""MTV Unplugged,"" the highly acclaimed acoustic music series, brings rap back to its roots in the first ever acoustic rap show to air on television. The special features performances by superstar L.L. Cool J along with MC Lyte, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest and a five piece back-up band, Pop's Cool Love. Taped at New York City's Chelsea Studios on April 10, 1991 without a turntable in sight, the special kicks off with individual performances by A Tribe Called Quest (""Can I Kick It?""), MC Lyte (""Cappucino""), and De La Soul (""Ring Ring Ring""). The highlight of the show is an electrifying performance by master rapper L.L. Cool J who brings the house to its feet with renditions of the hit singles ""Jinglin' Baby"" and ""Mama Said Knock You Out."" All acts are backed for the first time ever by a full band, spearheaded by Elektra's new funk-a-delic act, Pop's Cool Love. Pop's Cool Love has previously worked with such diverse acts as Fishbone, David Bowie and Living Colour.

An excerpt from

Yo! Unplugged Rap

Elvis Costello

R.E.M. (1)

In its first European recording of ""MTV Unplugged,"" the highly-acclaimed acoustic music series, MTV presents an acoustic performance of one of Britain's premier alternative rock bands: The Cure. ""MTV Unplugged"" with The Cure world premiered March 3, 1991. Shot in a small, intimate studio in London, band members Robert Smith (vocals/guitar), Porl Thompson (guitar), Simon Gallup (bass), Boris Williams (drums) and Perry Bamonte (keyboard) perform acoustic renditions of hit songs past and present. Song selections include ""Let's Go To Bed,"" ""Just Like Heaven,"" ""Caterpillar,"" ""The Blood,"" ""Boys Don't Cry"" and ""The Walk."" This marks the first episode of the series to be simulcast on the Westwood One Radio Networks.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""With their gloom-rock vibe and singer Robert Smith's terminally black eyes and wardrobe, The Cure would seem to be the band least likely to embrace the fun side of Unplugged. Perhaps for this very reason, this show was one of Unplugged's mo

The Cure

MTV presents an edition of ""MTV Unplugged,"" the acoustic music series, with hard rockers Slaughter and Winger. The program was taped in New York City on March 5, 1991 in an intimate studio setting. Winger band members Kip Winger (vocals/bass), Reb Beach (guitar/vocals), Paul Taylor (guitar/piano) and Rod Morgenstern (drummer) perform acoustic renditions of ""Headed For A Heartbreak,"" ""Loosin' Up,"" and ""Can't Get Enough."" Slaughter band members Mark Slaughter (vocals), Dana Strum (bass), Blas Elias (drummer) and Tim Kelly (lead guitar) get acoustic with their hit ""Fly To The Angels,"" which they dedicate to the soldiers who died in the Gulf, and the Beatles' song ""Revolution.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Winger and Slaughter were the last in a string of metal bands that decided to use the Unplugged venue to explore their sensitive sides. In what was fast becoming a tradition, they followed in the footsteps of Ratt, Vixen, and Poison by turning off the amps and bringing on th

Winger with Slaughter

""MTV Unplugged,"" the critically acclaimed acoustic music series, world premiered a one hour performance with the legendary Paul McCartney on Wednesday, April 3, 1991. The performance was simulcast via the Global Satellite Network. Taped on January 25, 1991 at the Limehouse Studios in London, McCartney, accompanied by Paul ""Wix"" Wickens on keyboards, Blair Cunningham on drums, Robbie McIntosh on guitar, Hamish Stuart on bass and Linda McCartney on keyboards, gets acoustic in front of an intimate studio audience. Song selections include such classic hits as ""We Can Work It Out,"" ""Blackbird,"" ""She's A Woman,"" ""Here There And Everywhere,"" ""I've Just Seen A Face,"" and two blues songs that inspired McCartney early in his career, ""Blue Moon Of Kentucky"" and ""Be-Bop-A-Lula."" McCartney also gives a rare performance of ""I Lost My Little Girl,"" the first song he ever wrote at the age of 14. The Beatles -- then called the Quarry Men -- performed the song until 1960 but never recorded it.

An excerp

Paul McCartney

""MTV Unplugged"" presents a 45-minute acoustic performance with British rock superstar Sting. Taped in New York in March of 1991 in an intimate studio setting, Sting, accompanied by Dominic Miller (guitar), David Sanctious (grand piano), Vinny Caliutta (drums) and Vinx (talking drums/backing vocals), performs an acoustic medley spanning his years with The Police through his solo career. Song selections include ""All This Time"" and ""Mad About You"" from his new album release The Soul Cages, and Police classics ""Tea In The Sahara,"" ""Walkin' On The Moon,"" ""Message In A Bottle,"" and ""Every Breath You Take.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Everything about this outing was effortless. Not only was it one of the best shows we've accomplished musically. It also achieved near-perfection in every other aspect: lighting, set design, direction, audio. Maybe it was because it was Sting and Trudie's wedding anniversary, but everyone seemed to be incredibly upbeat and focused on a common goal.

Sting

R.E.M., the band touted by Rolling Stone Magazine as ""America's Best Rock and Roll Band,"" spent several hours in New York's Chelsea Studios on April 10, 1991 to tape a one hour acoustic performance for ""MTV Unplugged."" Original bands members Michael Stipe (vocals), Peter Buck (guitar/keyboards), Mike Mills (bass) and Bill Berry (drums), along with Peter Holsapple (guitar/accordion), perform a memorable acoustic medley of hits past and present. Song selections include ""Fall On Me"" (which Stipe tells the studio audience is his personal favorite), ""The End Of The World As We Know It,"" ""Losing My Religion"" and many more.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book... ""'This may well be my favorite song in the R.E.M. catalogue.' With those words from Michael Stipe, the band offered up a heart-wrenching version of 'Fall on Me' that produced one of Unplugged's most transcendent moments. As he delivered the lines 'Buy the sky/and sell the sky/and bleed the sky/and tell the sky/don't fall on me,' St

MTV showcases the multi-faceted musical talent of Elvis Costello in this new edition of ""MTV Unplugged."" Taped in Los Angeles in June of 1991, Elvis performs ""So Like Candy"" and ""The Other Side Of Summer"" from his new release Mighty Like A Rose, and more.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""When we taped Unplugged, we arrange for a studio and tape a number of shows at one time. For this rotation, we planned on recording only Elvis Costello and Jane's Addiction. Jane's, however, was on the road to breaking up and decided to take this moment to enter the fast lane. The band said they knew nothing about their scheduled appearance. Guitarist Dave Navarro had disappeared. So the Jane's Addiction performance was cancelled. And with that, we almost cancelled the entire taping and nearly lost Elvis. But instead, clinging to a show biz cliche, we decided the show must go on.""

Set List:   Deep Dark Truthful Mirror    So Like Candy (written by Costello and Paul McCartney)    The Other Side

MTV's acclaimed music series showcases today's top artists and rising stars in the industry performing acoustic versions of their songs.

Yo! Unplugged Rap

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Season 2 Episodes7

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