Editing Yo! MTV Raps (section)

==History==
[[File:Yomtvraps.jpg|75px|right|thumb|Original logo]]
In 1987, French journalist and producer [[Sophie Bramly]] developed and hosted the program ''Yo!'' for the then-nascent MTV Europe, with [[Afrika Bambaataa]] as the first guest. Later [[N.W.A]], [[Public Enemy]], [[LL Cool J]], [[Ice-T]], [[De La Soul]], [[Eric B. & Rakim]], [[EPMD]] or [[Ultramagnetic MCs]] were invited.<ref>{{cite book|last=Piolet|first=Vincent|title=Regarde ta jeunesse dans les yeux. Naissance du hip-hop français 1980-1990|date=2017|language=fr|publisher=Le mot et le reste|isbn=978-2360542901}}</ref> The year after that, [[Run-DMC]] hosted the [[pilot episode]] in the US, with [[DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince]] as the program's first guests and [[Eric B. & Rakim]]'s video for the title track of the album ''[[Follow the Leader (Eric B. & Rakim album)|Follow the Leader]]'' as the first video shown on the program. The pilot was one of the highest [[Nielsen ratings|rated]] programs to ever air on MTV at that point, with only the [[MTV Video Music Award|Video Music Awards]] and [[Live Aid]] receiving greater ratings.

[[Shinehead]]'s "Chain Gang" was the first video to be shown during a regular-season episode.  Meanwhile, [[Ice-T]]'s "[[High Rollers (song)|High Rollers]]" was the first video to be played during the weekday show. The classic ''Yo! MTV Raps'' logo was created by early graffiti writer, Dr. Revolt. The animated show open was produced by Nigel Cox-Hagen and animated by Beau Tardy.

===''Yo! MTV Raps'' and the spread of hip-hop===
The advent of ''Yo! MTV Raps'' in the late 1980s was crucial to spreading hip-hop around the world.<ref>Chang, Jeff. “It’s a Hip-hop World.” Foreign Policy 163, Nov/Dec 2007, 58-65.</ref> Through [[MTV Europe]], [[MTV Asia]], and MTV Latino, African-American and Latino style and sound became instantly available to millions of people across the globe, helping to create a worldwide appreciation and interest in the hip-hop scene, which is something that was celebrated on the ''Yo! MTV Raps'' 20th anniversary.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080328142634/http://www.mtv.com/music/yo_mtv_raps/ Yo! MTV Raps 20th Anniversary | MTV<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

===Rivalry===
Although ''[[Video Music Box]]'' is often considered the first contender, in 1989, former rival [[Black Entertainment Television|BET]] created competition by premiering ''[[Rap City (TV series)|Rap City]] ''. The show was the longest-running hip-hop program because of its 19-year run (ending in 2009). While ''Yo! MTV Raps''', which is now discontinued, generally focused on the rap scene from the East Coast and largely popular West Coast artists, ''Rap City'' also included videos from up-and-coming underground rappers from different regions of the US.

==="Down With MTV"===
One of the most popular artists to be featured on ''Yo! MTV Raps'' was [[Naughty by Nature]]. When MTV started its '''''Down With MTV''''' advertising campaign in 1992, Naughty by Nature's smash hit "[[O.P.P. (song)|O.P.P.]]" was used as the basis.

===Censorship and declining popularity===
The ratings fell after pulling [[Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy]]'s video "By the Time I Get to Arizona" in 1991, claiming it was too violent. Also, ''Yo! MTV Raps'' almost declined to air the video for [[Cypress Hill]]'s "[[How I Could Just Kill a Man]]." Only after Sheri Howell, Vice President of Music and Artist Development at MTV, intervened that MTV changed their minds.

By around 1992–93, MTV aired ''Yo! MTV Raps'' only once a week, for two hours, on Fridays after midnight.

===The end of ''Yo!''===
''Yo! MTV Raps'' had its series finale on August 17, 1995. Numerous high-profile names in the world of hip-hop closed the show out with a [[freestyle rap]] session, including [[Rakim]], [[KRS-One]], [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]], [[Method Man]], [[Special Ed]], [[Erick Sermon]], [[Chubb Rock]], [[Craig Mack]], [[MC Serch]] of [[3rd Bass]], and [[Large Professor]]. [[Salt-N-Pepa]] holds the distinction of appearing on the first (technically, the first episode to feature Fab 5 Freddy) and last episodes of ''Yo! MTV Raps''.

From 1996 to 1999, MTV repackaged it as simply ''Yo!'', which was far more stripped-down and had a weekly slate of special guest hosts. For instance, [[Angie Martinez]] and [[Fatman Scoop]] served as its hosts. By 1998, ''Yo!'' had no guest hosts and became a one-hour program airing late Friday nights at 1 a.m. or 1:30&nbsp;a.m. ([[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Standard Time]]).

In 2000, MTV's outlet for hip-hop videos became ''[[Direct Effect]]'', known since 2006 as ''[[Sucker Free]]''. It aired three times a week at around 7:00 PM ([[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Standard Time]]). It is one of the few music video outlets for MTV besides its late-night/early-morning music video rotation hours, as MTV continues to focus on non-music video programming, especially [[reality television]] shows.

