One of the most iconic shows in hip hop history, BET’s Rap City, is receiving an overdue three-part documentary with Mass Appeal’s Welcome to Rap City. And with it, the unsung men and women behind building the longest running hip hop TV show finally emerge to receive their due credit.
The story of Rap City begins with BET’s creation in 1980 with founder Robert Johnson. Airing first as timeshare on the USA Network, the company’s progression from black sitcom reruns to a force in black news and music videos is covered extensively.
With hip hop’s explosive growth in the 80s via groups like Run DMC, younger viewers may assume the genre wouldn’t have struggled to find coverage on major networks. However, Rap City co-creators Alvin Jones and Prime (also the show’s first host) detail the struggle convincing a politically conservative capitalist like Johnson to bring hip hop to BET’s airwaves less than one year after Yo! MTV Raps.
Keith Paschall, the show’s producer from 1991-97, reveals how creative experimentation was essential to the show’s mid 90s zenith. This experimentation included moving on from capable early hosts like Prince Dejour to the dynamic duo of Joe Clair and Big Lez. Each hosts are candid input on their Rap City journeys. Lez’s tenure is a standout for overcoming the sexism which lauded her body only as a dancer (included is a dirty joke with Martin Lawrence on Def Comedy Jam) to her blossoming as a template for hip hop female empowerment.
No one knew me by name, everyone knew me by my physique — very muscular, tall girl, doing backups, who’s that? Rap City was the thing that gave me a voice, a face and a name.
Big Lez
Da Bassment, the show’s signature setting for host Big Tigger and the Booth, has its origins revealed. Not actually filmed in a house, Da Bassment was a manufactured sound stage that needed sign-off from long-tenured music programming director Stephen Hill. Never before seen test footage is included showing a humorous mock interview with stage hands playing the roles of Method Man and Redman with Tigger.
Modern times require artists to possess a formidable social media presence and streaming numbers to secure radio and TV attention. Rap City worked in reverse by using the platform to provide the first TV appearances of future superstars like T.I. and Ludacris. T.I. explained how the exposure opened his mind to a life beyond drug dealing and prompted him to focus full-time on music. Rare footage shows a bright-eyed Ludacris, then known as “Ludachris,” providing freestyle backup to his future business partner Shaka Zula, who at this time was the showcased Rap City artist interview.
In later years, BET faced immense vulgarity and misogyny criticisms for their video selections. Gregg Diggs, who served as director of music programming for 1994-99, explained how the network negotiated with record labels to edit videos deemed too explicit. Diggs and CEO Debra Lee expressed frustation for what they deemed as a no-win situation — their edits were deemed insufficient from conservative watch groups while the rappers and labels complained about their product being compromised.
Spanning 1989-2008, chronicling every notable Rap City moment isn’t feasible. However, Mass Appeal does an admirable job in condenscing the show’s importance through eras and regions. Longtime fans will revel at clips of the famous Booth freestyles, underappreciated female emcee pioneers like Nefertiti and Nikki D, and Biggie’s tragic final 1997 interview. As the 50th hip hop celebrations continue through year’s end, Welcome to Rap City reminds us how a fledging Washington, DC show became the premier platform to showcase hip hop biggest icons across the world.
Welcome to Rap City episode 1 (“Building a City”) premieres Tuesday (October 10) at 8 pm ET, preceding the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards. Episode 2 “The Notorious Bassment” airs Wednesday, October 11 at 8pm ET. The episode 3 finale, “A Changing City,” airs Thursday October 12 at 8 pm ET.
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