Wikipedia

Yo! MTV Raps

Yo! MTV Rapsis an American two-hour televisionmusic videoprogram, which first aired onMTV Europefrom 1987 to mid-90s and onMTV USfrom August 1988 to August 1995. The American version of the program (created byTed Demmeand Peter Dougherty) was the firsthip hop musicshow on the network, and was based on the originalMTV Europeshow, which first aired one year before the American version.Yo! MTV Rapsproduced a mix of rap videos, interviews with rap stars, live in-studio performances (on Fridays), and comedy. The show also yielded a Brazilian version calledYo! MTVand broadcast byMTV Brasilfrom 1990 to 2005.

Yo! MTV Raps
Also known asYo!
Genre
Created byTed DemmeandPeter Dougherty
Directed by
Presented by
Theme music composer
  • Nigel Cox-Hagen
  • Beau Tardy
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No.of episodes1,838
Production
Producers
  • Jac Benson II
  • Todd 1
  • Ted Demme
  • Theron "Tee Smif" Smith (Classic Cuts 2011)
CinematographyJeff Muhlstock
Editors
  • Rob Ortiz
  • Glenn Lazzaro
  • Rosanna Herrick
Running time60 minutes (including commercials)
Production companies
  • Revival series:
  • HollandWest Productions
  • Clockwork Post
  • MTV Entertainment Studios
Original release
NetworkMTV
ReleaseAugust 6, 1988(1988-08-06)–
August 17, 1995(1995-08-17)
NetworkParamount+
ReleaseMay 24(2022-05-24)–
July 12, 2022(2022-07-12)
Related

Hosts

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The U.S. version was originally hosted byFab 5 Freddy.Later, the show's main host wasDoctor Dréand Demme's high school friend,Ed Loverwho both hosted together on weekdays. Soon they were joined by Doctor Dre'sOriginal Conceptgroup member T Money.[1]Fab 5 Freddyproceeded to host on weekends. The original line-up of the show, starring only Fab as the host, premiered onMTVon August 6, 1988.

On the weekday version dubbed,Yo! MTV Raps Today(which debuted on March 13, 1989), Ed Lover created his own dance called theEd Lover Dance(which was typically featured on Wednesdays) that became somewhat popular in the 1990s. The Ed Lover Dance was performed to the track "The 900 Number" byThe 45 King.

History

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Original logo

In 1987, French journalist and producerSophie Bramlydeveloped and hosted the programYo!for the then-nascent MTV Europe, withAfrika Bambaataaas the first guest. LaterN.W.A,Public Enemy,LL Cool J,Ice-T,De La Soul,Eric B. & Rakim,EPMDorUltramagnetic MCswere invited.[2]The year after that,Run-DMChosted thepilot episodein the US, withDJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Princeas the program's first guests andEric B. & Rakim's video for the title track of the albumFollow the Leaderas the first video shown on the program. The pilot was one of the highestratedprograms to ever air on MTV at that point, with only theVideo Music AwardsandLive Aidreceiving greater ratings.

Shinehead's "Chain Gang" was the first video to be shown during a regular-season episode. Meanwhile,Ice-T's "High Rollers"was the first video to be played during the weekday show. The classicYo! MTV Rapslogo was created by early graffiti writer, Dr. Revolt. The animated show open was produced by Nigel Cox-Hagen and animated by Beau Tardy.

Yo! MTV Rapsand the spread of hip-hop

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The advent ofYo! MTV Rapsin the late 1980s was crucial to spreading hip-hop around the world.[3]ThroughMTV Europe,MTV Asia,and MTV Latino, African-American and Latino style and sound became instantly available to millions of people across the globe, helping to create a worldwide appreciation and interest in the hip-hop scene, which is something that was celebrated on theYo! MTV Raps20th anniversary.[4]

Rivalry

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AlthoughVideo Music Boxis often considered the first contender, in 1989, former rivalBETcreated competition by premieringRap City.The show was the longest-running hip-hop program because of its 19-year run (ending in 2009). WhileYo! MTV Raps',which is now discontinued, generally focused on the rap scene from the East Coast and largely popular West Coast artists,Rap Cityalso included videos from up-and-coming underground rappers from different regions of the US.

"Down With MTV"

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One of the most popular artists to be featured onYo! MTV RapswasNaughty by Nature.When MTV started itsDown With MTVadvertising campaign in 1992, Naughty by Nature's smash hit "O.P.P."was used as the basis.

Censorship and declining popularity

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The ratings fell after pullingPublic Enemy's video "By the Time I Get to Arizona" in 1991, claiming it was too violent. Also,Yo! MTV Rapsalmost declined to air the video forCypress Hill's "How I Could Just Kill a Man."Only after Sheri Howell, Vice President of Music and Artist Development at MTV, intervened that MTV changed their minds.

By around 1992–93, MTV airedYo! MTV Rapsonly once a week, for two hours, on Fridays after midnight.

The end ofYo!

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Yo! MTV Rapshad its series finale on August 17, 1995. Numerous high-profile names in the world of hip-hop closed the show out with afreestyle rapsession, includingRakim,KRS-One,Redman,Method Man,Special Ed,Erick Sermon,Chubb Rock,Craig Mack,MC Serchof3rd Bass,andLarge Professor.Salt-N-Pepaholds the distinction of appearing on the first (technically, the first episode to feature Fab 5 Freddy) and last episodes ofYo! MTV Raps.

