Sugar Hill Gang's "Big Bank Hank" has died

buzzz worthy. . .

RIP to one of the Hip Hop community's pioneers, Big Bank Hank (born Henry Jackson) of the Sugar Hill Gang. Hill died of cancer today at the age of 57 in Englewood, NJ.

Surviving group members Wonder Mike and Master Gee issued the following statement:

"So sad to hear about our brother's passing. The 3 of us created musical history together with the release of Rapper's Delight. We will always remember traveling the world together and rocking the house. Rest in peace Big Bank."

Their classic rap song "Rapper's Delight," the song that is widely considered the first song to popularize rap when it was released in 1979.