MTV will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the influential Yo! MTV Raps!

Ace Cannon of Allhiphop reports that MTV will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the influential Hip-Hop video show Yo! MTV Raps starting on April 1. The network’s MTV, MTV2, MTV Tr3s, MTV Jams, MTV Hits, MTV Mobile, MTV Radio and MTV On Demand will feature old and new Yo! MTV Raps programming. Yo! MTV Raps ran from August 1988 to August 1995. The show was hosted by Doctor Dre & Ed Lover and Fab 5 Freddy. During April, MTV's "Sucker Free" officially becomes "Yo! MTV Raps", while MTV Jams becomes "Yo! MTV Jams" for the month. The show will feature the current Hip-Hop video countdown hosted by DJ Cipha Sounds, as well as memorable moments from the original show, including classic videos and old clips from MTV News.

Shout Out to Crystal Puccio of VHI!

I wanna thank Crystal Puccio of MTV networks in NYC for that surprise e-mail I got yesterday from her. Out of the blue, they said they liked my hip-hop gossip blog "Hiphossip" and that they were adding it to their blogroll. Now isn't that special?

You know we don't get VH1 on cable in Canada because of some greedy wicked monopoly. Let's not mention names!

VH1 is an American digital television channel that was created in January 1985 by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communications and owners of MTV. VH1 and sister channel MTV are currently part of the MTV Networks division of Viacom. It has also historically played more adult R&B than its sister channel, and has rarely played any rap or hip-hop videos. Also frequently featured in the network's early years were "videos" for Motown 1960s oldies consisting of newsreel and concert footage.