BET honored their commitment to the hip-hop culture last night by bringing “Rap City” back as a 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards pre-show premiere; “Rap City ’21.”
Hosted by the legendary Big Tigger, the show was a special edition of the original program just for the BET’s stage. This one-hour premiere recreated the original platform and offered never-before-seen booth appearances. The show also aired exclusive interviews and Rap City memories. All things considered, this was just what the culture needed to create a nostalgic moment for hip-hop fans everywhere. Furthermore, the premiere gave new rappers a chance to show their rap skills.
The history of Rap City (1989-2008)
Rap City made its debut in 1989 as a hip-hop series dedicated to rap music. The show presented rap videos, important cultural commentary, and interviews with highlighted stars. Alongside original freestyles from the hottest artists, the show amplified the hip-hop culture. With Big Tigger as its lead host, the show remained steadfast despite the rap game’s evolution. The show welcomed the artists in the purest form which gave its viewers a thirst for more. For this reason, Rap City outlasted Yo! MTV Raps, its rival at the time.
The show birthed some of the greatest moments in hip hop history. It became home to an iconic Big Daddy Kane interview, and also the last interview of late hip-hop legend the Notorious B.I.G.
Stephen Hill, Vice President of Programming (1999-) shared with Rolling Stone,
“Professionally, I came on board spring of ’99. At the time, Rap City had three hosts. We made the decision to keep one host and Tigger was the choice: funny, vibrant, great on air, really about the music.”
In essence, BET gave hip-hop a nostalgic boost with Rap City ’21. There is no word whether the iconic rap show will return for good, but the culture awakened to the idea.
Written by Antoinette Ford
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