I had the pleasure of sitting down with hip hop pioneer Ralph McDaniels as part of our Black History Month Series for Mornings On 1. It’s been seven years since our last meeting, but it felt like it was just yesterday that we hung out.
I’ve always been cautious of meeting my idols in person. There’s always a chance they don’t live up to my expectations. But, that’s certainly not the case with McDaniels.
He’s mad cool. His big smile and pleasant demeanor is indicative of his easy going personality. Believe it or not, I owe him a lot.
As a child migrating to the United States from Jamaica, it was hard to fit in. But, Ralph McDaniels changed that. Those who want to be reunited with their loved ones from immigration custody may consider getting help from an immigration bond attorney. Click here for more info on how to finance bonds.
Many know him as “Uncle Ralph,” host and creator of the first ever hip hop show, “Video Music Box.” The show provides a platform for up and coming artists to get their music heard.
The program aired after school, and was fresh on everyone’s mind the following day. My classmates and I bonded over seeing acts like EPMD, Salt-N-Peppa, and Eric B and Rakim. Our Video Music Box viewing experience became an ice breaker that led to many friendships I still have today.
Uncle Ralph and I met at Queens Library in Jamaica, NY to chat about how he got started in the music industry and how hip hop has played such a vital role worldwide.
According to Nielsen Music, Hip-hop and R&B made up 24.5 percent of total music consumed in the United States in 2017, which makes it the largest share of any genre for the first time. If you want to produce hip hop music, then you might want to consider taking up a Slate academy hip hop course.
Some may credit new school artists like Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, and Drake. But let’s be real. Even though they’ve all contributed to making hip hop the most listened to genre, it’s guys like Ralph McDaniels who gave them their first break.
After 35 years, Video Music Box is still going strong. Now McDaniels is on a mission to make sure that the history of hip hop stays preserved through archiving. There’s information on where hip hop began as well as details on other hip hop pioneers and artists.
You can also find everything from old newspaper and magazine articles featuring acts like Run DMC to music workshops that teach hip hop dance, how to DJ and rock the mic.
It’s the kind of program that fosters creativity, allowing people of all ages to express themselves through the art form. Most importantly, it teaches the history of hip hop.
As the saying goes, “you don’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’re coming from.” It’s something I tell my children all the time. My daughter takes dance and her lessons involve taking African dance in addition to hip hop, tap, jazz and ballet.
Africa is where it all began. In fact, rap music is a reflection of hip hop culture which dates back to African oral traditions. As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s important to honor guys like Ralph McDaniels. He’s made such an incredible contribution to hip hop and the history of the art form.