Graffiti Rock: a look back at the future of hip-hop from 1984

April 27, 2020 11:40 PM

"Well party people in the place to be, you just tuned into the #1 crazy-fresh show we call Graffiti Rock." A snapshot of 1984, something like Soul Train for hip-hop, except only the pilot was made. Featuring Run D.M.C., Kool Moe Dee, Shannon, and New York City Breakers. Despite being a one-off show, it had a lasting impact (New York Times), with the Beastie Boys sampling Michael Holman's presentation, and Arsonists & Non Phixion recreated the set for the video of "14 Years Of Rap," then parodied in Gnarls Barkley's video for "Run." Bonus: DVD extra features, with 42 minutes of vintage footage.
posted by filthy light thief (4 comments total)

Don't try this on your Dad's stereo. Only under hip-hop supervision.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 3:34 AM on April 28, 2020 [1 favorite]

Debi Mazar and Vincent Gallo were dancers on that show.
posted by cazoo at 5:04 AM on April 28, 2020 [2 favorites]

Thanks, cazoo.

Watched the first 2 minutes and I was like...."Was that.....what's her name?"
posted by kuanes at 5:06 AM on April 28, 2020 [1 favorite]

Thanks for those notes. I found this referenced from the (currently unavailable!) Questlove live mix tribute to the Beastie Boys samples, and he was stumped on naming Debi and Vincent for a moment.

If this is your jam, Michael Holman (personal site) put up a Kickstarter for the 30th anniversary re-release with a new Hip Hop documentary "Graffiti Rock: The Untold Story." I don't see much info for that documentary, but here's an hour long interview with Holman from We All Be TV.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:59 PM on April 28, 2020