MTV: Def Jam Survival Of The Illest Tour 1998 (Video)

Well back in '98 Def Jam was back to reclaim its throne as one the premier record label!! Jay Z went 5x platinum, Ja Rule is blazin, DMX basically like Jay Z said "DMX'd the game" (in reference to what 50 did back in '03), Def Squad was poppin and Onyx came back with a vengence with a very solid 3rd LP!! And i didnt even mention Foxy, Meth & LL. So Def Jam was like OK, we gonna give back to the streets with this Survival Of The Illest Tour. Now this tour aimed to perform at the gullest, grimiest venues that tours really dont go to at all. And remember, hip-hop at this point wasnt getting any major tours poppin cause violence was related to it and sponsors wasnt supportin it. But that all ceased cause a year later with the Backstage Tour & in 2000 with the Up In Smoke Tour. But before all that, it was this and who else to go out rock these ill places but none other than Def Squad, Onyx & DMX! And as u can see by this preview it had its bumps on the road but all in all its great hip-hop being done and this not even comin close being done today. Once again i ran across this on MTV while i was flickin the channels cause MTV was showing somethin about Janet Jackson and her tour which was upcoming (dont ask why i was watchin this in the first place), but i glad i did watch so i could catch this classic footage. Great times man, and the last year of the golden era!

Def Jam Survival Of the Illest Tour '98 from Brandan Evans on Vimeo.