Last night, VH1 premiered Yo: The Story of Yo! MTV Raps, a collection of tales from behind the scenes of MTV’s seven-year Hip-Hop showcase, continuing the network’s longstanding tradition of stellar documentary production.
Running from 1988 to 1995, Yo! MTV Raps was the brainchild of the late Ted Demme and MTV’s first program dedicated solely to Hip-Hop, breaking new ground for the network and opening it up to whole new sector of viewers. With its mix of music videos, in-studio performances and interviews and lively comedy supplied by weekday hosts Ed Lover and Dr. Dre (no, not that Dr. Dre), the show was the blueprint for nearly every other rap-centric show that succeeded it, most notably BET’s Rap City and its second incarnation, Rap City: Tha Bassment.
Yo: The Story of Yo! MTV Raps is a nostalgic look back at a show that many (including this writer) hoped would never go away. Hit play below and take a stroll down memory lane.
