Hot 97’s Summer Jam has been the stage for some of hip-hop’s most memorable moments. One of the most memorable moments was the triumphant reunion of the Wu-Tang Clan on the Summer Jam stage in 2013, marking their comeback after a long-standing feud with the radio station in the 1990s.
At Summer Jam XX, their first Summer Jam in 20 years, the Staten Island natives performed their classics, such as “Triumph,” “M.E.T.H.O.D. M.A.N.,” and “Protect Ya Neckl.” Hot 97 honored Wu-Tang Clan with the station’s 1st Impact Award in 2013.
In 1997, Wu-Tang Clan was banned from Hot 97. They were supposed to perform at that year’s Summer Jam while on tour with Rage Against The Machine. However, they were forced to fly to the East Coast on their own dime and perform for free.
“The deal was, as far as I remember, you gotta come back and do this Hot 97 Summer Jam or we’re not gonna play any more of your records on your station,” Inspectah Deck said in an interview.
On the Summer Jam stage, an infuriated Ghostface Killah proceeded to take the stage and scream “Fuck Hot 97!” He even got the crowd to yell it with him. In the long run, the move cost the group.
“They didn’t play our records for like the next 10 years,“ says Deck, while other members note other radio stations followed Hot 97’s lead. “Us not being involved while they playing the Biggie shit, they playing Nas shit, everybody that was rocking with us at the time. That affected our sales, that affected our touring, that affected everything. That affected our presence.”
Funk Flex would apologize to RZA for the entire situation years later.
Wu-Tang Clan was formed in 1992 with popular group members Raekwon, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, RZA, Ghostface Killah, and Method Man. They released their classic debut album in 1993 and followed that success with their sophomore album, Wu-Tang Forever, in 1997. The group had ongoing internal conflicts, in addition to their feud with Hot 97.
Method Man and Redman, along with various other talented artists, are set to headline this year’s Summer Jam. The lineup is a vibrant mix of established and emerging artists, including Doja Cat and Friends, French Montana, Sexyy Red, Fivio Foreign, and more. This diverse lineup promises a night of unforgettable performances, making Summer Jam a must-attend event for all hip-hop enthusiasts.
Hot 97 celebrates Summer Jam’s 30th anniversary on June 2 at the UBS Stadium. Hosted by Hot 97’s Ebro, Peter Rosenberg, Laura Stylez, and Nessa. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.