Yo! MTV Raps: История Хип-Хоп Шоу

American television music video program

Yo! MTV Raps is an American two hour television music video program, which first aired on MTV Europe from 1987 to mid 90s and on MTV US from August 1988 to August 1995. The American version of the program (created by Ted Demme and Peter Dougherty) was the first hip hop music show on the network, and was based on the original MTV Europe show, which first aired one year before the American version. Yo! MTV Raps produced a mix of rap videos, interviews with rap stars, live in studio performances (on Fridays), and comedy. The show also yielded a Brazilian version called Yo! MTV and broadcast by MTV Brasil from 1990 to 2005.

The U. S. version was originally hosted by Fab 5 Freddy. Later, the show's main host was Doctor Dré and Demme's high school friend, Ed Lover who both hosted together on weekdays. Soon they were joined by Doctor Dre's Original Concept group member T Money. Fab 5 Freddy proceeded to host on weekends. The original line up of the show, starring only Fab as the host, premiered on MTV on 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 the Ed 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" by The 45 King.

In 1987, French journalist and producer Sophie Bramly developed and hosted the program Yo! for the then nascent MTV Europe, with Afrika Bambaataa as the first guest. Later N. W. A, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Ice T, De La Soul, Eric B. & Rakim, EPMD or Ultramagnetic MCs were invited. The year after that, Run DMC hosted the pilot episode in the US, with DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince as the program's first guests and Eric B. & Rakim's video for the title track of the album Follow the Leader as the first video shown on the program. The pilot was one of the highest rated programs to ever air on MTV at that point, with only the Video Music Awards and Live Aid receiving 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 classic Yo! MTV Raps logo was created by early graffiti writer, Dr. Revolt. The animated show open was produced by Nigel Cox Hagen and animated by Beau Tardy.

The advent of Yo! MTV Raps in the late 1980s was crucial to spreading hip hop around the world. Through MTV 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 the Yo! MTV Raps 20th anniversary.