Today In Hip Hop History: YO! MTV Raps Debuted On MTV 34 Years Ago

Screen Shot 2022 08 06 at 5.42.16 AM

34 years ago on this date, MTV premiered the first episode of the Hip Hop generated video show, YO! MTV Raps.

Everybody has their own personal memory of MTV Raps. Whether it was during the era of comedians Ed Lover and Doctor Dre or during the Fab 5 Freddy reign, YMTVR gave the world its first continual, visual experience of Hip-Hop music. Not to downplay the world famous VJ Ralph McDaniels and the esteemed Video Music Box show based in NYC as well, but the scenarios, special guests, live performances, and other exclusive footage was only available on Music Television’s first Hip Hop show.

Created by late film director Ted Demme, Yo! MTV Raps‘ first video to appear was Rakim’s “Follow The Leader”, which was shown on the 1987 pilot, however, Shinehead’s “Chain Gang” was the actual first video shown during the show’s debut season. It helped spread Hip Hop across the globe with the help of MTV Europe, MTV Asia, and MTV Latino.

The series finale aired on August 17, 1995, with an unforgettable freestyle session. There were several attempts by MTV to relaunch a Hip Hop video show that had a cultural impact like Yo!, including Direct Effect and Sucker Free, however, Yo! MTV Raps remains an unparalleled aspect of Hip Hop culture.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: YO! MTV Raps Debuted On MTV 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Here Are the 2022 MTV VMAs Nominees

  • Video of the Year

  • Artist of the Year

  • Song of the Year

  • Best New Artist

  • Best Collaboration

  • Push Performance of the Year

  • Best Pop

  • Best Hip-Hop

  • Best Rock

  • Best Alternative

  • Best Latin

  • Best R&B

  • Best K-Pop

  • Video for Good

  • Best Metaverse Performance

  • Best Longform Video

  • Best Cinematography

  • Best Direction

  • Best Art Direction

  • Best Visual Effects

  • Best Choreography

  • Best Editing

A Clip Of David Bowie Criticizing MTV For Not Playing Black Artists Resurfaced On Twitter And Ice-T Approves

Every so often, David Bowie‘s 1983 interview with Mark Goodman resurfaces on social media — particularly, the clip in which Bowie notes the dearth of Black artists being played on the station at the time. It’s pretty well-known music history by now; early in MTV’s history, the station chose not to play videos by Black artists like Michael Jackson, Prince, or Run-DMC, despite their popularity and obvious influence on the sorts of artists MTV did play. It’s also a complaint that resurfaces every so often, such as in the aftermath of this year’s VMAs.

Only under widespread public pressure did MTV finally relent, playing the sort of artists that obviously came to define its pop-culture dominance throughout the ’90s and early 2000s. In this particular clip, Bowie points out to Goodman, “I’m just floored by the fact that there are so few Black artists featured [on MTV]. Why is that?” Throughout the discussion, Goodman waffles a bit, trying to argue that different viewers glean different perceptions of the coverage, but Bowie remains steadfast in bringing his point back. Noting that he has been observing a “Black station” (likely BET), he notes that “there seems to be a lot of Black artists making very good videos that I’m surprised aren’t used on MTV.”

The clip in question has popped up again courtesy of NBA player turned Twitter star, Rex Chapman, who tweeted the clip with his own observation tying it to current events. “Watching the Nikole Hannah-Jones/Chuck Todd interview it’s impossible to not think about the 1993 David Bowie/Mark Goodman MTV interview [on Meet The Press regarding ‘critical race theory’ bans in schools],” he wrote. “Same thing almost 30-years later. Why is it always ‘what’s acceptable to white people’??

The tweet won the approval of Ice-T, who retweeted it, garnering nearly 4,000 shares and well over 33,000 likes.

You can check out the clip above and the full interview here.

MTV’s ‘Cribs’ Is Set To Return With Exclusive Tours Of Homes Owned By Rick Ross, Big Sean, And More

Once upon a time, MTV delivered exclusive tours of homes owned by some of the biggest names in the entertainment world. The series Cribs debuted in 2000 and in just five year, the show had visited the properties of nearly 200 musicians, actors, and athletes. (The one with Mariah Carey was the series’ most-watched episode.) While the show was placed into syndication in 2008, Cribs has debuted a number of new episodes over the years through platforms like CMT and Snapchat. Now, more the two decades after its initial premiere, new episodes of the show are set to return to MTV this summer.

The new episodes are set to premiere on MTV starting on Wednesday, August 11 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. The 30-minute episodes will allow viewers to get an exclusive look at the homes of celebrities like Big Sean, Rick Ross, Tinashe, and JoJo Siwa. Other names like Nick Young, Tia Mowry, Marsai Martin, Scott Disick, Martha Stewart, Jordyn Woods, and Kathy Griffin will also open their doors for MTV’s cameras.

Cribs didn’t simply introduce the celebreality genre, it created a blueprint for how we engage on social media,” Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer, MTV Entertainment Group, said. “We are thrilled to usher in a new era of this iconic franchise for audiences around the world.”

You can watch a trailer for the upcoming episodes above.

MTV VMAs Plan A Live Audience Return To NYC’s Barclays Center In 2021

It was looking hopeful last June when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo gave the MTV VMAs the go-ahead to take place at the Barclays Center in 2020 with a “limited” audience. However, following an uptick in COVID cases, the VMAs instead opted to host the event at an outdoor space, invite only a virtual audience, and have just a handful of in-person performances. But now as large-scale events eye a late summer return, the VMAs are looking to host their 2021 event indoors.

The VMAs announced Tuesday that the awards show will make an in-person return this year. It’s slated to take place September 12 at the Barclays Center once again, and organizers say they plan to allow fans to attend. According to press materials, the event will “feature epic performances from the biggest names in music and bring fans together from across the globe to celebrate the return of live entertainment.”

Though organizers are feeling confident about gathering indoors, they are still making sure to take safety protocols seriously. “The health and safety of artists, fans, staff, and partners remain the number one priority, and MTV and Barclays Center are working closely with state and local officials to implement best practices in order to safely bring together music fans from around the globe,” organizers wrote in a statement.

The VMAs have yet to announce which artists are set to take the stage in September. Last year’s ceremony saw some showstopping performances by The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, BTS, and Lady Gaga, whose various eye-catching masks stole the show.