Which Albums Include The Lyrics To Funk You Up?

Wow, this one hits a sweet nostalgia spot for me — 'Funk You Up' is a classic little time capsule. The most concrete place you’ll find the song itself is on the original releases from Sugar Hill Records: it was first dropped as a single in 1979 by The Sequence, and then it shows up on the group's album release commonly titled 'Sugarhill Presents the Sequence' (their debut LP). That LP is the main studio album that includes 'Funk You Up' as a track, and if you’re digging through physical copies that’s the record I’d hunt for first.

Beyond that original LP, the song has been recycled into a bunch of compilation and anthology releases over the years. Sugar Hill has had multiple “best of” and retrospective compilations — think boxed sets and 2-disc anthologies covering early hip-hop and funk — and 'Funk You Up' tends to appear on those because it’s one of the earliest female-fronted rap singles and a key Sugar Hill track. So you’ll often find it on various artist compilations that collect Sugar Hill’s early output or the roots of hip-hop. Titles vary by region and label reissue, but searching for compilations with phrases like 'Best of Sugar Hill', 'Sugar Hill Story', or 'Old School Hip Hop Essentials' usually turns it up.

If what you actually want is the printed lyrics inside album booklets, that’s trickier. Early rap releases rarely included full lyric sheets the way folk or progressive rock albums often did; liner notes were usually short, and Sugar Hill singles and early LP sleeves sometimes prioritized credits and photos over full lyrics. Some later reissues, especially CD anthologies and deluxe packages, are more likely to include lyrics or expanded liner notes with partial transcriptions. If having the official-printed lyric is a must, your best bet is to look for deluxe reissues or curated anthologies from reputable labels that specialize in historical re-releases.

In practice I find it easiest to pair hunting down those compilations with modern lyric and archival sites (Genius is one example) and streaming services that show credit information. Also, if you like poking around the physical world, record shops that stock old hip-hop and label-specific boxes sometimes have those Sugar Hill anthologies with booklets. Either way, tracking down the original 'Sugarhill Presents the Sequence' LP and a well-curated Sugar Hill compilation will get you the song; finding printed lyrics is a bit of a scavenger hunt but often possible in reissues or anthology booklets.

I still get that thrill whenever I stumble across early hip-hop records in dusty crates, and 'Funk You Up' is the kind of track that makes you stop and listen. To be direct: the core album that includes the song is the group’s debut LP, generally known as 'Sugarhill Presents the Sequence' — that’s where 'Funk You Up' lives as a full album-track after being released as a single. If your goal is to hear the original master and check any accompanying sleeve notes, that album (and the original 7"/12" single pressings) are the authentic sources.

Beyond the original LP and singles, 'Funk You Up' has enjoyed life on a number of compilations focused on Sugar Hill Records or the birth of recorded hip-hop. Over the decades, record companies and compilers have repeatedly pulled together early hip-hop highlights, and The Sequence’s single tends to appear in collections labeled as Sugar Hill anthologies, old-school rap collections, or early hip-hop essentials. Because these compilations are often assembled by different labels worldwide, exact titles vary; I’ve personally seen it on several Sugar Hill retrospective discs in the used-CD bins at record conventions.

If you’re after lyrics printed in the sleeve, I want to flag something practical: many early hip-hop releases didn’t print full lyrics in their packaging. That means original pressings might not have them, while later reissues or anthology booklets may include transcriptions or at least commentary and credits. For guaranteed transcriptions, I usually cross-reference streaming services, lyric websites, and scans of CD booklets uploaded by collectors — but always keep an eye on the source, because early rap lyrics can be transcribed a little differently by different folks.

So, in short: get the original 'Sugarhill Presents the Sequence' LP for the canonical placement, and watch for Sugar Hill compilations and anthologies if you want the song included elsewhere. If printed lyrics are essential, hunt for deluxe reissues and anthology booklets, or use verified lyric sites paired with scans of reissue liners. It’s a small research adventure, and I love that kind of treasure-hunt vibe when I’m hunting vinyl on a rainy weekend.

As someone who spends too many hours curating playlists and helping friends track down hard-to-find tracks, here’s a practical, slightly nerdy take: the primary album to look for is the group’s debut compilation LP 'Sugarhill Presents the Sequence' — that’s your go-to for the proper album inclusion of 'Funk You Up.' The song was originally a standalone single on Sugar Hill in 1979 and then made its way onto the group’s LP and into the label’s historical compilations. If you want to stream it, most services carry those compilation albums or the single track itself.

For collectors who care about context, 'Funk You Up' also turns up in various Sugar Hill retrospective collections and early-hip-hop anthologies. Compilers who cover late-70s/early-80s rap commonly include the song because of its historical value as one of the first commercially released female rap records. So you’ll see it on many different multi-artist releases titled under themes like 'The Roots of Hip-Hop' or 'Classic Sugar Hill' — the exact compilation names change a lot, and international reissues often shuffle tracks, but the presence of The Sequence’s signature single is a frequent constant.

If your specific question is about which albums include printed lyrics: be prepared that original vinyl and early pressings might not offer a full lyric sheet. That was pretty normal for the era. Reissue CDs, box sets, and curated anthologies released later are more likely to include lyrics or expanded liner notes. If I need the words verbatim, I combine a few approaches: check the reissue booklet (if available), cross-check lyric databases (Genius, Musixmatch) and watch official uploads or remasters on streaming platforms that sometimes include synced lyrics. Sometimes the simplest route is a high-quality YouTube upload with captions or a scanned booklet posted by a collector on Discogs.

So, the short practical roadmap: chase down 'Sugarhill Presents the Sequence' for the original album context, then look through Sugar Hill/early hip-hop anthology discs for additional appearances. For printed lyrics, prioritize deluxe reissues and anthology booklets, and supplement with verified lyric sites — and if you want, tell me which format you prefer (vinyl, CD, streaming) and I can help point to specific releases or sellers I’ve used myself.