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Property of iFLOW Magazine:  Archived Story Originally Published in June 2006

HOT 97:  FIGHTS TO STAY HOME 

New York’s Hot 97.1 FM (Owned by Emmis Communications) have been attacked by both sides of the coin. Power 105.1 FM (owned by Clear Channel), Hot 9'S7 competing radio station,  had fired  Star & Buckwild for (Star's) explicit comments towards the family members of a Hot 97 radio personality (DJ Envy) and was released on bail for endangering a minor.  The craziest thing about this is Power 105.1 has dismissed the same exact DJ’s that are former employees of Hot 97 whom were fired in 2003 after several suspensions. 

 The heat is far from being over! Employee anxiety is no where near the troubles the radio station is facing to keep their home in Greenwich Village (New York). After several shootings and reputable differences amongst notable hip hop guests that visit the station Their landlord finds it much easier to ask Hot 97 to leave altogether.  With six years left to their contract, there is no way that Hot 97 is leaving that easy.

 Currently battling this case in court with a countersuit against the building owners, The State Supreme Court Judge has loosened the grip on the rules concerning Hot 97’s visitation that was imposed on the buildings owner. At present, the landlord must be notified four days in advance of artists that will be arriving to the station, Hot 97 will hire an armed security guard to patrol the building an hour prior to the artist’s arrival, and a phone will be installed outside of the building that connects to New York Police Department directly.

 The building owners are afraid that someone else can get hurt as they fear the lives of other tenants of the building and pedestrians that pass by it. The most recent shooting consisted of 11 gunshots when hip hop artist, Gravy (Jamal Wolard) was wounded prior to his interview at the station on April 26, 2006. Don’t forget the shoot out in the radio stations lobby between 50 Cent and The Games crew in 2005.  Lil’ Kim is currently servicing a one year sentence for not telling the entire truth about a gun fight that happened at Hot 97's location.

 iFLOW says Hot 97 Let’s go. Hip hop should not be about violence, if artists keep this up they won't have a radio station that supports their music at all. Hot 97 should not be blamed for other peoples actions, however, they are responsible for maintaining crowd control.  iFLOW will keep you updated in the next issue about this case.