STAGE TUBE: Sneak Peek - MTV2 Celebrates Iconic Show YO! MTV RAPS, 12/4

MTV2 announced today the return of one of hip-hop's most celebrated and influential music franchises ever with "MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts."Set to air on Sunday, December 4th at Midnight ET/PT immediately following the first-ever "Sucker Free Awards," at 11pm ET/PT, this is a 30-minute retrospective special taking viewers to the era that helped shape and define hip-hop as the dominant music form that it is today. The special will cover some of hip-hop's most classic tracks with discussions from former hosts Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover and Doctor Dré as well as some of Rap's past, present and future heavyweights. Featuring appearances by the masterminds behind the three classic cuts - Scenario by A Tribe Called Quest, My Mind's Playing Tricks on Me by Geto Boys and It Was A Good Day by Ice Cube - and a long list of current hip-hop artists, the special will uncover how each song revolutionized the genre and impacted generations to come.

"In this Classic Cuts special, people will go back to a seminal time in hip-hop which many have called the 'Golden Era' - resulting in records that are as meaningful today as they were back then," said Fab 5 Freddy, the original Host of Yo! MTV Raps. "In order to appreciate how far hip-hop has come, you have to pay respect to the songs and artists that helped catapult the genre from a small community of fans to world domination."

"It's a great moment to be re-connected with Yo! and examine the music that had a role in introducing hip-hop to music lovers globally," said Ed Lover, Former Co-Host of Yo! MTV Raps. "By looking back at these classic songs in hip-hop it becomes clear that hip-hop would inevitably transcend distance and generations."

Viewers will hear from all-star artists including: Q Tip, Scarface, Ice Cube, Wiz Khalifa, DJ Khaled, Questlove, Busta Rhymes, Mac Miller, Machine Gun Kelly, Young Jeezy, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Phife, Fat Joe, Common, Mike Epps, Ice T, Meek Mill, Tyga, Naughty By Nature, among others. To make the special complete, former hosts Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover and Doctor Dré will be on hand to take viewers down this journey of hip-hop excellence. DJ Premier will give the show an updated sound by remixing the iconic theme song for the on-air special. For more information about "MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts," please visit yomtvraps.mtv2.com.

"MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts" will cap off a month-long celebration of Hip-Hop airing immediately after the Inaugural "Sucker Free Awards." The "Sucker Free Awards" will pay homage to the year in hip-hop music with a unique look back at the best of the past year.

A total of seven crowns will be awarded in categories including "Artist of the Year," "Classic Album of the Year," "Must Follow Artist in Social Media," "Rookie of the Year," "Best Crew of 2011," "Club Banger" and "Who's Got Next." Hosted by MTV's Sway Calloway, the show will feature an electric special performance from Lil Wayne and Birdman from LIV Fontainebleau Miami Beach, as well as packages and acceptance speeches from the award show's big winners. DJ Envy will also be on hand throughout the night to give fans the VIP treatment from the heart of the action.

Throughout the month of November, Sucker Free Countdown (Sundays, 11pm ET/PT on MTV2) has and will continue to feature weekly Hip-Hop History Month segments that highlight the historical accomplishments of hip-hop icons, including delving into the MTV archives for some of the most memorable moments from Yo! MTV Raps such as nostalgic Fab 5 Freddy interviews with artist like the original members of NWA, The Beastie Boys, Salt-N-Pepa Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince and the late Heavy D. Similarly, Sucker Free Daily has been airing special segments Monday through Thursday that celebrate "Classic Producers," "Ladies First: Female Hip-Hop Legends: Lauryn Hill, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Lady of Rage" "Best of the West: NWA, Ice Cube, Snoop, E-40 and Too Short," "Tear the Club Up: Best Party Videos" and "Classic Years: 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000."

Sucker Free has been a staple of MTV2's programming since 2002. In the past year, the series has continued to dominate on Sundays with over 300,000 total weekly viewers and 200,000+ viewers 12-34; nearly +15% above MTV2's total day average. Sucker Free Countdown airs each Sunday at 11am and 11pm.

Paul Ricci serves as Executive Producer for "MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts." Candida Boyette and Darin Byrne serve as Co-Executive Producer. Rahman Ali Bugg is show Producer for the special.

Jesse Ignjatovic/Den of Thieves is the Executive Producer for the 2011 Sucker Free Awards. Eric Conte serves as Executive Producer for MTV2. Elena Diaz serves as Executive In Charge of Music and Talent.

About MTV2:

Available in approximately 80 million homes MTV2 is man's best friend. Since its launch in 1996, the network has reflected the subversive interests and behaviors of young men with a compelling and diverse programming line-up inspired by ordinary guys who do extraordinary things. MTV2, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.

To view a clip of hosts, artists and historians who gather to discuss and weigh the cultural impact of Yo! MTV Raps, click below.