Ralph McDaniel

Ralph McDaniels – Hip-Hop Visionary and Cultural Archivist

Ralph McDaniels, affectionately known as “Uncle Ralph,” is a pioneering DJ, VJ, and music video director whose work has profoundly shaped hip-hop culture. Born in Brooklyn in 1959 and raised in Queens, McDaniels studied communications at LaGuardia Community College before launching his media career at WNYC-TV. In 1983, he co-created Video Music Box, the first television program dedicated to hip-hop and R&B videos, offering an authentic platform for emerging artists long before the genre gained mainstream recognition. 

Video Music Box became a cultural cornerstone, capturing the raw energy of New York’s streets and clubs with on-location shoots and community shout-outs. McDaniels’ lens introduced audiences to future icons like Jay-Z, Nas, LL Cool J, and The Notorious B.I.G., often before they achieved fame. Beyond hosting, he directed over 400 music videos—including Nas’s “It Ain’t Hard to Tell”—and co-produced influential films like Juice and Roxanne Roxanne.   

Committed to preserving hip-hop’s legacy, McDaniels founded the Video Music Box Collection, archiving over 20,000 hours of rare footage. His dedication to cultural preservation and education has cemented his status as a vital figure in documenting the evolution of hip-hop.