Fans thought it was the end of an era when Funkmaster Flex announced that his final show on HOT 97 would air on Sept. 1. The Bronx-born DJ, who’s been a fixture at the station since 1992, told followers on X
The post immediately sent shockwaves through hip-hop, with fans flooding social media to request one more replay of Flex’s iconic bomb drops — especially Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Otis.”
But according to TMZ, Flex isn’t retiring just yet. Instead, after Labor Day, he’ll be moving from his longtime 7 p.m.–midnight slot to a new 5 p.m.–10 p.m. show, solidifying his presence during one of the station’s most high-profile hours.
The reshuffle comes with bigger lineup changes at HOT 97: Nessa Nitty (wife of Colin Kaepernick) will shift to 1 p.m.–5 p.m., while Ebro in the Morning will run 6 a.m.–11 a.m. DJs Enuff and Camilo, who previously held afternoon drive blocks, have reportedly been released as free agents.
Funk Flex — legal name Aston George Taylor Jr. — has been central to HOT 97’s history, hosting the station’s first-ever hip-hop show and helping shape its reputation as the voice of New York rap culture. Earlier this month, he was awarded the Key to the City of New York for more than three decades of impact on the airwaves and his role in giving countless artists a platform.
With the new schedule locked in, fans can breathe easy: Flex may be closing one chapter, but the bomb drops aren’t stopping anytime soon.
