This two-part is from a 1981 20/20 show exploring the “overnight phenomenon” of rap music. What’s surprising about these videos is that not only do they paint rap music in a positive light, they even emphasize its “incredible staying power,” contradicting the idea that many viewed rap music as just a fad in the ’80s.

Part 1 goes over the history of spoken word poetry and rap music and introduces us to some familiar faces such as The Sugar Hill Gang and Kurtis Blow (pay special attention to Kurtis’ face as he air humps right before a cut).

In Part 2, there is a short section about b-boying featuring the Rock Steady Crew at 2 minutes 50 seconds, which is the reason that I’m posting these clips here. Aside from some general dope old-school footage, we also get some an interesting story of one police officer’s first experience with b-boys. Also, listen out for the frequently used line “dance as a form of ritual warfare.”

SOURCE: Rap Radar (special thanks to Rufus J. Squirell for the heads up)