What was the name of the first commercially successful rap song?

"Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang is often credited with being the first rap song to achieve commercial success and mainstream recognition. Released by Sugar Hill Records in 1979, the song was composed of three verses performed by Big Bank Hank, Wonder Mike, and Master Gee, over a sample of Chic's disco hit "Good Times."

"Rapper's Delight" was a landmark release in the history of hip-hop, as it introduced rap music to a wider audience outside of the Bronx, where the genre originated. The song's catchy rhythm, playful lyrics, and energetic delivery resonated with listeners and helped popularize rap as a new form of musical expression.

Despite some controversy over its use of borrowed lyrics and lack of originality, "Rapper's Delight" became a massive hit, reaching the top 40 charts in several countries and selling millions of copies worldwide. Its success paved the way for the commercial viability of rap music and laid the foundation for the hip-hop genre's eventual dominance of the music industry in the decades that followed.

"Rapper's Delight" remains an iconic and influential song in the history of hip-hop, celebrated for its role in bringing rap music to a mainstream audience and establishing it as a legitimate form of popular music.