At 12:01am on August 1st 1981, the first 24 hour video music channel went live. History was made.
The Buggles’ “Video Killed The Radio Star” was the first video to be played on MTV.
Since it’s creation, MTV has aided the music industry, boosting record sales. It did in fact not “kill the radio star”, but allowed fans better access to their favourite bands and artists.
MTV brought us Beavis & Butthead, My Super Sweet 16, and most importantly, some very iconic hip-hop moments took place on the channel.
To celebrate their 35th birthday, check out a few of our favourite MTV hip-hop moments below.
Bowie
Let’s start with this iconic interview from way back in 1983. To set the scene; the great late, David Bowie was being interviewed about his hit album Let’s Dance. However, he had a few questions for his interviewee, “I’m just flawed by the fact that there’s so few black artists featured on it- why is that?” Bowie, being Bowie, wasn’t afraid to stand up against the status quo.
Swift-Gate
This one needs no introduction. The start of a long feud – the best pop-star feud of ALL TIME?!| – started at the MTV VMAs in 2009. Check out the classic Kanye moment below.
The Lick
Remember those days when you’d be GLUED to the TV from 8pm-8.30 on a Wednesday night? Trevor Nelson interviewed everyone from Aaliyah to Diddy. Also, can we PLEASE appreciate how many legends are in the below picture? What are you saying Trev, a little 20 year reunion in 2018?
Run DMC x Aerosmith
Run DMC paved the way as true forefathers and became the first hip-hop act to perform at the VMAs in 1987, when they performed their version of “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith. Check out the vintage footage below.
When Lil Mama did a Kanye West…
It seems that 2009 was the year for stage invasions, with Lil Mama taking a leaf out of Yeezy’s book and bizarrely crashing the stage as Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performed “Empire State of Mind”. Jay Z later said in an interview that he’d never do that to an artist; it’s evident in his face in the below video!
When Tupac called out Trump in 1992
This interview from back in 1992 was recently unearthed, where ‘Pac talks greed and Donald Trump (which are probably one in the same TBF). As ever, Tupac’s words reign as true back then as they do today.
Yo! MTV Raps
Accused of shunning hip-hop in the first few years of its fruition, MTV created the show Yo! MTV Raps in 1988, becoming the first hip-hop music show on the channel. The iconic show came to an end in 1995. Check the very rare pilot episode below.
Happy Birthday MTV, we salute you!