Big Bank Hank Dead: Sugar Hill Gang’s Henry Jackson Dies In New York

Big Bank Hank, the best known rapper of the Sugar Hill Gang, is dead at 57. TMZ is reporting today that the grandmaster rapper died in New York City on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 from cancer. Big Bank Hank, whose real name is Henry Jackson, had been battling the disease for some time.

The 1979 hit song “Rapper’s Delight” pushed the group to the rap forefront in the 1980s, topping all the music charts with sales of at least 2 million copies. The songs “Apache” and “The Lover In You” were also among the rap group’s popular songs.

The original group members were founder Henry Jackson, aka ‘Big Bank Hank,’ Michael Wright, aka ‘Wonder Mike’ and Guy O’Brien. O’Brien was later replaced by Joey Master, aka ‘Master Gee.’ The surviving group members expressed their sadness regarding Big Bank Hanks’ death to TMZ.

“So sad to hear of our brother’s passing. Rest in peace Big Bank.”

The old school rap band made headlines again in 2002 after they sued beverage giant Snapple and Turner Broadcasting for using their work without permission. A judge awarded The Sugar Hill Gang almost $3 million in that lawsuit.

The Bronx New York native contributed to many documentaries related to the rap industry and its beginning in the late 1970’s early 1980’s, such as 1990’s Rapmania: The Roots of Rap, 2001’s VH-1 Where Are They Now? and 2004’s And You Don’t Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop, according to the IMDB. They told their own true story in their documentary “I Want My Name Back,” which detailed the controversy and dark scandals within the group. A breakdown of the controversy is discussed at Old School Hip Hop.

In the mid to late 2000s, the term Big Bank Hank became a slang term for a guy who keeps a lot of money in his pocket.

Big Bank Hank’s fans are posting comments on Facebook about his sudden death.

#?BigBankHank? Rest In Peace & Thank You ?#?realhiphop? ?#?icons? ?#?legend? ?#?SALUTE?

“too bad today’s rap is all crap”

“God bless him, a true OG”

Next on the mic is my man Hank, come on Hank sing that song…..RIP”

“rip Hank.. sang and danced to you song for years.”

“Real rapper for sure, positive messages! RIP BIG HANK!”

Please check back as this story is updated with more details of Big Bank Hank’s death. The Inquisitr also recently reported on the death of Gangsta Luv rapper Big Paybacc.