Graffiti Rock (1984)

Pilot for a television program that would showcase the hip hop scene including breakdancing, graffiti, deejays and rappers. Was meant to be hip-hop's American Bandstand, the idea worked though, see Soul Train.

Michael Holman (who also was the show's creator) is quite entertaining throughout. He does his best to explain various aspects of what is going on in the show. He pieces together some very amateurish rhymes to segue way into different sections. His best line comes as he describes scratching, which is a memorable sample used by the Beastie Boys, "Don't try this on you're dad's stereo-only under hip hop supervision."

Appearing in a co-host capacity are Kool Moe Dee and Special K of The Treacherous Three. They would rap the intro and closing to the show as well as the portions into the commercials.

Run-DMC performs "Sucker MCs". They switch the lyrics up a bit and trade the rhymes back in forth in true Run-DMC fashion. After they finish the song, the host sets up a small battle between Run-DMC and Kool Moe Dee and Special K. The quartet trades rhymes back and forth. Some rhymes are obviously pre-written, or old stand-bys that they are comfortable with.