Video Music Box Is Celebrating Its 35th Anniversary With A Concert Packed With Legends
It is an obligation for music historians and Heads alike to acknowledge the evolution of music video shows largely began with “Uncle” Ralph McDaniels and his pioneering TV show Video Music Box. The Queens, New York-born McDaniels is the founder and host of the show, which first aired on New York City’s cable access TV channel WNYC Channel 31 in June 1983, broadcasting Monday through Saturday during the 1980s and 90s.
As the longest running music video show of all-time, and to celebrate its 35th anniversary, McDaniels is having a concert extravaganza called “Ralph McDaniels and Friends” with a bevy of Hip-Hop legends from those decades.
Video Music Box Was The 1st Rap City & Ralph McDaniels Was The Mayor (Video)
The announcement was made on Video Music Box’s Instagram account on Wednesday (June 27) and expected appearances include Fat Joe, Special Ed, Nice & Smooth, Brand Nubian, M.O.P., MC Shan, Large Professor, Lords Of The Underground, Edo. G, Craig G, Blahzay Blahzay, Smooth The Hustler & Trigger Tha Gambler, Das EFX, DJ Scratch, Funkmaster Flex, The UMC’s, Lordz Of Brooklyn, former Video Music Box host DJ Chuck Chillout, and many more.
The event will be held in Brooklyn at the Coney Island Art Walls outdoor museum on July 7 from 1-9pm. Tickets are available now.
The Making of Nas’ “It Ain’t Hard To Tell” Video As Told By Video Music Box’s Ralph McDaniels
Five years before Yo! MTV Raps began its run, Video Music Box was the sole media outlet for Heads to see Rap videos, Hip-Hop industry, urban fashion events, nightclub parties, as well as rappers and DJs being recognized for their community involvement. The show was integral for breaking the careers of acts including Whodini, Run-D.M.C., Fat Boys, LL Cool J, Wu-Tang Clan, and JAY-Z, as well. The program also provided exclusive performances by A Tribe Called Quest, Nas with late The Notorious B.I.G., and more. Uncle Ralph was also the director for several music videos such as Nas’ “It Ain’t Hard To Tell,” Black Moon’s “Who Got Da Props,” and Bell Biv Devoe’s “Do Me.”
#BonusBeat: The TBD episode on the barriers broken by Uncle Ralph and Video Music Box: