Video Music Box & The Return of Crazy Sam

Uncle Ralph

Video Music Box was a Hip-Hop Television Show on Public Access Channel in New York. It was on in the after school slot and years before Yo! MTV and BET, when it was impossible to see Hip-Hop videos on Television. It is another example of the D.I.Y. attitude typified by Hip-Hop culture. VJ/DJ Uncle Ralph and his roving camera crew could be found at all the jams and Hip-Hop and Dancehall events around NY, and the crowd "Shout out" section of the show brought the real down to earth feel to the show. Video Music Box broke many, now famous artists and is a corner stone to Hip-Hop Music as we now know it.


Uncle Ralph featured in the Hip-Hop film Who's The Man? He was the associate producer of the motion picture Juice and founded his own film and production company. If you would like to find out more about Video Music Box and the movie Juice click here


A.G., Showbiz, Fat Joe, KRS-One, Red Alert, Sadat X, Dres and Lord Finesse Backstage At The Fever With Uncle Ralph McDaniels - 1992
The 1st time Fat Joe (The Promoter) featured on T.V. at The Fever

You can catch Uncle Ralph on saturday's on HOT 97. Ralph has a brand new video show, "The Bridge", where Old school hip hop is new again. Uncle Ralph at Myspace


Crazy Sam

"Crazy Sam made Nervous Thursdays on Video Music Box the most popular show on television in New York City. Crazy Sam was a pioneer of live street comedy, paving the way for comedians like Tom Green and Jackass. A true original. Watch out for new episodes of Nervous Thursdays coming soon - new characters and new skits!" from here



"Crazy Sam was hilarious, I remember the Adventures of Billy Strongman, and one Video Music Box episode he turned up in London and rang on Monie Love's door at about 8am, she was straight from bed wearing a dressing gown, she looked really embarrassed, it was really funny. In 1995 Crazy Sam came over to the DMC DJ Championships in London with Kool DJ Red Alert, Red Alert asked if anyone knew who he was. As hardly anyone in the UK had seen or even heard of the Video Music Box, I was the only person in the crowd yelling Crazy Saaaaaam!!!! Red and Crazy Sam were hilarious, they really made DMC fun! Although he did deal with really serious community and Political issues, he also showed that Hip-Hop and comedy do have a place together, and Crazy Sam is fundamental in that for me." - Shucks One ID


You Can Smoke A Spliff

Crazy Sam "Nervous Thursdays" on youtube
Sammy Mack aka Crazy Sam's website
Crazy Sam on Twitter


The Adventures of Billy Strong Boy "The Perils of Drug Distribution"

"You Got The Juice Now..." Juice The Movie - Cameo Role Focus

"Juice" The Movie - The Background Actors Focus


Juice Movie Poster

Juice was a movie about 4 teenage friends living in New York at the beginning of the 90's. It reflects the change over from the Golden era, to the Chorus based music, styles and fashions. As one of the main characters is an upcoming Scratch DJ, it is very DJ based, and has one of the better soundtracks of the so-called "Hip Hop Movie" genres, this is down to Public Enemy's Hank Shocklee and The Bomb Squad coordinating the soundtrack & composing original music.


Eric B and Rakim: Juice (Know The Ledge)


Eric B. & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique
Their best and final album together

Over the last few years a lot of actors and movie pundits complain about Rappin' actors! But back then you couldn't even see rappers in videos, let alone movies!!! No Hip Hop Movie since Crush Groove (no I never saw that either), or Tougher Than Leather... No seriously, had a bigger effect on the Hip-Hop movement. If you talk to alot of Turntablists they will class this film as a BIG influence.

Most people just talk about the fact that it was Tupac's first real acting role, but its full of classic Hip-Hop cameos, and we at The Kool Skool thought we would put our Geek hats on and have a go at putting names to the faces. So heeeere we go...

