The American version of the program (created by Ted Demme and Peter Dougherty) was the first hip hop music show on the network, and was based on the original MTV Europe show, which first aired one year before the American version.

Later N.W.A, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Ice-T, De La Soul, Eric B.

[2] The year after that, Run-DMC hosted the pilot episode in the US, with DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince as the program's first guests and Eric B.

[4] Although Video Music Box is often considered the first contender, in 1989, former rival BET created competition by premiering Rap City .

The ratings fell after pulling Public Enemy's video "By the Time I Get to Arizona" in 1991, claiming it was too violent.

Numerous high-profile names in the world of hip-hop closed the show out with a freestyle rap session, including Rakim, KRS-One, Redman, Method Man, Special Ed, Erick Sermon, Chubb Rock, Craig Mack, MC Serch of 3rd Bass, and Large Professor.

From 1996 to 1999, MTV repackaged it as simply Yo!, which was far more stripped-down and had a weekly slate of special guest hosts.

had no guest hosts and became a one-hour program airing late Friday nights at 1 a.m. or 1:30 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

MTV Raps made a comeback of sorts, after an eight-year hiatus during the Jackassworld.com: 24 Hour Takeover in February 2008.

It had Steve-O (alongside Sam Maccarone) promoting his new rap album, doing freestyles, and showing his new music video.

The old set was carefully recreated, with Johnny Knoxville joking that Mike Judge created a brand new Beavis and Butt-Head episode with them critiquing Steve-O's rap video.

MTV Raps was revived for a new generation in 2018, celebrating the 30th anniversary at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on June 1, 2018.

[6] The live show featured Big Daddy Kane and the Juice Crew, Eric B & Rakim, Doug E. Fresh, KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions, EPMD, Flavor Flav, and many more.

It also featured past hosts and DJs who helped shepherd the series, like Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover, Doctor Dré, T Money, Skribble, Red Alert, and Chuck Chillout.

MTV Rates hosted by Snoochie Shy and Poet, which aired in the UK and was also produced by Darcy Thomas[7] for two seasons (16 episodes).

Following the launch of MTV Classic on August 1, 2016, music video blocks have consistently aired on the network under the name Yo!

MTV Raps channel was added to Pluto TV following Viacom's purchase of the service.