Def Jams - Black music experienced nothing less than a renaissance in the 1980's. From the unmitigated success of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to the rise of a new generation of Black pop stars like Whitney, Tina, Lionel, and Janet, to the ascendancy of rap and hip hop culture; the 1980's was a decade where black musicians reinvented themselves, took advantage of MTV's new avenues of exposure and made inroads into mainstream white culture like never before. This hour explores the evolution of black music in the 1980's by examining the biggest developments of the decade, and asks in the end what was sold, who was buying, and where does that leave it all today.

Topics covered in the show:

Rap music (being underground, trying to become mainstream and delivering a message)

Black Pop music

Hip Hop (going mainstream, changing culture and influencing fashion)

Breakdancing (being featured in Hollywood films, television and commercials)

Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight"

Prince

Michael Jackson

Lionel Richie

Whitney Houston

Chaka Khan

Gladys Knight

Diana Ross

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and "The Message"

Russell Simmons

Run DMC (and "My Adidas")

LL Cool J

Beastie Boys

Ed Lover and Dr. Dre

Tracy Chapman

Living Colour (and "Cult of Personality")

Beat Street

Breakin'

Yo! MTV Raps

When's this scheduled to air?

I hope they are going to feature other artists besides just the ones listed. If the show is called "Black in the 80s", then they should include the black groups that never crossed over to pop.

Beastie Boys?....lol

joesantosdotcom said:

lol

yeah, even Rick Rubin is white