For decades, New York has known exactly what 7 p.m. meant on the radio dial. It was Funkmaster Flex time on HOT 97, where the DJ legend would light up the airwaves with his trademark bombs and the hottest records in the city. So when Flex hit the Gram this week announcing his “last show,” fans thought one of hip hop’s longest running eras was officially over.
On Thursday Aug. 28, Flex posted a message that immediately set off alarms across socials. “THIS MONDAY LABOR DAY SEPTEMBER 1ST WILL BE MY LAST SHOW ON HOT 97 AT 7PM! ALL THINGS COME TO AN END! END OF AN ERA THAT I ENJOYED VERY MUCH! I SUPER ENJOYED IT ALL! I WILL MAKE THE LAST SHOW A GREAT ONE! APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME OVER THE YEARS!”
The culture took it as a goodbye. But according to TMZ, Flex is not walking away from the station at all. Instead, the veteran is simply sliding to a new spot on the schedule. Starting right after Labor Day, he’ll be rocking out weekdays from 5 to 10 p.m., meaning his legendary bomb drops will just be hitting the city a couple hours earlier.
The news had artists and fans reacting in real time. 50 Cent said, “I can’t even process this … Funk Flex been #1 since I can remember.” Jadakiss joked, “We’re doomed.” Timbaland showed love by calling him “one of the greatest to ever do it,” while Swizz Beatz dropped a long line of “Factssssss” to cosign the legend.
HOT 97 is also shuffling its schedule around Flex’s move. Nessa Nitty will now hold down the 1 to 5 p.m. slot, the morning show is shifting to 6 a.m. through 11 a.m., and DJ Drewski will step in from 11 to 1 p.m. DJ Camilo, who previously held the 4 to 7 p.m. space, is moving to 4 to 5 p.m. And in another major update, longtime HOT 97 staple DJ Enuff has reportedly been released into free agency.
So while Flex’s “last show” at 7 p.m. closes a chapter, the DJ is far from leaving. He is just moving his voice to a new hour, proving that even after three decades, he is still shaking up New York radio on his own terms.