Last Monday (April 13), Kazeem Famuyide, Hot 97’s new Mornings with Mero radio co-host and die-hard New York Knicks fan, blended sports and hip-hop by making a bold suggestion that the station should boycott playing Atlanta hip-hop while the Knicks play the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA playoffs. According to the host, the boycott is meant to “show some New York solidarity.” Famuyide’s suggestions made headlines last week in The Atlantic and Fox News.
It appears that the station is behind Famuyide. He doubled down on his boycott remarks on social media. “Day one of my Atlanta music protest starts today, we ain’t trying to hear NONE of that until the first round over lol,” he tweeted.
Atlanta hip-hop has a long history of dominating radio with some of the biggest names in rap, including Young Jeezy, T.I., and Future. The New York Knicks go against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Hot 97 has gone Atlanta rap-less all week, leading up to Game 1 on Saturday.
Hot 97’s Kazeem Famuyide of Mornings With Mero Wants Station To Boycott Atlanta Rap For New York Knicks-Atlanta Hawks NBA Playoff Series
“We don’t want to hear no Atlanta artists right now,” Famuyide said on Friday (April 17). “Time to show some New York solidarity.”
Famuyide assured that the boycott is only for the playoff matchup. Telling The Atlantic the boycott is about pride.
“When people say I have a New York bias, it’s an issue, but if I say you have an Atlanta bias, a down south bias, that’s OK,” Famuyide told the outlet’s Jason Jones. “Any time we can show love and spotlight our city, especially when we need to band tougher, why not have the same pride in New York others have (in their regions)? It’s not bias, it’s just pride.”
Mornings with Mero host, Kid Mero, who is also a die-hard Knicks fan, showed support to Famuyide on social media. Mero tweets, “KNICKS IN 5 CUZ IM BEIN POLITICAL!!! #BBQWINGS.”
The New York Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks, 113-102, in Game 1 on Saturday night (April 18). Game 2 is set for Monday, April 20, at Madison Square Garden.
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