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Today is one of the most important days in hip hop; it is the 30th Anniversary of the iconic show, YO! MTV Raps.
On this day, the show premiered on MTV in 1988 when hip-hop was still considered a baby to the music industry.
But it was exploding on to the scene.
YO! MTV Raps played a significant role in increasing the face value of the genre especially at a time where critics believed it was just a fad. The show without a doubt, aided in shifting hip-hop to mainstream.
During the 80s, MTV primarly aired pop, rock, and indie videos regularly unless the hip-hop record incorporated any of those genres. For example, RUN DMC and Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” was put in heavy rotation.
To have a show fully dedicated to the culture was monumental.
From interviews with artists, to live performances inside the studio, it gave viewers a more in-depth look into the world of hip-hop, and it’s roots via the hosts Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover, and Doctor Dre.
We thank you Yo! MTV Raps for setting the tone and helping to elevate hip-hop music. Who knows if hip hop could’ve went as far as it’s gone now without the show playing a part of it’s development.