On Sept. 8, 1994, New York Undercover debuted on Fox. From the moment the opening credits rolled, stamped by legendary producer/composer James Mtume's jazzy, Hip-Hop production, it was clear the show was different from anything else on television.

The groundbreaking police drama, co-created by Dick Wolf of Law & Order fame, centered on NYPD undercover detectives "J.C. Williams" (Malik Yoba) and "Eddie Torres" (Michael DeLorenzo), and it's easy to see why it quickly became a pop culture favorite. One, it was the first police drama to star two people of color in starring roles, a move that was long overdue. And two, and it capped Fox's impressive Thursday night Black television lineup, which also included the juggernaut shows Martin and Living Single.

Executive produced by legendary executive Andre Harrell, the series' seamless infusion of Hip-Hop culture separated it from other police procedurals. But it was the performances at the fictional bar and club Natalie's (Natalie was played by soul legend Gladys Knight), that really made the show stand out. SWV, Brandy, Tevin Campbell, Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, D'Angelo, and more graced "Natalie's" stage, making the detective's trip to the club an episode highlight during the show's four-season run.

Yoba talked about the show's longstanding impact, citing its continued influence.

"I've been a serious lead in thirteen series,” he told Essence back in 2020. “And New York Undercover is the most enduring of all of it. So that just — you know — speaks to the importance of what type of programming it was.”