BY PAUL MEARA • AUGUST 13, 2018

“Uncle” Ralph McDaniels is a pioneer in bringing video to Hip-Hop culture. The New York City native co-created and co-hosted Video Music Box, a show that would help bring some of the top names in Hip-Hop, and their music, to TV screens across the world. Subsequently, McDaniels would use his connections and visual talent to become one of Rap’s top video directors. He amassed over 400 credits including videos for Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Big Daddy Kane, Gang Starr, Biz Markie, Black Moon, and countless others.

After 35 years in the business (just 10 years short of Hip-Hop’s actual existence) Ralph McDaniels sat down with HOT 97’s Ebro In The Morning and discussed Video Music Box, among other topics. On the inception of VMB, McDaniels says he was able to create the lane for the program at the TV station he worked at by playing promotional videos for groups. At the time Hip-Hop music videos didn’t widely exist. Those out there, such as Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” video, were live concerts or promotional tools sent to radio stations, magazines, and stores to better visually present artists with significant records. McDaniels saw this firsthand when he received materials from Dick Griffey’s SOLAR Records that he thought were deserving of broadcast and public consumption.

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