Rick Rubin founded Def Jam Records in his NYU dorm room
In 1984, Rick Rubin founded Def Jam records in his New York University dorm room. The first record Def Jam released was T La Rock and Jazzy…
Style Wars was the first Hip-Hop documentary
Director Tony Silver and producer Henry Chalfant’s 1983 documentary Style Wars was the first documentary on hip-hop culture. Style Wars…
Run-D.M.C. were the first rappers to sign an endorsement deal with a major company
After sporting Adidas for years and the release of their third album Raising Hell in 1986 which included My Adidas, Run-D.M.C. became the…
Young MC was the first solo rapper to win a Grammy
A year after DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince won the first Rap Grammy in 1989, Young MC became the first solo rapper to…
Although the Kitchen Tour was the first U.S. Hip-Hop Tour, the Fresh Fest Tour was the first major U.S. Hip-Hop tour
Right after the 1982 opening of The Roxy, The Kitchen Tour in 1982 with Rock Steady Crew, Fab 5 Freddy, Crazy Legs, and DJ Spy became the…
The New York City Rap Tour was the first international Hip-Hop tour
The “New York City Rap” tour—also known as The Roxy Tour—was the first international hip-hop tour in 1982. The tour brought all of…
Video Music Box was the first Hip-Hop music video TV show
In June of 1983, Video Music Box launched on WNYC-TV in New York City and became the first hip-hop music video TV show. The show aired the…
Although Blondie’s “Rapture” was the first music video with a rap aired on MTV, Run-D.M.C.’s “Rock Box” was the first Hip-Hop music video by a rap group aired on MTV
MTV (Music Television Network) launched on August 1, 1981. Blondie‘s music video for Rapture—which released that same year—was the 48th…