Over the weekend, the iconic dance television show turned 50. The show first became syndicated on October 2, 1971. MSNBC’s Tiffany Cross perfectly described the show as “a cultural institution showcasing black music and culture.” The show was created and hosted by producer Don Cornelius.
While initially hesitant to embrace Hip-Hop, the show eventually did begin showcasing rap acts as the genre grew in popularity. Some notable Hip-Hop performers to appear on the show included The Sugarhill Gang, Run-DMC, and Kurtis Blow.
And the current generation gets its props for educating younger fans about Soul Train, most notably Migos’ 2018’s “Walk It Talk It” video. In the clip, everyone is on a show called Culture Ride where Migos sport 70s fashion, Drake appears in a dance line, and Jamie Foxx portrays the host named Ron Delirious.
