Video Music Box

"Video Music Box" is one of the first TV programs ever to feature hip-hop videos primarily. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426817/ "Video Music Box" (1984) ] ] [ Century, Douglas, Street Kingdom: Five Years Inside the Franklin Avenue Posse. Warner Books 1999. ISBN: 0-446-52266-X ] . Created in 1984 by Ralph McDaniels, it was one of the most influential shows in giving urban artists mainstream exposure. It aired on WNYC-TV (now WPXN-TV) in New York from 1984 to 1996. In 1996 the program moved to WNYE-TV after WNYC-TV was sold by the City of New York. It has been recorded off-air from WNYC-TV since 1989.

Many artists from the "Golden Age" of Hip-Hop made their debuts on Video Music Box. Although it is ostensibly a New York local show, its influence has been very widespread and has been considered a major factor in the growth of Rap and Hip-Hop. [ [http://grandgood.com/tag/video-music-box/ Video Music Box :: GRANDGOOD ] ]

The show is hosted by Ralph McDaniels and Lionel "Vid Kid" Martin.

how Format & Guest Hosts

Video Music Box format differed from other video shows of its era and later by eschewing the host in a studio format. Most shows were shot on location throughout New York City in parks, schools, and nightclubs. During interludes from videos, the hosts would often allow regular people to give "shout-outs" to their friends and families. Very often, the hosts would do "Man on the street" segments where they discussed the issues of the day, like the first Gulf War, teen sex and issues in hip hop and music in general.

The show also began to have theme based shows for the week, such as "slow jams" on Tuesdays, "Nervous Thursdays" hosted by Crazy Sam, and "Old School Fridays".

Among the other hosts the show has had during its run are Tuffy, Crazy Sam, and Ray Dejon.

References

External links

* [http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycmg/nyctv/html/music/videomusicbox.shtml Video Music Box on NYC-TV] .