Who killed Hip Hop radio?!

February 6, 10:27 PMNY Hip-Hop Music ExaminerSamantha Greaves

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Read my mind. Photo Source. 

Let’s face it; radio just isn’t what it use to be. The same songs play all the time- sometimes at the same time of the day everyday-and most of us are good and ready to burn our radio’s and scatter it’s ashes in the near by river.

I remember when I was in junior high school; I would spend days and nights begging my parents to buy me a radio. And when I finally got one I never turned it off, and I really do mean never. 24/7 I kept my radio tuned into the best Hip Hop and R&B radio station (back in the day) New York’s own, Hot 97.1.

Today is a completely different story. You would be lucky to hear a song that you really like come on at that right time. Instead, we get a song that we kind of like followed by a song that we really hate, with a passion. Diddy recently told MTV, that DJ’s are to blame for the current state of Hip Hop; I happen to think that there are far more culprits. So the question now prevails, who killed hip hop radio?! Here are the suspects.

Radio Hosts

Radio hosts use to be the voice of the people. Staying true and voicing the things that we were actually thinking at that very moment and calling a garbage track just that, garbage. This was the quality and characteristic of a radio host that were known to be our favorites. Now, it just seems like they are just… well…doing their jobs. There were once days when we as listeners could call in and request a song and seconds or at most minutes later our requested jam would play. Now, there’s a line up of music we find to be hmmm so, so; the madness! Power 105.1’s Ed Lover will forever remain the only radio host that simply keeps it real, most of the time.

Radio DJ’s

What happened?! OK now wait, there are some exceptions to the category, and I won’t generalize this. Mr. C still puts it down on the 1’s and 2’s as does FunkMaster Flex. However, there is the other station-Power 105.1- new and just as cool as Hot 97 that just puts me to sleep. You are the maestro! You are here to play the music that gets the crowd going. You are the one that is suppose to make me want to throw a party in my car not rush to turn you off…you’re the DJ for crying out loud!

Club DJ’s

I’ll give you the same pep talk as I did Radio DJ’s; it’s really time for you to get it together. I know, I know there isn’t a lot of variety out right now; however, it is your job to dig deep underground, pun intended. Go get the new acts, answer some of those emails. It’s pretty bad that the market is saturated with everybody wanting to be a rapper but seriously, there are some diamonds underneath all of that coal. Stop being lazy and start digging!

Hip Hop Artists

I have seriously said enough on this subject, and honestly I’m getting quite bored with repeating myself and complaining about the same story. Instead of pointing out the bad apples we will bring forth the one’s that are keeping the radio alive. Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Ludacris, Kanye West, T.I., etc. My mind goes blank after that. Anyhow, guys, radio needs you.

Record Labels

(Sigh) You know, some have said that you are the one’s that have ruined music, I somewhat agree. I also feel you have done a great job at making music an international phenom so you are OK in my book; but please relax, relate, release and get to work. We are not impressed with your duplicators and imitators. We don’t want another Jay-Z and we damn sure don’t want another Eminem, so please A&R’s drink up that caramel macchiato and start looking at high quality Myspace pages from artists that know what they are doing. Oh yeah! And start attending open mics like you use to; I’m sure new artists have better things to do besides looking for you.

Radio Fans

Y’all know I had to do it. We are partially to blame for the current state of radio and I’ll tell you why. As much as I complain about how much radio this past year has ruined my life, I failed to mention that I still listen to the thing. I can’t help it! I love and am addicted to music so much so, that I will turn it on and still listen to its poisonous wackness in its fullest, and I know you do to. A friend of mine suggested going on a radio boycott. It sounds like a plan but it might be easier said than done, well I can speak for myself on that one I guess.

It’s time to call these radio stations out on their BS and put them on blast. Let them know that you are not happy with their actions and that the listeners mean more than the advertisers. We use to have so much power now look at us; we eat whatever they feed us. I don’t know about you but I refuse to eat up. Just once I would like to turn on my radio and leave it on for more than 15 minutes. It’s time for a change y’all.

Viva la radio!
 

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