BIG APE said:
Hell that's all what Atlanta is!! Why do they call it "URBAN"... It's Black Rap, Rand B but nothing like the old Rand B that Barry Gordy produced in the 60's!!!BIGAPE
I wouldn't say this is true. After all, they do use Justin Timberlake on both WHTA and WVEE. I'm sure some Eminem was played, as well as Bubba Sparxx, and I still remember when I connected flights, tuned in to V-103 while in the airport in Atlanta and Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a bottle" came on. I also still remember Hot 97.5 playing Britney's "I'm a slave for you" when I went back to Atlanta in late 2001. So I think it's more about what works than race bias - in this case. I also remember when WHTA broke B2K' "uh huh" very early. They used the most pop sounding version of it, too!
Now, I will stick to my saying that the hip hop era has already come to and end, and the same way rock n roll, disco, blues, jazz, ..etc had their times, hip hop did as well. The hip hop generation are now THE PARENTS! So, with that being said, many people should look at what we are doing here in Arizona and try a CLASSIC hip hop station. It may not have the best signal or ratings, based on the fact that it has weaker signals on the channels they use to broadcast, but it does make sense. I do miss Energy 92.7/101.1, but if they are going to remove the dance format, then at least they did with something sensible. Think about it - when the rock n roll era came to an end, classic rock was born. Well, hmmm..... it's time for some classic hip hop now as well.
I guess we could try to run urbans or rhythmics that lean urban by playing a bunch of recurrents from 2006, 2007, 2008, in addition to old school hits sprinkled in like many people have started doing, but doesn't it kind of make more sense to just start considering classic hip hop formats and finding a formula that it works in your area? Our classic hip hop is 1985-2004 hip hop hits, leaning mostly on the late 90's and early to mid 00's hip hop hits.
Other than that, be prepared to accept the fact that things change, and the sound of the new / next generation will be electro and dance, which as some of you know, are right up my alley. We just have to work on BRINGING BACK QUALITY LYRICS TO TODAY'S HITS! Anyway, back to my Power Mix Weekend on Power 98.3 here in Az. I'm sick of all the recurrents, but I understand because they used to be where hip hop lives. Now they are forced to play recurrents to keep the urban sound and add in Lady Gaga and KE$HA and Enrique Iglesias...etc to compete with the other rhythmics and rhythmic top 40's here. I like variety, but KE$HA is really messing things up for me! Anyway, signing off now. All things must change. Hip hop had it's time in history. Now, a new sound will dominate 2010-2019, and it's ON TO THE NEXT ONE.