, and established himself as a successful entrepreneur in the magazine industry. During the group's departure from the label, Joey Robinson Jr., son of Sugar Hill producer Sylvia Robinson, used the stage name Master Gee. O'Brien and Wonder Mike went to court over the use of the group's name and stage names[4] as documented in the film, I Want My Name Back.[5] In 2014, name usage was amicably resolved, and Master Gee has since re-emerged as a mainstay in the hip hop community and music industry.

O'Brien appeared on GQ's Most Expensivest, hosted by 2 Chainz in 2023.

He currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area, and actively performs worldwide with The Sugarhill Gang and as a solo DJ.

References
  1. The Foundation (2017-06-14), THE SUGAR HILL GANG - FOUNDATION LESSON # 9 - JAYQUAN, archived from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2019-02-13
  2. Petrick, John; and Levin, Jay. "Rapper Big Bank Hank of Englewood-based Sugar Hill Gang dies at age 57", The Record (Bergen County), November 11, 2014. Accessed November 12, 2014. "Big Bank Hank and two other young rappers, Englewood’s Mike 'Wonder Mike' Wright and Teaneck’s Guy 'Master Gee' O’Brien, were discovered by Robinson’s mother, Sylvia, a founder of Sugar Hill Records in the 1970s."
  3. "Accept No Substitutes". www.thafoundation.com. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  4. Reeves, Marcus (July 9, 2013). "Sugar Hill Gang's Master Gee and Wonder Mike Talk Finding Loopholes". BET.com. p. 1. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  5. Fennessy, Kathy (July 19, 2012). "The Sugarhill Gang Wants Their Name Back". The Stranger. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
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