"Sitting in a waiting room between a signed, billboard-sized photo of Jay-Z posted up on the Williamsburg Bridge and piles of Funk Flex memorabilia, I hear a snort laugh, followed by a high-pitched "Yooooo" that I'd recognize anywhere. The Kid Mero, the new host of Hot 97's morning show, is live on air with his co-hosts-Shani Kulture, Miabelle, Kazeem Famuyide, and DJ Kast One-recapping the Grammy's and discussing if Kendrick Lamar's win for Album of the Year makes him the greatest rapper of all time."
"But the Bronx-raised Mero-once a niche rap blogger penning stoned music reviews with thoughts like, "THESE NIGGAS SOUND LIKE BABY FROGS DOING DRAKE MIXTAPE JOINTS" about the Rich Kidz; then a pioneering podcaster as one half of the Bodega Boys with Desus Nice, where they captured the feel of shootin' the shit on the corner; and then a television personality, again with Desus, on Viceland and Showtime, before their acidic breakup-plays ball."
""This is New York, this is Hot 97" he says, to the room. "They about to say 'Hell no, Kendrick isn't better than Melle Mel'." Right on cue, the first caller is tight that they're even asking the question. "Man, Kendrick definitely isn't the GOAT, ain't no album like Reasonable Doubt," says the man on the phone; Mero makes an I told you so face at me. "I still bump that every morning on my way to work.""
A waiting room sits between a signed, billboard-sized photo of Jay-Z and piles of Funk Flex memorabilia while The Kid Mero hosts Hot 97's morning show live on air. He and co-hosts recap the Grammys and debate whether Kendrick Lamar's Album of the Year win makes him the greatest rapper. Mero's Bronx upbringing and trajectory are outlined: niche rap blogger, Bodega Boys podcaster with Desus Nice, and television personality on Viceland and Showtime before their breakup. Callers express entrenched East Coast preferences, invoking albums like Reasonable Doubt. The broadcast captures New York hip-hop fandom, banter, and generational loyalties.
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