From 1996 to 1999, MTV repackaged it as simplyYo!,which was far more stripped-down and had a weekly slate of special guest hosts. For instance,Angie MartinezandFatman Scoopserved as its hosts. By 1998,Yo!had no guest hosts and became a one-hour program airing late Friday nights at 1 a.m. or 1:30 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

In 2000, MTV's outlet for hip-hop videos becameDirect Effect,known since 2006 asSucker Free.It aired three times a week at around 7:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time). It is one of the few music video outlets for MTV besides its late-night/early-morning music video rotation hours, as MTV continues to focus on non-music video programming, especiallyreality televisionshows.

Revivals

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Yo! MTV Rapsmade a comeback of sorts, after an eight-year hiatus during theJackassworld: 24 Hour Takeoverin February 2008. It hadSteve-O(alongsideSam Maccarone) promoting his new rap album, doing freestyles, and showing his new music video. The old set was carefully recreated, withJohnny Knoxvillejoking thatMike Judgecreated a brand newBeavis and Butt-Headepisode with them critiquing Steve-O's rap video.

20th Anniversary

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In April 2008,Yo! MTV Rapscelebrated its 20th anniversary[5]by making a comeback on MTV. MTV's showSucker Freetransformed intoYo! MTV Rapsand featured classic hip-hop music videos as well as current hip-hop videos. Fab 5 Freddy,Doctor Dréand Ed Lover contributed to the tribute of the show. At the end of April 2008, MTV airedYo!countdown shows and featured the top moments from the show during its airing on MTV.

30th Anniversary

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Yo! MTV Rapswas revived for a new generation in 2018, celebrating the 30th anniversary at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on June 1, 2018.[6]

The live show featured Big Daddy Kane and the Juice Crew, Eric B & Rakim, Doug E. Fresh, KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions, EPMD, Flavor Flav, and many more. It also featured past hosts and DJs who helped shepherd the series, like Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover, Doctor Dré, T Money, Skribble, Red Alert, and Chuck Chillout. Tribute videos from artists like Eminem, Method Man, and Redman also commemorated the occasion.

Yo! MTV RapsInternational

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In Spring 2019, Viacom International Media Networks relaunched the series with local versions in the UK, Germany, South-East Asia, and pan-African versions on MTV Base and MTV Africa. The Format and editorial of the series were headed by British TV producer Darcy Thomas. This also followed with a bi-weekly spin-off showYo! MTV Rateshosted by Snoochie Shy and Poet, which aired in the UK and was also produced by Darcy Thomas[7]for two seasons (16 episodes).

MTV Classic

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Following the launch ofMTV Classicon August 1, 2016,music videoblocks have consistently aired on the network under the nameYo! Hip Hop Mix.When broadcast, however, this is merely an automated playlist of rap/hip-hop videos from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

Pluto TV

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AYo! MTV Rapschannel was added toPluto TVfollowing Viacom's purchase of the service.[8]

Paramount+

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On February 24, 2021, it was announced thatYo! MTV Rapswould be revived onViacomCBS' streaming platformParamount+,formerly CBS All Access.[9]On February 17, 2022, it was announced thatConceitedand DJ Diamond Kuts would host the revival.[10]On May 2, 2022, it was announced that the revival would premiere on May 24, 2022.[11]

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  • In theABCsitcom-dramaDoogie Howser, M.D.from around the same time, Doogie is frequently seen wearing aYo! MTV Rapswhite T-shirt, among other colors.
  • AMagic: The Gatheringpodcast is named "Yo! MTG Taps", a reference to the "tapping" mechanic used in the game.[12]
  • There was a set ofYo! MTV Rapstrading cards which featured the various hosts of the show and many of the artists whose videos were featured on the show.
  • In theIce Cubesong "It Was a Good Day",the show is referenced in the lyrics" Went to Short Dog's house, they was watchin'Yo! MTV Raps".
  • In theJuelz Santanasong “Good Times”, the show is referenced in the lyrics "'Memba them ol'"Yo! MTV Raps"man, I hope they bringYo! MTVback ".

See also

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References

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  1. ^"T450 Style & Launch".
  2. ^Piolet, Vincent (2017).Regarde ta jeunesse dans les yeux. Naissance du hip-hop français 1980-1990(in French). Le mot et le reste.ISBN978-2360542901.
  3. ^Chang, Jeff. “It’s a Hip-hop World.” Foreign Policy 163, Nov/Dec 2007, 58-65.
  4. ^Yo! MTV Raps 20th Anniversary | MTV
  5. ^"'YO! MTV RAPS' CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY: Occasion will be marked throughout April via special programming ".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-04-07.Retrieved2008-04-05.
  6. ^Charles Holmes (2018-04-19)."YO! MTV RAPS IS BACK IN A BIG WAY".MTV.Archived fromthe originalon April 19, 2018.
  7. ^"Darcy Thomas".Industry Takeover.
  8. ^Barnes, Jess (2019-07-30)."Pluto TV Adds 3 New MTV Music Videos Channels".Cord Cutters News.Retrieved2019-08-02.
  9. ^Porter, Rick (February 24, 2021)."'Behind the Music,' 'Yo! MTV Raps,' 'Road Rules' Revived at Paramount+ ".The Hollywood Reporter.
  10. ^"Renowned Battle Rapper Conceited and Celebrated Deejay DJ Diamond Kuts to Host Return of Iconic Series" Yo! MTV Raps "on Paramount+"(Press release).CBS.February 17, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 17,2022– viaThe Futon Critic.
  11. ^"Legendary Series" Yo! MTV Raps, "Hosted by Conceited and DJ Diamond Kuts, Set to Premiere Exclusively on Paramount+ Globally May 24"(Press release).CBS.May 2, 2022.RetrievedMay 2,2022– viaThe Futon Critic.
  12. ^"Yo! MTG Taps! - Episodes Archive".
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