The 90s weren’t only the golden age for music. From TV to the big screen, African Americans were getting the chance to tell our own stories. Black sitcoms had a remarkable wave with shows like Martin, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Jamie Foxx Show, and more. Hip Hop culture is celebrated throughout these series from the fashion, to the music, and the slang. In this article I will be ranking the top five appearances by MC’s on television, as themselves, not a character.
1. Snoop Dogg & Diddy (then Puff Daddy) on the Steve Harvey Show (1997)
In this episode, both Diddy and Snoop want to sample a song from Steve (on the show, he was formerly a part of a band). When the two cross paths while visiting Steve, tension was expected, but the two let the world know that the “East Coast, West Coast beef” was created by the media. This was big being that Tupac passed the year prior. I am not sure if Biggie had already passed by the time this was taped.
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2. Notorious B.I.G. on Martin (1995)
Word gets out that Biggie is in town auditioning background singers and that he’s staying with Martin. This clip is from Cole’s audition for Biggie, where he performs Rapper’s Delight. This episode is definitely a Martin favorite.
The episode ends with a performance of “One More Chance” by Biggie:
3. Westside Connection on The Jamie Foxx Show (1997)
Westside Connection (Ice Cube, Mack 10, and WC) roll up on Jamie and the gang, requesting to use their hotel’s ballroom and to stay there. Ice Cube tries to get at Fancy. Braxton calls Ice Cube, “Mr. Cubicles.” This whole scene is jokes. Jamie Foxx is hilarious!
4. Busta Rhymes on The Wayans Bros. (1998)
Busta sends Shawn and Marlon to jail for scalping tickets to his show. “Busta Saves the Day” (the name of the episode) by putting on a benefit concert to save Dee’s church. Check the vintage Busta Rhymes swag as he performs “Dangerous”:
5. Snoop Dogg on Martin (1994)
This is the whole episode, but Snoop comes in around 4:45. Gina and Martin are supposed to be having a nice intimate engagement party, but Jerome (played by Martin) invites his nephew (Snoop Dogg) and they turn the party out, Dogg Pound style.
Honorable Mention: Heavy D on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
Will and Carlton are interested in the same girl, and makeup stories about themselves to try to win her over. Will brings in Bo Jackson, Heavy D, Quincy Jones, Kadeem Hardison, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Al B. Sure! to help make his case.
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Honorable Mention: Missy Elliott on Wayans Bros (1998)
This one gets an honorable mention because Missy wasn’t around the whole episode, but this is still a moment in culture. Missy gives Dee two tickets to her concert. She performs her single, “Make it Hot.”
I remember all of those episodes fondly-great articles!