LONDON (CelebrityAccess) — “YO! MTV Raps” the venerable MTV television show that helped to drive the early days of mainstream rap, has been revived for international audiences.
According to Variety, who first reported the story, said the reinvited show will debut in the UK later this month, with editions in Germany, as well as unidentified countries in Africa and Southeast Asia planned for later this year.
In each case, it will be the first time that the MTV International-produced series will be featured in the market. Each version of the show will feature two local presenters with highlights repackaged for international distribution, Variety reported.
Each localized version will start with a limited run of four to five episodes for each market, with a potential for a longer iteration of the series ordered.
Executive producers include Bruce Gillmer and Jennifer Demme-Harris, who is a sister to one of the show’s original creators Ted Demme. According to Variety, Demme-Harris will oversee talent bookings for the show.
“Yo! MTV Raps” was first introduced to American audiences in 1987 with a pilot episode that featured rap legends Run-DMC and became one of the network’s highest-rated shows to date.
In 1991, MTV refused to air music by Public Enemy, claiming that it was too violent, and nearly refusing to release a video for “How I could kill a man” by Cyprus Hill, drawing criticism from fans and musicians alike.
By 1993, the show’s popularity had waned and MTV was broadcasting “Yo! MTV Raps” just once a week until 1995 when it was retooled into a stripped-down version called “Yo!”
Earlier this year, MTV announced they were reviving the franchise and staged a “30th Anniversary Experience” featuring alumni from the show such as Big Daddy Kane and the Juice Crew, Eric B & Rakim, Doug E. Fresh at the Barclays Center on June 1st.
