If you’re a big hip hop historian, or were a fan of the duo Mickey & Sylvia, chances are, you knew a thing or two about Sylvia Robinson. If not, know that she was indeed the mother of hip hop.

Robinson passed away today at the age of 75, reportedly from congestive heart failure. She was a singer, songwriter and producer who sang in the group Mickey & Sylvia in the ’50s, and had a bit of solo success in the ’70s. But in 1979, after helping to found Sugar Hill Records (with her husband and Milton Malden), Robinson made the brave and historic decision of recording a hip-hop track, before it was called hip hop. That track would turn out to be the very successful and iconic “Rapper’s Delight.” After hearing a group of people rhyming over an instrumental in Harlem, she asked her son to find some lyricists, who would later turn out to be the Sugar Hill Gang, and have them rap over the instrumental for Chic’s “Good Times.” Golden idea! She would also go on to sign Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five From there, and with her help, they recorded “The Message.”  Doors were opened and hip hop got its start thanks to a woman. This woman. Hopefully those who are elite in hip hop know her name, because who knows where they would be without her…

R.I.P. Sylvia!