VJ Ralph McDaniels mixing DVDs (peep the screen in the background)
During MLK weekend, Danny Castro and others put forth a Rakim/Chuck D concert at Planet B in Brooklyn. I didn’t stay late enough for the classic rhymes, but had more my fill listening, and watching, VJ Ralph McDaniels do his thing. He cut up DVDs on beat (his mixer had pitch control) which had me on the dancefloor grooving while the headboppers parlayed and watched old-school Wu-Tang on screen. It was bananas! I told him, “Dag, b–you gonna put a lot of DJs like me out of bizness! How can we compete?!!!” “Uncle” Ralph, as DJ Red Alert called him, is as humble of a legend you’ll ever meet though. His “Video Music Box” show debuted in the early ’80s and was the first hip hop music television the world ever witnessed, years before “Yo MTV Raps” layed the blueprint nationally. He also directed, along with his partner Lionel “The Vid Kid” Martin, a number of memorable clips for Nas, Third Bass, and a long list of lyrical royalty. (Footnote: I have a dancer cameo in Third Bass’ “Steppin’ To the AM”!)
Footage of the Planet B evening will air on Ralph’s WNYC (Channel 25 Time Warner Cable New York) “Video Music Box” show this Saturday, Feb. 2nd, at 12 midnight. And in true form that originated on his broadcasts, shout out to him, Kimi, Lovebug Starski, Ray, Danny Castro, Drew Peets, Dante Ross, Oscar/Vashtie, the Retro Kids, and all the other true heads that walked all the way out to Willie B cuz it sure was brick outside that night!
contact Mr. McDaniels at www.myspace.com/uncleralph
Legends in the game: LoveBug Starski and Uncle Ralph
(L-R) Danny Castro, co-founder of the Lyricist Lounge, and “Video Music Box” Host Ray.
My man Dante Ross, who produced tracks for Third Bass, Bran Nubians, and Everlast, as well as being responsible for signing De La Soul to Tommy Boy Records and Pete Rock & CL, KMD, and the Nubians to Elektra. Check out the famed sneakerhead’s monthly Mass Appeal magazine column and blog at: http://www.slamxhype.com/blogs/Dante.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Wendy Day says:
Oh my gosh! Almost everyone I love from 1990s hip hop was at this event from Ralph McD to Dante to Danny Castro to Lovebug Starski to Chuck and Rah. And Bobbito too???? (He gives the best hugs, ever!). Damn, I miss those days. Not that these days now aren’t great too, but nothing can replace the fond memories of hip hop in its infancy/toddler phase. Y’all made this shit worthwhile for me!! Those were the days when I went out and had fun… I love you all immensely!! You are all tucked away safely in the memory bank of my brain!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:56 pm
chris says:
i would run home from school to watch video music box.. i also absolutely love his show on NYC TV called ” The Bridge”. Plays so many classic videos and offers little blurbs in the corner with memorable lines, and insight about the artists and the tracks.. great show.. its channel 25 here in queens, not sure what it is in other boroughs..
uncle ralph is the man..
January 31st, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Mel => Always Winns says:
Yo Raphael!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You all made braving the cold that night was worth while..
Rain, sleet or snow, I’ looing forward to the next episode.
February 1st, 2008 at 6:25 am
mannyfresh*Ex-los mosquitos says:
It felt like that around the way jam from back in the days, but back to the future. crazy!!! timeless..
February 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Donny Lemons says:
That guy in the picture doesn’t look happy to be standing next to you. Bob. No offense. I think you are too close…
February 1st, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
wendy!
you did so much for the hip hop community, man–you deserve so much props! word up! are you still doing the coalition? you were one dedicated woman to the cause, that’s for sure.
February 12th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Hush Hip Hop Tours says:
We had the opportunity to bring a few visitors to NYC from Germany to this event and what an experience it was for them as well as for me a Native New Yorker.
Ralph is the Man!!! Coming soon Where Brooklyn At the Hip Hop Tour guided by Uncle Ralph