I'm sorry, but this whole Hot 97 banning Wu-Tang's music after Summer Jam is semi cap!

[Newark88]

I caught some of the RZA's recent interview saying how Wu-Tang Forever (their 2nd album) would've went diamond if Hot 97 didn't banned their music from getting played after they made disparaging remarks about the station at Summer Jam that year ("Hot 97 is where Hip Hop Dies"). Yea it ruffled feathers with the higher ups at the station, I'm sure. But for someone who was there, I don't recall Hot 97 stop playing Wu music like that. I remember Its Yourz being a big song on the mixshows (Flex use to play that on his show as well as at The Tunnel heavy). When Meth dropped his second solo, I remember the singles being on heavy daytime rotation. When Supreme Clientele dropped, cherchez la ghost was a very popular song on Hot 97. I even recall the W album and Iron Flag getting promoted on the station (When the Wu was past their prime at that stage). So I never understood this whole "Hot 97 banning Wu Tang's music lead to the downfall of NY Hip Hop" talking point that has been popping up. I think it had more so to do with people's taste in music (whether good or bad) changing by 97, when Forever dropped.

 

[Yehuda]

Of course it's not the truth

 

[Newark88]

@Awesome Wells @FreshAIG Bruhs was I missing something? If it was a ban, it must've been short lived because I don't remember a time where the Wu wasn't on Hot 97 in some shape or form back then. Even after the 2nd album.

 

[get these nets]

RZA is copping pleas here. NYC and Hot 97 were the tastemakers for the rap industry back then, but how many of the albums sold for artists were purchased in this metro area?

Between club djs and mixtape djs ,Dudes and ladies heard everything first and copped (or not) the first two weeks of album dropping.
I always felt album rollouts, in stores, single rollouts were for markets outside of New York metro area.

By the time they performed and bombed at Summer Jam, 95% of the albums they were going to sell out here were already purchased.

 

[Knucklehead]

Wu-Tang being an unreliable live act on the level of Sly and The Family Stone is an underrated cause of their fall off. You were just as likely to get 50 people on stage or just two random members or the show cancelled at the last second as you were to get a decent show. At a certain point you just check out.

 

[maxamusa]

Cherez la ghost was huge. that shyt got so much burn



supreme clientele is the GOAT

 

[JMD]

they just didn't play any songs from Wu-Tang Forever during regular rotation

it's a shame cause Triumph is a classic track but not really a radio jam

the album just like most double CDs should have been condensed, same with Art Of War

 

[FreshAIG]

@Awesome Wells @FreshAIG Bruhs was I missing something? If it was a ban, it must've been short lived because I don't remember a time where the Wu wasn't on Hot 97 in some shape or form back then. Even after the 2nd album.

I mean it's possible. Hot 97 was really sensitive during this period (and still are) and were known to ban artists for indiscretions and this would quality. I will say, if it did happen, it definitely wasn't long lasting enough to have an effect on Wu's legacy.

 

[Sonic Boom of the South]

So the actual station saying it happened and multiple staff speaking on it numerous times but it was no ban?

 

[DAT NICCA KELSO]

Rae, Deck and UGod dropped albums in 99 and got no airplay

Turn on the radio all you hear is X and Jigga

 

[DaHNIC82]

Ghost basically called them out on Cobra clutch
"Radio stop shytting on me" !

 

[Metal Face]

does audio of these Hot 97 mixes exist online

 

[BuddahMAC]

"Now who the hypest in New York City? Wu-Tang! Radio stop shyttin' on me"- Ghost addressing the Hot 97 ban on Cobra Clutch in 98

"Wu-Tang is the cats that can never be tooken off the air. Check that. You know what I'm sayin? RZA. We can never get tooken off the air"- ODB addressing the Hot 97 ban while freestyling on The Wake Up Show in 98.



Not sure of the full duration, but the ban happened and that, along with blowing up the Rage tour, pretty much ended the promotional cycle of the Forever album.

The station says it happened and later apologized; Funk Flex addressed it.

It happened.

 

[Grifter]

Cherez la ghost was huge. that shyt got so much burn



supreme clientele is the GOAT

Tommy Mottola, lives on the road
He lost his lady, two months ago
Maybe he'll find her, maybe he won't
Oh wonder that love

 

[Consigliere]

Rae, Deck and UGod dropped albums in 99 and got no airplay

Turn on the radio all you hear is X and Jigga

I mean are you playing Immobilarity over Hard Knock Life & It’s Dark and Hell is Hot?

Seems like the DJs made the right call.