"The Game Room Scene"


Samuel L. Jackson talking to Def Jam Crooner Oran Juice Jones


Dj Emmanuel vs. Oran "Juice" Jones "The Rain" (Electro Mix)
www.djemmanuel.com
Click here for the Original


Isis (Lin Que) X-Clan


Isis (Lin Que) X-Clan


X-Clan Member




X-Clan Member


X-Clan/Brother J - Weapon X
R.I.P. Proffessor X & DJ Sugar Shaft

"Bodega Street Scene"


Tupac (Left) Treach Naughty By Nature (Right)


Naughty By Nature - Uptown Anthem
New Jersey Legend Treach and the other two... They did a dope song with New Jeruse 5%er Lakim Shabazz called "1, 2, 3". The New Jersey scene was pivitol in progression of the early 90's Hip-Hop scene.

"The other guy scene"


Special Ed


Special Ed "Jettin in the Jetta!"


Special Ed - The Mission

Special Ed - Think About It

"Girlfriends House"


Video Music Box's Ralph McDaniels the first regular HipHop VJ early Producer and Video director. (Gil Scott Heron is to his Left)


Video Music Box's Introduction


Ralph McDaniels Biography


KixandtheCity.com: Uncle Ralph McDaniels History interview


*Uncle Ralph's top choice* - Malcolm Mclaren Featuring Scratching by The World Famous Supreme Team The World Famous Supreme Team were 5%ers and early NY Radio DJ's.


Video Music Box 25th Year Anniversary


K-Solo - Fugitive


Audio 2- Top Billin remix/EPMD- Payback (DJ Scratch Cuttin' The Fuck Up!)

"The Bar Scene"


EPMD's Eric Sermon And Parrish Smith gettin' their dollars taken in the Bar scene!

In the movie the 4 main character pull slick love moves on the lady in the record store an end up racking some famous late 80's records...


EPMD Rampage 12" Front


EPMD - Rampage 12" cover


EPMD Rampage Featuring LL Cool J (look-a-like...)


EPMD Rampage 12" Back


Masters Of Ceramony Album which Features Grand Puba (Brand Nubian)


Masters Of Ceremony - Dynomite


Grand Puba's later group with other Now Rule MC's Derek X (Sadat X) Lord Jamar & DJ Alamo


Biz Markie Spring Again 12"


Biz & Cool V - Its Spring Again 12"


Biz Markie - Spring Again

"DJ Battle try outs"


Queen Latifah in her first acting role, as a Judge and organizer of the DJ Battle




Ruffhouse Piece by Serve TC5 who did alot of the Tuff City Record covers. In the movie Ruffhouse is the fictional HipHop Club where the DJ Battle takes place, perhaps based on The Rooftop club. Columbia/RuffHouse was a popular record label at the time Cypress Hill, Tim Dog and others were signed to it.

"DJ Battle at the Ruffhouse"


Yo! MTV Rap's 2nd generation hosts, (The East Coast) Dr Dre (Original Concept), Ed Lover and the in studio DJ (can't remember his name) behind in LA Kings Hat


Yo! MTV Raps - Rakim, KRS-ONE, Erick Sermon, Chubb Rock & Mc Serch (can you count the backpacks????!)


Last Episode Freestyle Part 2 ( ft. Redman, Method Man, Large Professor, Special Ed, Craig Mack
(Prince Markie Dee of the Fat Boys on the right)


This dude looks really familiar but can't work out who...


Groundbreaking Radio & TV broadcasters
Kool DJ Red Alert VJ Ralph McDaniels & DJ Chuck Chill Out (Front row) Queen Latifah with Mic & Sun Glasses


Kool DJ Red Alert Interview


Kool DJ Red Alert


Kool Chip & Chuck Chillout - Rhythm Is The Master
DJ Chuck Chillout was an early NY radio DJ and part of the early Hip-Hop group The B-Boys with Donald D (The Ryhme Syndicate). More about them on our old post Dedicated to Joe Ski Luv & B.D.P.'s D-Nice click here.


(DJ MIZ?)


Special K? (Treacherous 3/Awesome 2)


Fab 5 Freddy Early Graffiti Writer/Rapper/Yo! MTV Host was in Blondie Rapture Video and Style Wars


DJ Richie Rich (3RD Bass/X-Men/X-ecutioners)


DJ Richie Rich (3RD Bass/X-Men/X-ecutioners) rockin the serious link


3RD Bass - Portrait Of The Artist As A Hood from their 2nd Album

If we have missed some out or made mistakes please feel free to let us know. We are only human.


The End