Ralph McDaniels (born February 27, 1959) is an American music video director, DJ and VJ.[1] He co-created and co-hosts the music video program Video Music Box with Lionel C. Martin.[2]
Ralph McDaniels | |
|---|---|
 McDaniels in 2018 | |
| Born | February 27, 1959 New York City, US |
| Education | LaGuardia Community College |
| Career | |
| Station | Hot 97 |
| Time slot | Saturday afternoons |
| Style | Hip-hop |
| Country | United States |
Biography
editMcDaniels was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved with his parents to Queens when he was 11 years old. McDaniels studied communications at LaGuardia Community College. He later started the video production company Classic Concepts with Video Music Box producer Lionel Martin.[3]
In 1983, after interning at WNYC in New York City, and subsequently becoming a radio engineer, McDaniels created Studio 31 Dance Party, a television show revolving around recordings of music performances.[4] This show would transform into Video Music Box, which was created and hosted by McDaniels and Martin.[4][5]
In 1994, McDaniels who became known as "Uncle Ralph", directed Rapper Nas first solo video, for his second single, "It Ain't Hard to Tell". The video was aired on Video Music Box, which became the longest-running music video show in the world.[6]
On December 3, 2021, Showtime premiered the documentary You're Watching Video Music Box, chronicling the longest-running music video show, Video Music Box, with never-before-seen footage from the vault of McDaniels. The documentary is written by Steve Rivo and Andre Wilkins and directed by rapper Nas, who is also featured in the documentary along with McDaniels.[7][8]
He now works for the Queens Library for Outreach Services.[9]
References
edit- ^ Stelloh, Tim (March 12, 2012). "Telling the Story of New York's Hip-Hop Scene, Clip by Clip". City Room. The New York Times. New York Times.
- ^ Williams, Chris (April 3, 2011). "Lionel C. Martin: A pioneer in visual production". Soul Culture. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ^ J. Pablo (November 16, 2011). "Ralph McDaniels Keeps Hip-Hop Culture Moving Forward". The Village Voice. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Steve Stoute, The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy (New York: Gotham Books, 2012), pp. 78–82.
- ^ Manny Faces, "Ralph McDaniels interview: Speaks on 30 years of Video Music Box & upcoming celebrations on The NY Hip Hop Report", Birthplace Magazine, January 31, 2013.
- ^ Bowens, Dan (December 15, 2021). "Ralph McDaniels of Video Music Box". FOX 5 NY. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ Aderoju, Darlene (December 3, 2021). "Ralph McDaniels Celebrates 'Real Deal' Iconic Show 'Video Music Box' in Nas-Directed Documentary". Billboard.
- ^ "You're Watching Video Music Box | SHOWTIME". SHO.com. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ Keyes, Cheryl (2004). Rap music and street consciousness. University of Illinois Press. p. 101. ISBN 9780252072017.
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