287:
much so that his grandmother reached out to him to congratulate him about the show after mistaking Tigger for her grandson! Hill, Senior
Producer Craig Henry and Producer John Tucker were credited with creating the studio format. Henry created a 360° basement set that gave the illusion of a real basement, and Tucker was noted for creating the iconic performance in the bathroom that became "The Booth".
420:, although no hosts other than Joe Clair and Big Tigger have joined in during the freestyle sessions. When Rap City premiered in 2005, the show featured a different studio, which replaced the basement. Instead of the basement bathroom, artists would freestyle in an elevator room, where artists would often leave their signatures on the wall.
415:
located in the basement bathroom, where the elements gave a grassroots, raw feel to the show. In these particular segments, the guests would lay exclusive new (or often recycled) vocals on the spot. This came to be around Big Tigger's tenure, which also included a guest DJ every week. Seemingly, this
286:
after meeting DJ & radio personalities The
Bassment Brothers: Trouble T & Phil the Thrill, who were doing a show called Friday Night in the Bassment on WKKV fm radio in Milwaukee, WI during this time. Big Tigger, the host chosen for the show, even resembled one of the brothers: Trouble T. So
45:
330:
and newly hosted by Big Tigger (a.k.a. Tigger), who succeeded Joe Clair and Big Lez. On August 28, 2000, BET moved the show to 4 p.m. On
January 18, 2005, the show was repackaged and Big Tigger was replaced as host by Mad Linx, a
335:
and radio personality. The transition was explained that Tigger's "mother" sold the basement and forced him out to live with his father. On
October 3, 2005, Mad Linx went on hiatus to host
926:
350:
On
December 28, 2005, BET returned the show to its original 5 p.m. time slot. Mad Linx returned to his weekday routine on February 2, 2006. J-Nicks left to work as a weekday radio DJ for
1663:
322:
On
September 13, 1999, Stephen G. Hill, BET's President of Music Programming, Senior Producer Craig Henry and Producer John Tucker a new show to fit a studio format;
1658:
1653:
1648:
1643:
635:
1484:
282:
from its original format, a traveling show that went into the cities of the hottest rappers in the country, to an in studio format. Retitled
1673:
403:
One of the most prominent and most popular segments of the show has been the freestyle booth. The booth was a segment that was added when
1514:
1206:
259:
The show was created by former BET VJ/producer Alvin Jones, a.k.a. "The Unseen VJ". This was a spin-off of the "Rap Week" segment of
1668:
704:
498:
1246:
591:
1316:
1107:
790:
750:
740:
1545:
1494:
1404:
429:
227:
181:
573:
692:
1444:
1067:
416:
concept was scrapped when "Tha
Basement" concept left but it has since returned. This is now seen as a major staple of
1678:
1047:
1256:
1145:
1454:
1226:
1216:
1097:
866:
458:
381:
to 1 a.m. ET, a time slot previously held by syndicated programming. In
October 2007, due to series-low ratings,
24:
1565:
1266:
1186:
1027:
760:
488:
307:", or simply "The Mayor". Other hosts included Hans Dobson aka Prime (1989–1993), Prince DaJour (1991–1994),
547:
521:
1555:
1414:
1296:
1236:
1007:
1374:
1117:
1595:
1535:
1394:
1326:
1165:
720:
605:
1615:
1434:
1384:
340:
230:(BET) network from August 11, 1989, to November 8, 2008. The program was an exclusive showcase for
358:. On August 14, 2006, Q45 replaced Mad Linx on the show. On September 25, 2006, the time slot for
1135:
828:
800:
730:
363:
300:
296:
223:
1585:
1306:
967:
685:
665:
494:
1474:
1196:
856:
780:
355:
261:
295:
Among notable previous hosts of the show are Chris Thomas (the first host of the show from
1605:
1356:
1276:
770:
997:
936:
1575:
1346:
987:
44:
1637:
1504:
1155:
1087:
957:
916:
398:
235:
231:
436:. Its last airing was Saturday, November 8, 2008, and was replaced by now-cancelled
906:
678:
312:
267:
95:
278:
In the Spring of 1999, Stephen G. Hill, then-President of Music
Programming, took
1464:
896:
332:
319:(1998–2005), DJ Mad Linx (2005–2006), J-Nicks (2005–2006) and Q-45 (2006–2008).
