These 4 hip-hop songs are among the most influential, and they have ties to Bergen

The roots of hip-hop might be firmly planted at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in the Bronx, but its branches clearly extend into North Jersey.

On Aug. 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc tried something new while entertaining his sister and friends at a back-to-school party. He extended an instrumental he was playing and began rapping over the music, a moment which many believe gave birth to hip-hop.

Fifty years later, the art form is bigger than ever. Eminem’s 2002 album, "The Eminem Show," has sold more than 12 million copies, while Outkast, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Beastie Boys and Lauryn Hill each have albums that sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.

The genre has found success all around the globe, but some of its most influential songs have ties right here in Bergen.

‘Rapper’s Delight’ by The Sugarhill Gang (1979)

Arguably the most well-known song in hip-hop history, “Rapper’s Delight” was released by The Sugarhill Gang and produced by the late groundbreaking record executive Sylvia Robinson.

The track helped hip-hop reach a wider audience and became a top 40 hit in the United States, reached top three in the United Kingdom and became a number one hit in Canada.

Both The Sugarhill Gang and Robinson — who co-founded Sugar Hill Records with her husband, Joseph —spent many years in Englewood.

In 2014, the record was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

‘The Message’ by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (1982)

Named the greatest hip-hop song of all time in 2012 by "Rolling Stone Magazine," “The Message” changed the genre forever.

It was, "Rolling Stone" said, “the first song to tell, with hip-hop’s rhythmic and vocal force, the truth about modern inner-city life in America...”

Sylvia Robinson was again a driving force behind the single, finally convincing Melle Mel — a member of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five — to record the song after other groups passed due to the conscious lyrics.

The song made headlines again when Hackensack rapper Coi Leray sampled the track for her song, “Players,” which peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

‘Walk This Way’ by Run-DMC & Aerosmith (1986)

Hip-hop’s first crossover hit was recorded in 1986. Run-DMC would freestyle over the opening drum break of Aerosmith’s original version of “Walk This Way” during their concerts. When the hip-hop pioneers were recording their album, Raising Hell, producer Rick Rubin suggested re-recording the song with members of Aerosmith.

Run-DMC resisted at first but eventually gave in. The new version received airplay on both urban and rock radio stations and the video was in heavy rotation on MTV.

Rev Run — one-third of Run-DMC — and his family would go on to star in the MTV reality series "Run’s House," which was primarily filmed in their Saddle River home.

‘Big Poppa’ by The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)

The Notorious B.I.G. — considered by many to be the greatest rapper of all time — spent time in Teaneck before his untimely death in 1997.

But that’s not where the Bergen connections end. One of his most successful singles, “Big Poppa,” samples “Between the Sheets” by The Isley Brothers, who have strong ties to both Teaneck and Englewood.

The Isleys even named their label T-Neck Records, which became famous for distributing the first nationally released recordings of Jimi Hendrix.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Hip-hop songs have ties to Bergen and beyond