BET’s Rap City has been an integral part of hip hop culture for almost 20 years. The show evolved with rap culture across a range of hosts, studios, and themes. Meanwhile, BET found a vehicle with a Yo! MTV raps as a vessel for music on television. From 1989 to the end of 2008, the program offered audiences not only the opportunity to watch curated rap music videos, but also to experience their favorite artists in a meaningful way. In addition to interviews, the guests often gave free choice and sometimes gave insights into their private lives.
Tonight (October 5th) Rap City is celebrating its special one-night return ahead of the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards. Big Tigger, who hosted the show between 1999 and 2005, is returning to his post for Rap City ’21 return. Given the host, this could also mean the return of the « booth » that has become a target for MCs to join Tigger on freestyles while guest DJs cut, mix and scratch instrumentals. The booth was an extension of Rap City: Tha Bassment, which was part of the 1999 changes to the show and gave it a homely feel – despite being on a clay stage. JAY-Z, Cam’ron, Gang Starr, GZA, Lil Wayne and Beanie Sigel were among the memorable guests in the segment. Rap City ’21 will air Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. EST. An hour later, the BET Hip Hop Awards 2021 will begin, hosted by Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean. Nelly is this year’s « I Am Hip Hop Award ».
In episode 63 of What’s The Headline, the Ambrosia For Heads team discusses the impact of Rap City – in person and on hip-hop culture (at 1:20:50). We’re also speculating on Tuesday’s one-night return, given the series’ branding power, might give way to something beyond a one-night return. Opinions exist on what Rap City can do to stand out from similar show revivals, even if it’s only for one night. The What’s The Headline episode also features Dr. Dres Super Bowl halftime show with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige, plus a preview of Big Daddy Kane and KRS’s Verzuz fight on October 17th. One.
0:00 Intro 4:50 J. Cole brought bars to Brooklyn with The Off Season tour
15:55 Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One will be the next to fight on Verzuz
17:50 people wanted Big Daddy Kane Verzuz Rakim
10:10 p.m.: Who was your first favorite rapper
25:40 Does Big Daddy Kane have a rich catalog to fight against KRS-One?
31:25 What are the top 5 records from Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One?
35:50 What each of KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane have to do to win their Verzuz
46:20 Who will win Big Daddy Kane Verzuz KRS-One 49:00 Other artists who should compete on Verzuz
53:40 Dr. Dre, Eminen, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige will be the halftime cast for the Super Bowls
54:10 Super Bowl LVI will be Dre Day and celebrate hip-hop
59:15 A history and timeline of the hip-hop Super Bowl artists
1:04:20 Dr. Dre previously set new boundaries in hip-hop and pop culture
1:08:00 Will Dr. Dre to release a new album after the Super Bowl?
1:10:00 What songs will Mary J. Blige play at the Super Bowl?
1:11:10 JAY-Z’s role in making this historic Super Bowl halftime show come true
1:15:00 Will JAY-Z be a surprise actor at halftime of the Super Bowl LVI?
1:17:15 Is this Super Bowl halftime just a reflection of the current culture?
1:20:50 Rap City is only returning for one night
1:25:00 New Music of the Week – Meek Mill, Andy Mineo, D Smoke, Wale & J. Cole, Solemn Brigham, Maticulous, Neek The Exotic & Large Professor and more
AFH readers can follow regular discussions about the culture in our podcast « What’s The Headline ». What’s The Headline also has current interviews with Blu & Mickey Factz, Kurupt, Evidence, Skyzoo, Pharoahe Monch, Prince Paul & Don Newkirk, Statik Selektah, Lyric Jones, The LOX, MC Eiht, Havoc, Duckwrth, photographer T. Eric Monroe, and Lord Finesse. All episodes of the show can be viewed or listened to anywhere you stream your pods.
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