[3] The song was inspired by old school hip hop acts from New York City, like the Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.

"The Magnificent Seven" was recorded in April 1980 at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, built around a funky bass loop played by Norman Watt-Roy[5] of the Blockheads.

Music critic Jeff Chang wrote that in New York City, the song "had become an unlikely hit on the Black radio station WBLS.

[3] It is credited to "Pepe Unidos", a pseudonym for Strummer, Paul Simonon and manager Bernie Rhodes.

was a club hit and the record Larry Levan would use to fine tune the sound system at the Paradise Garage.