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The Hip Hop Agenda, Los Angeles

Blondie’s ‘Rapture’ is the First ‘Rap’ Video Played on MTV (1981)

Release Date January 31, 1981

The music video made its U.S. television debut on Solid Gold on January 31, 1981. Much of the video is a one-take scene of Debbie Harrydancing along the street, passing by graffiti artists Uncle Sam, a native American, and a goat. Fab Five Freddy and graffiti artists Lee Quinones and Jean-Michel Basquiat make cameo appearances. Basquiat was hired when Grandmaster Flash did not show for the filming.