Found this gem at Amoeba Records. Produced and hosted by legendary street scene anthropologist, Michael Holman, Graffiti Rock is the pilot episode of a hip-hop American Bandstand type dance show. The video cues up  hip-hop’s historical tipping point from urban neighborhood and NY art/hipster phenomena to full blown pop cultural force.

Filmed in 1984, the culmination of 10+ years of oldschool radness uprocks its way onto the soundstage, but the crossfader may have slid just a few beats early.  Maybe if Graffiti Rock would have come out two years later with License to Ill as a gateway, network television may have been ready to pick this up. Our loss, but at least someone was smart enough to distribute this dvd. Run DMC (Rev. Run pre-bubblebath tweets), Shannon, Kool Moe Dee, Special K, and The New York City Breakerss (without which we may never have had Jabawockeez),  Vincent Gallo, and Debi Mazar, are all on set.

Graffiti Rock DVD

And though everyone seems to be fascinated with early 90’s retro fashion these days, this video oracle to showcase examples of 2010’s super-broad horizontal striped polos, giant square-framed vanity glasses, fitted white pants, and ripped stockings along with the ubiquitous American Apparel leggings, skinny jeans, Sperry topsiders and high-waisted girl’s denim of the last few years. Fresh.