The program was an exclusive showcase for hip hop music videos, and features interviews with and freestyles from popular rappers, and often has guest DJs serve as co-hosts.

Retitled Rap City: Tha Basement after meeting [at a DJ/Music Convention] DJ & radio personalities The Bassment Brothers: Trouble T & Phil the Thrill, who were doing a show called Friday Night in the Bassment on WKKV fm radio in Milwaukee, WI during this time.

Other hosts included Hans Dobson aka Prime (1989–1993) (died 2024), Prince DaJour (1991–1994), Joe Clair (1994–1999), Leslie Segar (a.k.a.

On September 13, 1999, Stephen G. Hill, BET's President of Music Programming, Senior Producer Craig Henry and Producer John Tucker a new show to fit a studio format; Rap City was re-titled Rap City: Tha Basement[3] and newly hosted by Big Tigger (a.k.a.

In September 2008, Rap City obtained a new time of 3 p.m. One of the most prominent and most popular segments of the show has been the freestyle booth.

Producer John Tucker is credited with creating the now iconic segment The Booth located in the basement bathroom, where the elements gave a grassroots, raw feel to the show.

This is now seen as a major staple of Rap City, although no hosts other than Joe Clair and Big Tigger have joined in during the freestyle sessions.

[4] On Friday, June 12, 2009, a Rap City: Relapse special was aired on BET hosted by Big Tigger with guest Eminem.

On November 6, 2013, Rap City returned with another special called EM360 with guest Eminem to promote his album The Marshall Mathers LP 2.