20 years ago MTV was the first major television network to have a music video show solely dedicated to hip-hop. “Yo! MTV Raps” premiered on August 6, 1988 and had a 7 year run ending in August 1995. The ground-breaking 2 hour music television show was hosted by Fab 5 Freddy, Doctor Dre (not to be confused with Dr. Dre from N.W.A.) and Ed Lover. The show came at a time when hip-hop was hard to find on television, thus creating an outlet and place to go for young hip-hop junkies of the 80s. It goes without saying that “Yo! MTV Raps” was revolutionary for its time and contribution to making hip-hop mainstream and not just a “trend” that everyone thought would pass.
To commemorate the show’s 20th anniversary, MTV will be airing re-runs throughout April. Hopefully watching old school classics will inspire and remind this new generation of “Candy Shop”, “Lollipop”, and “Yah TRICK Yah!!” Rapping youngsters of what the true essence of hip hop is really about.
Ok everyone has a right to there opinion and what not. I was born in 82 and remember the good old days. But heres my grip with people who complain. If you want change then get a movement together with some artist and put out quality music. Stand behind an artist thats saying somthing. Maybe I’m different. I like the hardcore ganasta, I like the radio/bubble gum club stuff. I stay jaming on that dirty south crunk stuff, I get deep into the story telling of 3 stacks/Common/Lupe Fiasco. Hip Hop/Rap is a refelction of the people, not all of us blacks are gang bangers just like all of us aint smart. At the end of the day Hip Hop has come along way. Good and Bad. Artist put out songs cause they know it will sell even if its whack. Take Jordan, there are some Jordans I feel are ugly but guess what they sold out every time, why cause its Jordan. So, support good music, period.
Thats so true, the problem is that as you can see, music is evolving in the direction of what sells most. I was born in 88 and i caught the last glimpse of the good music. At that time i had music FOR MY AGE…. like Britney spears and N’Sync (cheesy but still!). But, since alot of the negative (as in sexual undertoned& degration of women in) music is more common, that will get most populated. Kids aren’t stupid, they mite know catch on quick to the meaning of the song but they are gonna stick to songs like that… your 4 year old neice and nephew don’t sound cute singin Superman that Hoe or Sexual (which sounds the same as Sensual) Secudtion. But yes, Music has come a long way but, there is not many ‘I am not my hair’ India Ire or ‘I have a dream’ Common. I listen to other music too, i just htink we need to move in a better direction
Honestly…..THERE is absolutely no point in airing the program. Nothing will change and MTV is simply TRYIN’ to gain some kinda street cred by not airing so many episodez of BULL like LAGUNA BEACH!
i agree 100% wit SheenaPooh & Jamaal. im a 88 baby to & i feel like music is just evolving…hip-hop/rap/gangsta rap isnt even that old if you really think about it & everything I MEAN EVERYTHING in this world or life period evolves over time so why should our music be any different. i would love 2 live in a world with nuthing but tupac’s, biggies, marvin gaye’s, temptations etc but that’s not what life is about. life is about change & adapting to different situations & that’s what music is doing. we’re not buying it anymore so they’re attempting to make changes so we’ll do so again. o & rundown ya’ll need 2 get up on them banned episodes of boondocks & air them on here.
I’m extra glad to hear they re putting those Yo MTV Raps episodes. It seems like, back then, there were soooo many hot acts making good music and videos. Like remember that Pharcyde video, Drop, where they were going backwards the whole time? Thats much better than watching "Ya Trick Ya" five times a day. And i agree with DEEZLETHALNUTZ about putting those banned Boondocks episodes on here. EVERYBODY should watch them. They hit the nail right on the head with that one. Word UP!
only time will tell if the new generation of rappers really get it, but people, buying public must remember that artist is not the only decision maker on what goes on the album…have you seen the last season of Making the Band 4, when Audrey went head to head with Diddy…about the direction the album was going in & that the group wasn’t feeling it…& there just Pop/R&B artist…A&R, Record label execs., CEO of label, artist management & then the artist has a say or input, if the earned executive producer aka creative decision maker, title on the album…
big ups to MTV for continue the movement, after controversely Hottest MC in the Game list, right now…had everyone, including some missing artist from the list…talking…
I wonder who the host is going to be, they should let Rakim host it, he isn’t doing anything, but hopefully they play REAL hip-hop, which means Soulja Boy gets no airplay, they have to create the same atmosphere as the old show too, the host is going to be real important in the reaction the show gets….but I’m glad it’s coming back, now I can actually turn it to MTV every once in a while without wanting to roundhouse kick a hole through my TV.
WOW..MTV must be going through yet another "regime" change..I am probably one of the "older" Rundown members..old enough to actually be around when they turned the lights on at MTV for the first time in 1981..when there were NO Black artists featured (Michael Jackson didn’t get "cleared" untill a few years later)..no reality shows, hell..no COMMERCIALS! just music on TV..ALL the time" (their past slogan)..after the station’s initial owners sold it..and new owners came in, they couldn’t ignore the popularity of hip-hop..had to succumb to the inevitable and Ed Lover and Dr. Dre were known WORLDWIDE. If they are smart..they will stick to their roots and bring the same kind of flavor to the "new" YO! MTV raps..
im so happy thats its coming back on tv. i grew up watching the show and i loved it. the show shouldnt have been off the air in my opinion. yo mtv raps in my opinion is way better than 106 & park.
Jade I would say Yo Mtv Raps is better than Rap City not 106 and Park. One is a countdown the other is just a Hip Hop Video show. But yes I grew up watching Yo and growing up in a California suburb during the 80’s that was my only outlet for real hip hop. Happy to see it come on. But they should have done some new shows to mix in.
jus like da otha 30 people who said 88 baby (last of the best) good music still out there jus look 4 it if u still listin 2 da radio get satellite radio or summin if im not mistaken hip hop started off as dance music i.e. like all da music on now grab sum classics like outcast ghetto boys nwa digital underground NWA sit bak and vibe
ROBYN…YAHHHHHHH TRICK YAHHHHHHHH!!! lmao..i agree with sum of ya’ll and then i dont..i mean songs like yah trick yah are just those songs that you listen to at a party or when your with friends ya know and i’m a 89 baby if that counts for anything lol but i mean i agree at the same time because i find my self downloading hella old school joints just because most of the new songs coming out today aren’t all that and me and friends be blastin’ the old school ish as well as the new..so its sort of a mix for me…
20 years ago MTV was the first major television network to have a music video show solely dedicated to hip-hop. “Yo! MTV Raps” premiered on August 6, 1988 and had a 7 year run ending in August 1995. The ground-breaking 2 hour music television show was hosted by Fab 5 Freddy, Doctor Dre (not to be confused with Dr. Dre from N.W.A.) and Ed Lover. The show came at a time when hip-hop was hard to find on television, thus creating an outlet and place to go for young hip-hop junkies of the 80s. It goes without saying that “Yo! MTV Raps” was revolutionary for its time and contribution to making hip-hop mainstream and not just a “trend” that everyone thought would pass.
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