Hot 97 has been the centre of all the East Coast's rap dramas and has an influence that stretches worldwide.

NY's premier radio station (and home to a few rap honchos of their own - Funk Flex, Kay Slay, Clue, Cipha Sounds and Green Lantern) began life as dance music station Hot 103 in 1986. In 1988 it became Hot 97 but continued to play dance music until 1993, when station bosses decided to target a share of 98.7 Kiss FM's hip hop audience by playing rap. They hired Ed Lover and Doctor Dre as morning hosts and saw their ratings rise to number three in just one rating period.

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