Post by Big Yogi

First TRL now this? BET’s RAP CITY, the longest running Hip Hop TV show, will be going off air after a year-long debate between Viacom execs and the shows producers. This will be the second popular Music Television show to go off the air this year. BET’s RAP CITY has been the most popular video show for years with millions of fans tuning in every day to see their favorite hip hop artists latest video. The show kicked off in the 1989 with it’s first host Chris Thomas, who was also known as “The Mayor of Rap City”. Rap City began to gain a lot of popularity between 1994-1999 when new hosts Joe Clair and Leslie Segar (aka Big Lez) took over for Prince Dejour who was the host at the time. This dynamic duo helped boost Rap City’s ratings and helped the show become the number one hip hop television show over MTV’s Yo MTV Raps. This marked the beginning of the 10 year reign over the hip hop scene.

Before you read on watch this favorite Rap City moment (shout out to 8081.com for putting this on)

WATCH, DISCUSS, and MISS Rap City

Joe Clair and Big Lez had a great run on the show for 5 years but Rap City had bigger moves to make and it’s biggest move just happened to be in the basement. On September 13, 1999, the show was re-titled Rap City: Tha Basement and with a new time slot and a new host. By August of 2000, Rap City moved to the 4pm slot and a young man by the name of Big Tigger would prove to be it’s biggest host ever. Big Tigger had a street edge, knowledge of the rap scene, and the ability to rhyme a verse or two himself. During Tiggers time as host new segments and concepts were introduced on Rap City. Guest appearances by Hip Hop artists and celebrity’s were always a part of the programming but now guest DJ’s were incorporated into the show every week, which let viewers get to know more about the people who helped break the music to the public. Another big change during the Tigger era was THE BOOTH FREESTYLE. The BOOTH FREESTYLE can be attributed to Rap City’s increase to their highest ratings ever. In these particular segments, the guests would lay exclusive new vocals on the spot. Seemingly, this concept was scrapped when “Tha Basement” concept left but it has since returned. This is now seen as a major staple of Rap City, although no hosts other than Big Tigger have joined in during the freestyle sessions. It should be noted that on several occasions back in the early 2000’s, the freestyle booth was mostly, if not completely uncensored. Also when special guests come and leave. They leave with a signature, in the booth, on the wall. Rappers like Jay-Z and Rocafella, Busta Ryhmes, Beanie Siegel, 50 Cent and G-Unit, Snoop Dogg, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, Mobb Deep, and others have spit some of their hottest lyrics to date inside the booth.
In January of 05’ the show was repackaged and Big Tigger was replaced by Mad Linx. The transition was explained that Tigger’s “mother” sold the basement and forced Big Tigger out to live with his father. Along with that corny explanation for a change of the show came the slow death of Rap City. Hosts like Mad Linx, J Nicks, and Q45 all tried hard to keep the show alive but could not keep up the hype the show once had. The decline in ratings and lack of hype surrounding the show has led Viacom execs to cancel the show for good. Sources are saying that the Rap City will have it’s last show on Oct. 26th and will be hosted by none other than Big Tigger.

Personally I know that Rap City hasn’t been the best show lately but when you think about it, where would Hip Hop be if not for shows like Rap City? I mean just watching some of these cats spit in the booth let me know who could really rap and who was just faking the funk. Stars were made on Rap City and we have witnessed Hip Hop take over the world by tuning in every day at 4pm. Let’s hope a show comes along that can help usher hip hop onto the next generation.
Here are some of The Flypaper’s Favorite moments in the Booth