By Kyle Eustice • February 7, 2019

MC Serch joined Chubb Rock, MC Lyte and Special Ed for a special episode of Good Morning America last December. The golden era Hip Hop figures were on deck in support of Rostrum Records’ Top Shelf 1988 compilation.

The 13-track project was billed as a “treasure trove” of unreleased cuts from artists such as Big Daddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh, Craig G, Biz Markie and Jungle Brothers. The 3rd Bass MC, who was instrumental in making the television appearance happen, figured the timing was right.

“I spoke to ABC last November thinking this is the 30th year — Top Shelf was from 1988 — so it would make sense to end the year with this Top Shelf tribute,” Serch explains to HipHopDX. “ABC New York had one of the first video shows called ‘Hot Tracks’ that would play rap videos, so it was a vibe as far as I was concerned.

“It also was about treating our MCs from the golden era like the stars and icons they are. To me, the only difference between The Beatles and Big Daddy Kane or Chubb Rock is that The Beatles had hundreds of radio stations playing their music all day, every day. We had college radio who played it a few times a week late at night and urban stations that played it a few hours Friday and Saturday. Yet these artists are still revered and honored just as much, but not with the fanfare.”