DOCUMENTARY “I WANT MY NAME BACK” STARRING HIP HOP ICONS & FORMER SUGARHILL GANG MEMBERS WONDER MIKE AND MASTER GEE HARLEM EVENT
New York, NY – More than 30 years after the historic recording of the iconic mega-hit “Rapper’s Delight,” Master Gee & Wonder Mike come back to reclaim their identities and rightful place in hip hop history in the documentary film “I Want My Name Back.” One Village Entertainment, a division of Image Entertainment, and part of Robert Johnson's RLJ Entertainment released the film on DVD and digital platforms on June 11, 2013.
“I Want My Name Back” highlights the rise, fall, and rise again of original members of The Sugarhill Gang, Michael
Wright (aka Wonder Mike) and Guy O'Brien (aka Master Gee). One of the most influential songs in the history of the
music industry and #2 in Rolling Stone’s Top Hip Hop Songs of all time, "Rapper's Delight" was the first commercial
hip hop release, forever changing the face of the music industry. “Rapper's Delight” is still, to this day, the number one selling single in hip hop history. The group followed up their first hit with another song still played today called
“Apache”. Their first three albums went platinum. While this success should have cemented the legacy and careers of the original members, reality tells a much different story--one that most people, including those in the hip hop world, are not even aware of. A story of unprecedented identity theft, copyright and trademark violations, Master Gee and Wonder Mike fight a more than 30 year battle against their label to get their names and legacy back. The film also features Grandmaster Caz (The Cold Crush Brothers), Melle Mel (Grandmaster Flash), and Vinnie and Treach (Naughty by Nature). “I Want My Name Back” is the journey of two men who want what was taken from them: their names, their legacy and their music!
“I Want My Name Back” will be presented at the following summer event. Media coverage is invited.
Wednesday, July 10th
Presented by Maysles Cinema's Summer of Music, Reel Harlem: The Historic Harlem Parks Film Festival, TedSmooth's
Old School Jam and Harlem Hip-Hop Tours.
An unprecedented event with the three original writers back to reclaim and perform their legendary song, “Rapper’s
Delight” in one of the birthplaces of hip hop!
5:30pm The hottest DJ in the Bronx, DJ TedSmooth’s Summer Jam featuring an MC contest by audience members
7:30pm Performance featuring Wonder Mike, Master Gee and Grandmaster Caz
8:30pm Screening with brief Q&A to follow with filmmakers and talent
@ Marcus Garvey Park's Richard Rodgers Amphitheater
Behind Pelham Fritz Recreation Center, Mt. Morris Park West at 122nd St.
Rain Location: The Mount Morris Ascension Presbyterian Church
16-20 Mount Morris Park West (Southwest corner of West 122nd Street)
Director’s Statement
“When I first met Wonder Mike and Master Gee I thought I would listen to the usual story of a band breaking up. You know, the stuff you see on TV like the sex and drugs ruining the rock n roll or something like that. As I started
listening to their story, I heard something a little different. I heard they would write songs and have other people put their names on them sometimes giving them credit for writing their own songs and sometimes not. I heard that they sold millions of records, had three platinum albums and they were broke. And of course they were in court fighting over all this larceny. This was a sad story, but unfortunately many other groups and performers could tell the same story. But then I heard them say they also had their names taken away. That got my attention. How did that happen? By an illegal trademark, which basically stated that they never existed. Wow. Now there’s a story,” says film director Roger Paradiso.
Media interviews are available now with the film’s director Roger Paradiso as well as Wonder Mike and Master Gee.
WATCH THE TRAILER:
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