243:
220:
1424:
1017:
977:
846:
339:
for the following several months, the show was hosted by J-Nicks, a native of
316:
100:
1286:
1037:
308:
90:
1336:
670:
1077:
1057:
876:
659:
411:. Producer John Tucker is credited with creating the now iconic segment
366:. From that moment on, Q45 hosted the show on Weekdays. Mad Linx hosted
467:
239:
17:
636:"BET's Rap City: An Oral History of TV's Longest-Running Hip-Hop Show"
445:
606:"Fat Joe Calls DaBaby 'The New 2Pac' & Names 'The New Fat Joe'"
343:. Occasionally, special guests (such as a hip hop star) would host
385:
returned to its previous time slot at 5 p.m. In
September 2008,
351:
271:, which is now discontinued, mainly focused on popular rappers,
674:
701:
362:
changed to 4 p.m., and then flipped back to 5 p.m. in October
347:. The show's runtime was also shortened from two to one hour.
303:). Throughout his run, Thomas was also known as "The Mayor of
275:
also included videos from up-and-coming underground rappers.
444:
special was aired on BET hosted by Big Tigger with guest
265:, also hosted by "The Unseen VJ". While its competitor
377:
On September 17, 2007, BET changed the time slot of
1526:
1177:
948:
819:
812:
711:
187:
177:
172:
155:
126:
121:
113:
80:
54:
35:
466:special was aired with Big Tigger as a host, with
440:on November 10, 2008. On Friday, June 12, 2009, a
592:"Eminem, Slaughterhouse Freestyle On 'Rap City'"
370:on Saturdays and Big Tigger hosted the show as
686:
8:
574:"BET's Rap City To Be Replaced By The Deal"
816:
693:
679:
671:
43:
32:
234:videos, and features interviews with and
1664:2008 American television series endings
479:
456:with guest Eminem to promote his album
1659:2000s American music television series
1654:1990s American music television series
1649:1980s American music television series
1644:1989 American television series debuts
452:returned with another special called
7:
226:block that originally aired on the
148:John "Dr. Teeth" Tucker (1998–2001)
136:Theron "Tee Smif" Smith (2007-2008)
1247:Keyshia & Daniel: Family First
634:Harris, Christopher (2017-02-07).
490:Rap Music and Street Consciousness
30:1989 American TV series or program
14:
791:The Wine Down with Mary J. Blige
493:. University of Illinois Press.
407:becomes a studio format renamed
16:For the Canadian TV series, see
1405:Time: The Kalief Browder Story
389:obtained a new time of 3 p.m.
315:(a.k.a. Big Lez) (1994–1999),
228:Black Entertainment Television
1:
1307:Roc Nation Sports Live Boxing
751:Tyler Perry's Assisted Living
487:Cheryl Lynette Keyes (2006).
1445:The Rundown with Robin Thede
741:Tyler Perry's House of Payne
1674:African-American television
1048:Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is
1695:
1257:Real Husbands of Hollywood
396:
22:
15:
562:– via Google Books.
536:– via Google Books.
459:The Marshall Mathers LP 2
139:Gregory Trent (2001–2005)
88:Prince DaJour (1991–1994)
42:
25:Rap City (disambiguation)
1669:BET original programming
1566:BET Presents: The Encore
1267:Second Generation Wayans
1187:The Michael Vick Project
761:After Happily Ever After
84:Chris Thomas (1989–1991)
1556:Disrupt & Dismantle
448:. On November 6, 2013,
162:120 minutes (1989–2005)
142:Craig Henry (1997–1999)
105:DJ Mad Linx (2005–2006)
86:Hans Dobson (1989–1993)
1237:Reed Between the Lines
838:Black College Football
820:1980s and 1990s debuts
328:Rap City: Tha Basement
284:Rap City: Tha Basement
242:, and often has guest
165:60 minutes (2005–2008)
133:Matt Smith (2000–2008)
1375:The New Edition Story
409:Rap City Tha Basement
145:Obi Holly (1997–2000)
73:John Dr. Teeth Tucker
49:The outro frame, 2007
1596:The Murder Inc Story
1327:Keyshia Cole: All In
705:original programming
432:officially canceled
428:On October 1, 2008,
372:Rap City Presents...
