Sylvia Robinson (née Vanterpool; May 29, 1935 – September 29, 2011) was an influential American singer and record producer, often hailed as the "Mother of Hip Hop". Born in Harlem, New York, she began her music career at the age of 14, recording for Columbia Records under the name "Little Sylvia". In the mid-1950s, she teamed up with guitarist Mickey Baker to form the duo Mickey & Sylvia, achieving a major hit with "Love Is Strange" in 1957.

After the duo's split, Sylvia pursued a solo career and married Joseph Robinson. She produced Joe Jones's "You Talk Too Much" in 1960, though she did not receive credit. Sylvia later co-founded Sugar Hill Records, a pioneering hip hop label, where she produced landmark singles like "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang and "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Her contributions to the genre earned her a Pioneer Award at the 11th Annual Rhythm and Blues Awards Gala in 2000.

Sylvia Robinson passed away in 2011, but her legacy endures. In 2022, she was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recognized for her profound influence on hip hop's early development.