Urban Hot AC?

[J. Rob]

Does anyone else think a format like this would work? Old school Hip Hop and R&B (from about the late 80s until the early '00s) mixed with current, adult geared Hip Hop and R&B? (think Shade 45 + Heart & Soul)

Are there any stations similar to this?

[bucwhyl]

If I'm correct, I think 107.3 Jamz in Greenville, SC once called themselves hot urban ac.

[ShawtyBlack_ATL]

Hot Urban AC is what the old 97.1 JAMZ here in Atlanta was. "The Best Jamz of the 80s, 90s and Now."  107.3 JAMZ is Greenville is more of an Urban AC R&B station.  They don't touch Hip-Hop too much.

[BJordan]

I heard about the Hot Urban AC format. I think KJLH in Los Angeles is trying out that type of format these days by leaning heavily on Current R&B then they did years ago . Hot Urban AC's do in fact play rap music in the mix.

[wdb2003]

Radio One is doing that with a few stations they rebranded. WMMJ in DC and WFUN in St. Louis were the only ones I heard rap music being played but mostly 80's and 90's.

[htowler]

Radio One is doing that with a few stations they rebranded. WMMJ in DC and WFUN in St. Louis were the only ones I heard rap music being played but mostly 80's and 90's.

Urban ACs all over are starting to add hip hop to their playlists.  the Local Urban AC here WLVH Played Tupac I ain't mad at cha and BIG One more Chance yesterday.

[J. Rob]

To be a little more clear, I'm talking about a format that would also play current hip hop that's a little more adult friendly (The Roots, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Common, etc...)

[J. Rob]

I wanted to edit my last post, but the time expired


Anyway, I'm talking about a format that would also play current hip hop geared towards adults. The target demographic would probably be the 25-44 age group and the bulk of the older songs would be 90s Hip-Hop & R&B.


Old School Hip Hop: Biggie, Tupac, Nas, Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Heavy D, Public Enemy, NWA, Mobb Deep,  etc...

Old School R&B: R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige, Brian McKnight, Toni Braxton, SWV, TLC, Xscape, Blackstreet, Dru Hil, Tony Toni Tone, etc.

Current Adult Hip Hop: Nas, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, J. Cole, etc...

Current Adult R&B: Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, Kem, Marsha Ambrosious, Jennifer Hudson, etc...


I'm not sure if the adult R&B would fit in with the rest of the music, but I think a format similar to this could work.

[wdb2003]

When WMMJ in DC relaunched they played Tupac I Get Around and KMJK in Kansas City plays Slick Rick

[BJordan]

When WMMJ in DC relaunched they played Tupac I Get Around and KMJK in Kansas City plays Slick Rick

Speaking of 2Pac KJLH has been playing his joints such as "Dear Mama", "California Love", "So Many Tears" and "Keep Ya Head Up". I guess rap music is the happening thing on Urban AC radio stations. 10 years to 16 years ago Urban AC KJLH spun current R&B and urban jazz but times have changed. You(wdb2003) have told me it depends on which market we're in. We're in a big city so now I can see why KJLH is spinning hip hop now. In New York Urban AC's WRKS & WBLS are spinning old school hip hop titles by A Tribe Called Quest, Notorious B.I.G.'s early hits from his 1994 "Ready to Die" album and 2Pac also. I know that we already talked about this but KJLH added Nelly's Dellema to the playlist in 2002 and Fugees Killing Me Softly in 1996 which I hardly remember until bought it up.