Setlist History: Run-DMC Shown Love at First VH-1 Hip Hop Honors

Twenty years ago today, October 3, 2004, VH-1, the spinoff of MTV, used to play music videos.

Originally VH-1 was supposed to be the softer, tamer, more gentle version of the allegedly wild MTV. But as time went on VH-1 tried to create its own brand that was slightly different than the mothership, but failed.

The two stations were indistinguishable except for special programming like the Hip-Hop Honors. Did VH-1 play more rap than MTV? No. It was MTV that hosted the hugely influential Yo! MTV Raps.

But still the suits at Viacom decided it would be VH-1 that starting 20 years ago would give love to the OGs.

The delightful Vivica A. Fox and MC Lyte were the co-hosts of the festivities that were recorded on 10/3/04 and broadcast 10/12/04. The show was a hit it was held a total of nine times.

Run DMC, the first MTV hip-hop stars were honored along with several others including the Sugarhill Gang. But today let's just focus on the ones wearing my Adidas.

Run DMC was easily the hip-hop outfit that crossed over seamlessly into the MTV programming and helped bring the genre to a mass audience.

Run, DMC, and Jam Master Jay were the first rappers to get heavy play on the network and the first to premiere a hip-hop video on MTV.

"Rock Box" came out 40 years ago in 1984 on the trio's self titled debut album

"It was a big thing," Jay said. "MTV was playing Black people who weren't Michael Jackson or Prince."

Two years after their self titled debut dropped they'd change hip-hop entirely when their producer Rick Rubin set them up with Aerosmith for an update of "Walk This Way," which would go to #4 on the singles chart and send their Raising Hell album to #3.

It was the sure sign that hip-hop was not a novelty, it was a force to be reckoned with.

Unlike at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and other ceremonies, the VH-1 Hip Hop Honors shines a spotlight on the trailblazers by letting other people sing their songs.

When the Beastie Boys were starting, they hung out with and were label mates with Run-DMC on Def Jam.

In the summer of 1987, Run DMC and the Beastie Boys went on the Together Forever Tour which looped around the country, concluding at Madison Square Garden.

Playing the Garden was something that seemed out of reach for any hip-hop artist, but Run DMC and the Beasties, thanks to heavy rotation on MTV were able to sell out the venue easily.

The Queens rappers now had three albums of material, and the Beasties were doling out hits from their debut LP License to Ill.

So for the VH-1 Honors there really was no better trip to give it up to Run-DMC than the three bad brothers you know so well, covered "Here We Go" and "Sucker MC's" and then did "Right Right Now Now," an original from their 2004 album, To the 5 Boroughs.

Just six weeks after Jam Master Jay was tragically gunned down, Chuck D., Grandmaster Flash and Kid Rock, VH-1 allowed the rappers to pay tribute to fallen DJ at the VH-1 Big in 2002 Awards.

The men ran through eight classic Run DMC tunes starting with "Rock Box" and ending with "King of Rock."

Turns out they were kings from Queens

So, yes, it appeared VH-1 was there for hip-hop when it was much needed.

Run DMC performed for years after the murder. Their final show, though, was at Hip Hop 50 in Yankee Stadium a little more than a year ago.

The final Run-DMC show was in August of 2023.

So with neither the surviving members of Run-DMC or the Beastie Boys touring, where should people go to see solid hip-hop this fall?

Vince Staples' Black in America Tour kicks off in a few weeks. Get tickets on his website while they last.

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Last updated: 6 Nov 2024, 01:59 Etc/UTC