23:For other uses, see
1616:Welcome to Rap City
1485:The Family Business
1435:The Comedy Get Down
1317:The Book of Negroes
1207:Let's Stay Together
393:The Freestyle Booth
291:Hosts and timeslots
246:serve as co-hosts.
107:J-Nicks (2005–2006)
1679:Hip hop television
1136:Brothers to Brutha
829:Bobby Jones Gospel
801:Ms. Pat Settles It
594:. 6 November 2013.
224:television program
1631:
1630:
1627:
1626:
1589:(2017—2022)
1515:Games People Play
1366:Criminals at Work
1166:The Mo'Nique Show
968:BET.com Countdown
442:Rap City: Relapse
212:
211:
114:Country of origin
1686:
1620:
1610:
1600:
1590:
1580:
1570:
1560:
1550:
1540:
1519:
1509:
1499:
1489:
1479:
1475:The Grand Hustle
1469:
1459:
1449:
1439:
1429:
1419:
1409:
1399:
1389:
1379:
1369:
1361:
1351:
1341:
1331:
1321:
1311:
1301:
1291:
1281:
1271:
1261:
1251:
1241:
1231:
1221:
1211:
1201:
1197:The Family Crews
1191:
1170:
1160:
1150:
1140:
1130:
1122:
1112:
1102:
1092:
1082:
1072:
1068:The Black Carpet
1062:
1052:
1042:
1032:
1022:
1012:
1002:
992:
982:
972:
962:
941:
931:
921:
911:
901:
891:
881:
871:
861:
857:Video Vibrations
851:
841:
833:
817:
805:
795:
785:
781:America in Black
775:
765:
755:
745:
735:
725:
695:
688:
681:
672:
649:
647:
646:
621:
620:
618:
617:
602:
596:
595:
588:
582:
581:
570:
564:
563:
561:
559:
544:
538:
537:
535:
533:
518:
512:
511:
509:
507:
484:
354:Hot 107.9 FM in
262:Video Vibrations
208:
206:
201:November 8, 2008
198:
196:
173:Original release
109:Q-45 (2006–2008)
47:
33:
1694:
1693:
1689:
1688:
1687:
1685:
1684:
1683:
1634:
1633:
1632:
1623:
1613:
1606:Haus of Vicious
1603:
1593:
1583:
1573:
1563:
1553:
1543:
1533:
1522:
1512:
1502:
1492:
1482:
1472:
1462:
1452:
1442:
1432:
1422:
1412:
1402:
1392:
1382:
1372:
1364:
1357:Chasing Destiny
1354:
1344:
1334:
1324:
1314:
1304:
1294:
1284:
1277:Being Mary Jane
1274:
1264:
1254:
1244:
1234:
1224:
1214:
1204:
1194:
1184:
1173:
1163:
1153:
1143:
1133:
1125:
1115:
1105:
1095:
1085:
1075:
1065:
1055:
1045:
1035:
1025:
1015:
1005:
995:
985:
975:
965:
955:
944:
934:
924:
914:
904:
894:
884:
874:
864:
854:
844:
836:
826:
808:
798:
788:
778:
768:
758:
748:
738:
728:
718:
707:
699:
656:
644:
642:
633:
630:
628:Further reading
625:
624:
615:
613:
604:
603:
599:
590:
589:
585:
572:
571:
567:
557:
555:
554:. February 2001
546:
545:
541:
531:
529:
528:. February 2001
520:
519:
515:
505:
503:
501:
486:
485:
481:
476:
426:
401:
395:
368:Rap City Top 10
293:
257:
252:
204:
202:
200:
194:
192:
191:August 11, 1989
168:
151:
108:
106:
104:
99:
94:
89:
87:
85:
76:
67:Stephen G. Hill
50:
31:
28:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1692:
1690:
1682:
1681:
1676:
1671:
1666:
1661:
1656:
1651:
1646:
