Dipset in The Booth, c. 2003
BET’s Rap City has the distinction of being the longest running Hip-Hop video show, running from 1989-2008. Along the way, it of course went through different hosts & phases (shout to Big Lez, Joe Clair, Prince Dejour, and of course “The Mayor” Chris Thomas), but (to me) Tha Bassment era was the best of them all.
To me, the ritual of coming home & turning on BET @ 4pm to catch “the latest & greatest in Hip-Hop” [(c) Big Tig] was second to none. Of course, the show is remembered for its classic freestyles in “The Booth.” Every rapper from that era know they had to go in the booth and drop a hot 16 (or a verse from their upcoming album SMH).
Lil Wayne in The Booth, with lyrics from “BM J.R.,” c. 2004
After Big Tig left in 2005, the show changed formats and hosts, and took a turn for the worse. While the booth remained, there were few reasons to watch the show as the YouTube era was in full swing. With ratings on the decline, BET canceled Rap City in 2008.
More classic freestyles as you continue on.
