Boris Kodjoe Back to Acting Not Radio

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Boris Kodjoe, must be a great actor. He ACTED like he and his wife actress Nicole Ari Parker, were really interested in becoming the new hosts of the "Quiet Storm" on V-103 in Atlanta earlier this year. Or maybe it was V-103 that was doing all of the acting by indicating that the duo would be tapped to replace long time host Joyce Littel. They were making quite a few on-air guest hosts appearances and even co-hosted with Joyce before she was fired. But then again maybe Boris and Nicole were really serious; because they also did do a week long guest stint as Quiet Storm hosts on New York's 107.5 WBLS last year.

So what is it with actors and radio management anyway? When things kind of dry up for actors, along with comedians and singers; their agents must think radio is a viable option until another gig becomes available??? And program directors must become drunk with delusions of grandeur and think "these entertainers can just step right in and do radio... and the audience will love it".

Well as fortune may have it, Boris' fans will be happy to know that he won't be doing radio, but now stars in a new NBC series called "Undercovers" on Wednesday nights.

The Last "Skip" Leaves K104

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Skip Cheatham is no longer on “Da Playground” in the mornings or in the office as program director at K104 (KKDA-FM / Dallas). Skip took over the morning show a couple of years ago from long time host Skip Murphy. Cheatham, the former afternoon drive and night host, had been a part of the lineup at K104 since 1994.

The handwriting was on the wall, to increase ratings, when "Da Playground", (which already seemed overcrowded) brought in veteran radio personality De De McGuire to add some spark and even another voice to the morning show. For whatever reason someone thought that would work. Maybe listeners were thinking... uhh 37 people on a morning show was ridiculous. We think it would be. But K104 probably took their cue from Tom Joyner and went with three main personalities (i.e. Tom, Sybil and Jay).

However it just didn't seem that Skip, De De and Lady Jade really jelled. That fact along with the impact of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show over on 97.9 The Beat, spelled doom for Skip on the "Da Playground."

Kanye West, Lord Lord Lord

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Kanye West releases "Lord Lord Lord." This track is the fourth song available on his website for free in anticipation of the release of his new album. Def Jam has reportedly spent $3 million on recording sessions in a Hawaii mansion as well as Jimi Hendrix' Electric Lady Studios in Manhattan. So Kanye you better deliver on this one. He promises to keep releasing a NEW track each Friday at least until the release of "Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Now as for this week's track, it's not a Good Friday. There's nothing special here, even though we continually here the sample throughout the song.









The only thing that is special is Mos Def's rap at the beginning of the song. He proves, that pound for pound, he is the most talented freestyle lyricists that's hanging around in the game today. But of course the script has been flipped, no one cares about freestylin' in hip hop anymore.

Remembering Rare Performances from Jimi Hendrix

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Today marks the 40th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s death. He was found dead in a London apartment at the height of his musical brilliance in 1970. Prior to his legendary virtuosity as a rock guitarist, he played backup for R&B acts such as the Isley Brothers. There's no doubt, Jimi's got "soul", check out his guitar playing in the YouTube recording of "Testify" from 1964 below.

For those of you who have never experienced Black FM radio in the 80's, when DJ's on the radio created their owned playlist, (in other words they played the sh** they thought was good and what they thought listeners might want to hear); Hendrix' "Foxy Lady" and "Purple Haze" were played occasionally and introduced many listeners to his amazing talent. We will take time here to sing the praises of Mimi Brown and Doug Henderson, Jr. of WDAS-FM. DJ's who knew how to "talk with" instead of "at" their audiences.



NPR also takes a look at another rare performance from Jimi Hendrix in the report, "Send My Love To Linda: An Untold Jimi Hendrix Story" from reporter James Ridley Listen here...

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VIDEO: Public Enemy "Say It Like It Really Is"

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Public Enemy's salute to soul, featured on the upcoming box set "BRING THE NOISE, HITS, VIDS, and DOC BOX: GREATEST SITES AND SOUNDS" (Chapter 2 1999-2009). More at PublicEnemy.com.

Never, ever thought Public Enemy would, we mean never, hear another song from them. It certainly is refreshing to have the Hip Hop pioneers back in the game with a relevant song that most definitely solidifies their place in the history of rap. It's interesting to think way back when Chuck D would rap that their music was too strong for daytime radio. Now not only is daytime radio not ready for Public Enemy, urban radio is not even built to play anything, unless it's saturated with materialistic, self-destructive and misogynistic lyrics.

There's no format for this Hip Hop. It's probably better anyway with the way music is delivered to public. It has changed so drastically over the history of Hip Hop. As Chuck says in the song: there are no records, tapes, and CD's or record stores anymore. With this release, maybe a whole new generation will discover Public Enemy via YouTube and downloads.

By the way Lesson 1:

The large thing with speakers is called a BOOM BOX. Word up.

WENN Moves its FM signal to 102.1 to Cover Birmingham Better

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The only Neo-Soul radio station in the country is now known as the "New 102.1 WENN Birmingham's Neo-Soul Station."

The frequency change gives WENN a stronger signal in the area from its previous 101.9 FM translator location. Along with the frequency change comes a new logo as well. It's available online at wennfm.com.

Here's a slide show from the station.