1636:
1635:
1629:
1628:
1625:
1624:
1622:
1621:
1611:
1601:
1591:
1581:
1576:Klutch Academy
1571:
1561:
1551:
1541:
1530:
1528:
1524:
1523:
1521:
1520:
1510:
1500:
1490:
1480:
1470:
1460:
1450:
1440:
1430:
1420:
1410:
1400:
1390:
1380:
1370:
1362:
1352:
1347:Zoe Ever After
1342:
1332:
1322:
1312:
1302:
1292:
1282:
1272:
1262:
1252:
1242:
1232:
1222:
1212:
1202:
1192:
1181:
1179:
1175:
1174:
1172:
1171:
1161:
1151:
1146:Harlem Heights
1141:
1131:
1123:
1113:
1103:
1093:
1083:
1073:
1063:
1053:
1043:
1033:
1023:
1013:
1003:
993:
988:Access Granted
983:
973:
963:
958:106 & Park
952:
950:
946:
945:
943:
942:
932:
922:
912:
902:
892:
882:
872:
862:
852:
842:
834:
823:
821:
814:
810:
809:
807:
806:
796:
786:
776:
771:Black + Iconic
766:
756:
746:
736:
726:
715:
713:
709:
708:
700:
698:
697:
690:
683:
675:
669:
668:
655:
654:External links
652:
651:
650:
629:
626:
623:
622:
597:
583:
565:
539:
513:
499:
478:
477:
475:
472:
425:
422:
394:
391:
337:BET Road Show;
326:was re-titled
292:
289:
256:
253:
251:
248:
210:
209:
189:
185:
184:
179:
175:
174:
170:
169:
167:
166:
163:
159:
157:
153:
152:
150:
149:
146:
143:
140:
137:
134:
130:
128:
124:
123:
119:
118:
115:
111:
110:
82:
78:
77:
75:
74:
71:
68:
65:
64:Keith Paschell
62:
58:
56:
52:
51:
48:
40:
39:
29:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1691:
1680:
1677:
1675:
1672:
1670:
1667:
1665:
1662:
1660:
1657:
1655:
1652:
1650:
1647:
1645:
1642:
1641:
1639:
1618:
1617:
1612:
1608:
1607:
1602:
1598:
1597:
1592:
1588:
1587:
1582:
1578:
1577:
1572:
1568:
1567:
1562:
1558:
1557:
1552:
1548:
1547:
1546:Boiling Point
1542:
1538:
1537:
1532:
1531:
1529:
1525:
1517:
1516:
1511:
1507:
1506:
1505:American Soul
1501:
1497:
1496:
1491:
1488:(2018–2019)
1487:
1486:
1481:
1477:
1476:
1471:
1467:
1466:
1461:
1457:
1456:
1455:Hit the Floor
1451:
1447:
1446:
1441:
1437:
1436:
1431:
1427:
1426:
1421:
1417:
1416:
1411:
1407:
1406:
1401:
1397:
1396:
1391:
1387:
1386:
1381:
1377:
1376:
1371:
1367:
1363:
1359:
1358:
1353:
1349:
1348:
1343:
1339:
1338:
1333:
1329:
1328:
1323:
1319:
1318:
1313:
1309:
1308:
1303:
1299:
1298:
1293:
1289:
1288:
1283:
1279:
1278:
1273:
1269:
1268:
1263:
1259:
1258:
1253:
1249:
1248:
1243:
1239:
1238:
1233:
1229:
1228:
1227:Black Panther
1223:
1219:
1218:
1213:
1209:
1208:
1203:
1199:
1198:
1193:
1189:
1188:
1183:
1182:
1180:
1176:
1168:
1167:
1162:
1158:
1157:
1156:Tiny and Toya
1152:
1148:
1147:
1142:
1138:
1137:
1132:
1128:
1124:
1120:
1119:
1114:
1110:
1109:
1104:
1100:
1099:
1098:Baldwin Hills
1094:
1090:
1089:
1088:Take the Cake
1084:
1080:
1079:
1074:
1070:
1069:
1064:
1060:
1059:
1054:
1050:
1049:
1044:
1040:
1039:
1034:
1030:
1029:
1024:
1020:
