Rap City (TV series)
| Rap City | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Alvin Jones & Keith Paschell |
| Starring | Tigger |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Matt Smith (2000-2008), Gregory Trent (2001–2005) |
| Running time | 60 minutes (originally 120 minutes from January 1989 to early-mid-2005) |
| Release | |
| Original network | BET |
| Original release | August 11, 1989 – November 8, 2008 |
| External links | |
| [Official page Website] | |
Rap City is a music video television program block (debuting on August 11, 1989) that aired on the Black Entertainment Television network. The program was an exclusive showcase for hip hop music videos, and features interviews with and freestyles from popular rappers, and often has guest DJs serve as co-hosts.
The show was created by former BET VJ/producer Alvin Jones, a.k.a. "The Unseen VJ". This was a spin-off of the "Rap Week" segment of Video Vibrations, also hosted by "The Unseen VJ". While its competitor Yo! MTV Raps, which is now discontinued, mainly focused on all of the popular rappers, Rap City also included videos from up and coming underground rappers.
Among notable previous hosts of the show are Chris Thomas (the first host of the show from 1989–1991). Throughout his run, Thomas was also known as "The Mayor of Rap City", or simply "The Mayor". Other hosts: Hans Dobson aka Prime (1989–93), Prince Dejour (1991–94), Joe Clair (1994–99), Leslie Segar (a.k.a. Big Lez) (1994–99), Big Tigger (1998–2005), Mad Linx (2005–06), J-Nicks (2005–06) and Q-45 (2006–08).
On September 13, 1999, the show was re-titled Rap City: Tha Basement and newly hosted by Big Tigger (a.k.a. Tigger), who succeeded Joe Clair and Big Lez. On August 28, 2000, BET moved the show to a new time slot at 4 p.m.
On January 18, 2005, the show was repackaged and host Big Tigger was replaced by Mad Linx, a DJ and radio personality. The transition was explained that Tigger's "mother" sold the basement and forced Big Tigger out to live with his father.
On October 3, 2005, Mad Linx went on hiatus to host BET Road Show. For several months, the show was hosted by J-Nicks, a native of St. Louis. Occasionally, special guests (such as a hip hop star) would host Rap City. The network also shortened the shows run time from two to one hour.
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