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Sylvia Robinson has passed away at the age of 75. Sylvia Vanterpool Robinson, known as the Mother of Hip-Hop, died today at 6:28 a.m. EST from congestive heart failure. Sylvia who was born on March 6, 1936 was a singer, musician, music producer, and record label executive, most notably known for her work as founder/CEO of the seminal hip hop label Sugar Hill Records.

Q Tip was the first to tweet that the legendary record executive has died:

According to sister2sister magazine, Sylvia had been ill for approximately five months before passing this morning at Meadowlands Hospital in Secaucus, New Jersey, family spokesman Greg Walker told Sister 2 Sister.Along with producing “Rapper’s Delight,” Sylvia also produced “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. She didn’t just work behind the scenes, though. Sylvia was half of the duo Mickey & Sylvia.

“Pillow Talk” and “Love is Strange” are two of Sylvia’s most popular songs.

Sylvia Robinson produced the very first successful rap record, “Rapper’s Delight”:

For 2024’s iteration of MadameNoire and HelloBeautiful’s annual series Women to Know, we knew we wanted to celebrate the people who help make the joys of film and television possible. To create art is to create magic. This year, we spotlight Hollywood Executive’s changing the face of cinema.