1019:
1014:
1010:
1009:
1004:
1000:
999:
994:
990:
989:
984:
980:
979:
974:
970:
969:
964:
960:
959:
954:
953:
951:
947:
939:
938:
933:
929:
928:
923:
919:
918:
917:Planet Groove
913:
909:
908:
903:
899:
898:
893:
889:
888:
883:
879:
878:
873:
869:
868:
867:Midnight Love
863:
859:
858:
853:
849:
848:
843:
839:
835:
831:
830:
825:
824:
822:
818:
815:
811:
803:
802:
797:
793:
792:
787:
783:
782:
777:
773:
772:
767:
763:
762:
757:
753:
752:
747:
743:
742:
737:
733:
732:
727:
723:
722:
717:
716:
714:
710:
706:
703:
696:
691:
689:
684:
682:
677:
676:
673:
667:
663:
662:
658:
657:
653:
641:
640:Rolling Stone
637:
632:
631:
627:
611:
607:
601:
598:
593:
587:
584:
579:
575:
569:
566:
553:
552:Vibe Magazine
549:
543:
540:
527:
526:Vibe Magazine
523:
517:
514:
502:
500:9780252072017
496:
492:
491:
483:
480:
473:
471:
469:
465:
462:. In 2021, a
461:
460:
455:
451:
447:
443:
439:
435:
431:
423:
421:
419:
414:
410:
406:
400:
399:Freestyle rap
392:
390:
388:
384:
380:
375:
373:
369:
365:
361:
357:
353:
348:
346:
342:
338:
334:
329:
325:
320:
318:
314:
311:(1994–1999),
310:
306:
302:
298:
290:
288:
285:
281:
276:
274:
270:
269:
264:
263:
254:
249:
247:
245:
241:
238:from popular
237:
233:
232:hip hop music
229:
225:
222:
218:
217:
190:
186:
183:
180:
176:
171:
164:
161:
160:
158:
154:
147:
144:
141:
138:
135:
132:
131:
129:
125:
120:
117:United States
116:
112:
102:
97:
92:
83:
79:
72:
69:
66:
63:
60:
59:
57:
53:
46:
41:
38:
34:
26:
19:
1614:
1604:
1594:
1584:
1574:
1564:
1554:
1544:
1534:
1527:2020s debuts
1513:
1503:
1493:
1483:
1473:
1463:
1453:
1443:
1433:
1423:
1413:
1403:
1393:
1383:
1373:
1365:
1355:
1345:
1335:
1325:
1315:
1305:
1295:
1285:
1275:
1265:
1255:
1245:
1235:
1225:
1215:
1205:
1195:
1185:
1178:2010s debuts
1164:
1154:
1144:
1134:
1126:
1116:
1106:
1096:
1086:
1076:
1066:
1056:
1046:
1036:
1028:College Hill
1026:
1016:
1006:
998:BET's Top 25
996:
986:
976:
966:
956:
949:2000s debuts
937:Cita's World
935:
925:
915:
907:Screen Scene
905:
895:
886:
885:
875:
865:
855:
845:
837:
827:
804:(since 2023)
799:
794:(since 2023)
789:
784:(since 2023)
779:
774:(since 2023)
769:
764:(since 2022)
759:
754:(since 2020)
749:
744:(since 2020)
739:
734:(since 2019)
729:
724:(since 2019)
719:
660:
643:. Retrieved
639:
614:. Retrieved
612:. 2021-10-12
609:
600:
586:
577:
568:
556:. Retrieved
551:
548:"Radio Days"
542:
530:. Retrieved
525:
522:"Radio Days"
516:
504:. Retrieved
489:
482:
464:Rap City '21
463:
457:
453:
449:
441:
437:
433:
427:
417:
412:
408:
404:
402:
386:
382:
378:
376:
371:
367:
359:
349:
344:
336:
327:
323:
321:
313:Leslie Segar
304:
294:
283:
279:
277:
272:
268:Yo! MTV Raps
266:
260:
258:
215:
214:
213:
156:Running time
