Written By Janelle Griffith
Popular hip-hop music video program “Rap City” has ended its run on BET after 21 years on the network.
While SOHH first heard about the rumor last week, BET has announced the official word on their website earlier today. According to their Sound Off blog, “Rap City” will be replaced by “The Deal” hosted by DJ Diamond Kutz.
The new hour long series will consist of old and new elements from “Rap City.” Hip-Hop videos will continue to play but now they will be accompanied by pop-ups with facts on the given artist/song. The Booth, which was a staple on “Rap City” for artists to showcase their freestyle skills, will also remain a segment on the new series.
More than just a place for hip hop videos, Rap City gave fame to several hosts throughout the years, the first of which was Chris Thomas in 1989. He was followed by Hans Dobson, Prince Dejour and Joe Clair who debuted as host in 1994. Leslie Segar (a.k.a “Big Lez”) shared hosting duty with Clair from 1994 to 99.
The series evolved to “Rap City: Tha Basement” in September of 1999, with host Big Tigger. Mad Linx, J-Nicks and DJ Q45 all held short lived stints in the last three years.
BET has plans to run a “Rap City” finale but a date for the special has yet to be announced. “The Deal” premieres on BET on November 10th.
It's not too late to nominate your favorite artists, bloggers or even yourself for an Online Hip-Hop Award. State your bid here.
Good.
"It's not too late to nominate your favorite artists, bloggers or even yourself for an Online Hip-Hop Award."
lol...why would this be on THIS website?
Posted by: CSRealist | September 30, 2008 at 05:06 PM
I say GOOD F--KEN RIDDENCE! That show was great 10 years ago and then feel off like hip-hop did..always having the majority of south rappers on there, the show lost credibility and substance. I remember Yo MTV Raps in its hey day having real legitimate rappers on there and giving the underground a voice to show real rap video/music to the masses. BET can only blame themselves for Rap Shitty's demise
Posted by: realtalknewyork | September 30, 2008 at 06:26 PM
This is great news!
This means that there will be less wack southern rap that I have to hear if I ever make the mistake of changing the channel to the B.E.T. Network again.
When Bob Johnson sold B.E.T. to "The Man's" socialist business machine,B.E.T. Went from trying to please black people,to trying to appeal to a wider demographic,mainly southern blacks and whites.
Hence,the rap game now consist of ignorant buffoons(insert any southern rapper),"fake drug kingpins"(T.I.,Jeezy,Rick Ross),and ambiguously gay "nuance" weirdo's like Kanye West,Andre 3000,Fonzworth Bentley,Pharrel,Lupe Fiasco etc...Oh wait a minute...didn't this same bunch do a video dancing with each other in unison? Somebody tell me I didn't see that's lol...
Now that corporate America has "blood sucked" our music dry(again),and the major demographics-mainly whites and southern blacks-aren't as much excited about rap as once before,"hiphop" gets the proverbial boot to the curb...
Rap needs a major shot in the arm. I say that the greatest rapper alive Eminem(lol)should come out. Rap is on life support and apparently at B.E.T.,ITS DEAD!
Posted by: The Antichrist | September 30, 2008 at 11:33 PM
SOHH...they're pretty much just changing the name. What difference will it make if they're gonna keep showing the same videos? I'll be impressed if I start to see MF DOOM, Elzhi or Killer Mike videos in regular rotation along with Lil' Wayne or Soulja Boy joints. I doubt that's gonna happen so I don't really see the reason for cancelling and replacing it with the same show.
Posted by: KingDread | October 01, 2008 at 03:34 AM