===Revivals===
''Yo! MTV Raps'' made a comeback of sorts, after an eight-year hiatus during the ''[[Jackassworld.com: 24 Hour Takeover]]'' in February 2008. It had [[Steve-O]] (alongside [[Sam Maccarone]]) promoting his new rap album, doing freestyles, and showing his new music video. The old set was carefully recreated, with [[Johnny Knoxville]] joking that [[Mike Judge]] created a brand new ''[[Beavis and Butt-Head]]'' episode with them critiquing Steve-O's rap video.

====20th Anniversary====
In April 2008, ''Yo! MTV Raps'' celebrated its 20th anniversary<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur42166.cfm |title='YO! MTV RAPS' CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY: Occasion will be marked throughout April via special programming. |access-date=2008-04-05 |archive-date=2008-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407071637/http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur42166.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref> by making a comeback on MTV. MTV's show ''[[Sucker Free]]'' transformed into ''Yo! MTV Raps'' and featured classic hip-hop music videos as well as current hip-hop videos. Fab 5 Freddy, [[Doctor Dré]] and Ed Lover contributed to the tribute of the show. At the end of April 2008, MTV aired ''Yo!'' countdown shows and featured the top moments from the show during its airing on MTV.

====30th Anniversary====
''Yo! MTV Raps'' was revived for a new generation in 2018, celebrating the 30th anniversary at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on June 1, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3074331/yo-mtv-raps-30th-anniversary/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419215103/http://www.mtv.com/news/3074331/yo-mtv-raps-30th-anniversary/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 19, 2018 |title=YO! MTV RAPS IS BACK IN A BIG WAY |author=Charles Holmes |website=[[MTV]] |date=2018-04-19}}</ref>

The live show featured Big Daddy Kane and the Juice Crew, Eric B & Rakim, Doug E. Fresh, KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions, EPMD, Flavor Flav, and many more. It also featured past hosts and DJs who helped shepherd the series, like Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover, Doctor Dré, T Money, Skribble, Red Alert, and Chuck Chillout. Tribute videos from artists like Eminem, Method Man, and Redman also commemorated the occasion.

====''Yo! MTV Raps'' International ====
In Spring 2019, Viacom International Media Networks relaunched the series with local versions in the UK, Germany, South-East Asia, and pan-African versions on MTV Base and MTV Africa. The Format and editorial of the series were headed by British TV producer Darcy Thomas. This also followed with a bi-weekly spin-off show ''Yo! MTV Rates'' hosted by Snoochie Shy and Poet, which aired in the UK and was also produced by Darcy Thomas<ref>{{cite web |url=http://industrytakeover.co.uk/speakers/darcy-thomas/|title=Darcy Thomas|last= |first= |date= |website=Industry Takeover|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> for two seasons (16 episodes).

====MTV Classic====
Following the launch of [[MTV Classic (American TV channel)|MTV Classic]] on August 1, 2016, [[music video]] blocks have consistently aired on the network under the name ''Yo! Hip Hop Mix''. When broadcast, however, this is merely an automated playlist of rap/hip-hop videos from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

====Pluto TV====
A ''Yo! MTV Raps'' channel was added to [[Pluto TV]] following Viacom's purchase of the service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/pluto-tv-adds-3-new-mtv-music-videos-channels/|title=Pluto TV Adds 3 New MTV Music Videos Channels|last=Barnes|first=Jess|date=2019-07-30|website=Cord Cutters News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-02}}</ref>

====Paramount+====
On February 24, 2021, it was announced that ''Yo! MTV Raps'' would be revived on [[ViacomCBS]]' streaming platform [[Paramount+]], formerly CBS All Access.<ref>{{cite news |last=Porter|first=Rick|date=February 24, 2021|title='Behind the Music,' 'Yo! MTV Raps,' 'Road Rules' Revived at Paramount+|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/behind-the-music-yo-mtv-raps-revived-paramount-plus|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> On February 17, 2022, it was announced that [[Conceited (rapper)|Conceited]] and DJ Diamond Kuts would host the revival.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2022/02/17/renowned-battle-rapper-conceited-and-celebrated-deejay-dj-diamond-kuts-to-host-return-of-iconic-series-yo-mtv-raps-on-paramountplus-380014/20220217cbs02/|title=Renowned Battle Rapper Conceited and Celebrated Deejay DJ Diamond Kuts to Host Return of Iconic Series "Yo! MTV Raps" on Paramount+|publisher=[[CBS]]|via=[[The Futon Critic]]|date=February 17, 2022|access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref> On May 2, 2022, it was announced that the revival would premiere on May 24, 2022.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2022/05/02/legendary-series-yo-mtv-raps-hosted-by-conceited-and-dj-diamond-kuts-set-to-premiere-exclusively-on-paramountplus-globally-may-24-931410/20220502cbs01/|title=Legendary Series "Yo! MTV Raps," Hosted by Conceited and DJ Diamond Kuts, Set to Premiere Exclusively on Paramount+ Globally May 24|publisher=[[CBS]]|via=[[The Futon Critic]]|date=May 2, 2022|access-date=May 2, 2022}}</ref>