96:Leslie Segar
36:
1539:(2020–2021)
1518:(2019–2021)
1508:(2019–2020)
1498:(2019–2020)
1465:In Contempt
1448:(2017–2018)
1398:(2017–2018)
1300:(2014–2015)
1280:(2013–2019)
1260:(2013–2016)
1220:(2011–2015)
1210:(2011–2014)
1200:(2010–2011)
1169:(2009–2011)
1159:(2009–2010)
1129:(2008–2010)
1111:(2007–2021)
1108:Sunday Best
1101:(2007–2009)
1071:(2006–2008)
1061:(2006–2007)
1051:(2006–2008)
1041:(2004–2006)
1031:(2004–2009)
1011:(2003–2007)
1001:(2001–2008)
991:(2001–2009)
981:(2001–2006)
971:(2001–2006)
961:(2000–2014)
940:(1999–2003)
930:(1996–1998)
920:(1996–1999)
910:(1990–1997)
900:(1989–2002)
897:Teen Summit
890:(1989–2008)
880:(1985–1993)
870:(1985–2005)
860:(1984–1997)
850:(1981–1996)
840:(1981–2005)
832:(1980–2016)
558:January 15,
532:January 15,
506:January 15,
221:music video
103:(1998–2005)
98:(1994–1999)
93:(1994–1999)
70:Craig Henry
61:Alvin Jones
1638:Categories
1425:50 Central
1297:Nellyville
1018:Hey Monie!
1008:The Center
978:BET: Uncut
927:ABL on BET
847:Video Soul
645:2023-10-01
616:2022-09-15
474:References
470:as guest.
397:See also:
374:specials.
317:Big Tigger
255:Conception
236:freestyles
205:2008-11-08
195:1989-08-11
122:Production
101:Big Tigger
55:Created by
1495:Boomerang
1287:Just Keke
1118:Iron Ring
1038:BET Style
413:The Booth
341:St. Louis
309:Joe Clair
127:Producers
91:Joe Clair
1536:Twenties
1395:The Quad
1217:The Game
1127:The Deal
1078:The 5ive
1058:Hotwyred
887:Rap City
877:Video LP
721:The Oval
661:Rap City
610:HipHopDX
578:HipHopDX
450:Rap City
438:The Deal
434:Rap City
418:Rap City
405:Rap City
387:Rap City
383:Rap City
379:Rap City
360:Rap City
345:Rap City
324:Rap City
305:Rap City
280:Rap City
273:Rap City
216:Rap City
81:Starring
37:Rap City
1478:(2018)
1468:(2018)
1408:(2017)
1368:(2016)
1270:(2013)
712:Current
468:Fat Joe
356:Atlanta
250:History
240:rappers
203: (
199: –
193: (
188:Release
178:Network
18:RapCity
1619:(2023)
1609:(2022)
1599:(2022)
1579:(2021)
1569:(2021)
1559:(2021)
1549:(2021)
1458:(2018)
1438:(2017)
1428:(2017)
1418:(2017)
1388:(2017)
1385:Madiba
1378:(2017)
1360:(2016)
1350:(2016)
1340:(2015)
1337:Punk'd
1330:(2015)
1320:(2015)
1310:(2015)
1290:(2014)
1250:(2012)
1240:(2011)
1230:(2011)
1190:(2010)
1149:(2009)
1139:(2008)
1121:(2008)
1091:(2007)
1081:(2007)
1021:(2003)
813:Former
731:Sistas
497:
446:Eminem
424:Finale
219:was a
1586:Tales
1415:Rebel
454:EM360
666:IMDb
560:2018
534:2018
508:2018
495:ISBN
364:2006
352:WHTA
301:1991
297:1989
702:BET
664:at
430:BET
244:DJs
182:BET
1640::
638:.
608:.
576:.
550:.
524:.
333:DJ
694:e
687:t
680:v
648:.
619:.
580:.
510:.
299:–
207:)
197:)
27:.
20:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.