Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
I was so excited to see BET’s three-part documentary about “Rap City” that as soon as I started watching it, I texted my man Joe Clair, who was the show’s second host. I wrote, “This is so wack.” I’m sure he was in the midst of getting lots of congratulatory texts so I’m sure my message had him saying, What is going on right now? Not Touré hating? I continued, “It should’ve been a documentary about ‘The Black Carpet.’” “The Black Carpet” was the BET show that I hosted back when I was at the channel. At that point, Claire knew I was kidding — everyone knew “Rap City” was a monster. “The Black Carpet” got solid ratings, but “Rap City” paid the bills. It was of the most iconic shows in BET history and one of the most important shows in hip-hop history because it was part of the culture.
“Rap City,” especially when Big Tigger was the host, was a show that seemed to come to us from inside the culture. It was the culture. I mean, the show was shot on a set that made it look like they were in some brother’s basement man cave. They did interviews sitting on funky couches or leaning over the pool table as opposed to sitting in nice chairs. It felt like I was sitting in a corner of my homeboy’s hideout, watching him kick it with big rappers. The living room setting signified that you were at home. There was a DJ in the room to signal that they cared about more than just the MCs. But what “Rap City” did that almost no other TV show did was they got rappers…
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