Couldn’t make the Barrett Media Audio Summit like me? Well, you’re in luck, because all of the panels have recently been added to YouTube. As a Hip Hop head myself, I was particularly interested in the “Straight Outta Hip Hop” panel and having worked firsthand with some of the panelists myself, I knew it would be a good one. Andre Yancey aka Dre Boogs of 94.7 The Block steered what I understand was one of the most unfiltered conversations and according to the big boss at Barrett, JB himself, “one of the best panels of the entire three days.”
The panel brought together Funk Flex, Angela Yee, Skip Dillard, Devin Steele, and Damion “Damizza” Young for a wide-ranging talk on Hip Hop radio’s past, present, and uncertain future. Here are five takeaways from a group of industry veterans wrestling honestly with change.
Passion Still Has to Pay the Bills
Funk Flex opened with a blunt point: stations were never really about culture first. He said a signal “was always about the commercials and what you can do in between to keep people interested,” and that the culture piece kept the audience — and the talent — engaged along the way. That distinction matters now more than ever. He pointed to owners who bought stations for hundreds of millions of dollars that are worth a fraction of that today, calling it “the biggest issue we have.”
Mentorship Is the Job, Not a Side Project
Every panelist circled back to the same idea. Skip Dillard talked about scouting on-air talent through college radio, pointing to his own start at Hampton University, and argued stations need to “invest in community programs” since many young artists never had access to music education in public schools. Damizza credited his own start to mentors he met at 12 years old, saying, “mentorship is so important.” Angela Yee added that legacy isn’t just about your own run, it’s about “mentoring who’s going to be coming up behind you.”
Authenticity Beats Algorithm-Chasing
Devin Steele made a sharp distinction between personalities and content creators, noting that “what cuts through are the personalities, the content creators that are sincere, because now people can see through” anything manufactured. He pointed to hosts like Ryan Cameron (of Majic 107.5/Atlanta), who brings real context and relationships to every artist interview, as the model worth replicating. That kind of credibility, he argued, can’t be faked or rushed.
Radio Still Needs Its Messengers
Funk Flex described his own role in strikingly humble terms: “I am really just a messenger… I try to bring it to my social and bring it to the radio.” He tied that mission directly to loyalty, saying that when he’s on air, “I’m fighting for people.” Angela Yee echoed it from a different angle, crediting her own connection with listeners to genuinely showing up in her Brooklyn neighborhood. She said “I still live in Brooklyn… walk everywhere. I go places… I feel really connected to what’s going on.”
Community Is the Format’s True Currency
Skip Dillard framed Hip Hop’s staying power as rooted in relationships, not just records. He describes his job as “continuing to build the artist community” and adapting to what each market’s audience actually needs. Damizza talked about championing unproven records like early Tupac and Dr. Dre material against the mainstream programming of the time. His closing advice to the next generation was simple: “Be passionate, love what you do.”
The Bottom Line
The panel didn’t shy away from radio’s financial pressures, corporate shakeups, or the disruption AI is bringing to newsrooms and studios alike. But the overwhelming message was one of resilience. Great talent, real community ties, and a genuine commitment to mentorship were the throughlines connecting every panelist’s story. As Damizza put it, “radio’s gonna come back, and it’s gonna slap back like a bitch when it does.”
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Bethany Kent is a Music Radio Editor for Barrett Media. She spent nearly 20 years bringing radio to life on stages, across the airwaves, and through unforgettable listener experiences. Her career spans local markets including Providence, Philadelphia, and New York City, most recently serving as National Director of Music Initiatives for Audacy. From producing major live events like HOT 97’s Summer Jam to leading strategic national marketing initiatives, she has built a career at the intersection of music, media, and culture. She can be reached at bethany@barrettmedia.com.