Wake Up Show Ousted From LA

The Hip Hop community in Los Angeles is still reeling from the shock of losing one of its most precious commodities The World Famous Wake Up Show on KKBT The Beat. In what many are saying is the epitome of foul moves, The Wake Up Show was unceremoniously removed from the airwaves in LA because hosts Sway & Tech refused to compromise on the type of music they played. The move came with less then a day's notice with Sway & Tech not being allowed to say their final good byes to the LA audience. Sway explained it like this; when KKBT changed hands and became part of the Radio One Family which is the largest African American owned radio network, the new program director insisted that the show start playing more 'commercial' rap. KKBT was changing directions and wanted to appeal to more women hence, station management wanted more 'familiar' rap tunes from artist like Busta Rhymes, DMX, Puffy etc. Now anyone who has ever listened to the Wake Up Show which has been on since 1991 and in LA since 1994, to do such a thing would not be the Wake Up Show. The name itself Wake Up Show was derived because Sway & Tech's philosophy from day one was to expose their audience to Hip Hop culture and bring to the table new cutting edge music that you wouldn't normally hear in 'regular' rotation.

This is not to say that a Busta Rhymes or DMX wouldn't get played, but such artist more times then not, got their first big breaks on the Wake Up Show. When major stations all across the country were flat out refusing to touch songs from artists like the flamboyant Busta, it was the Wake Up Show that not only nurtured it and gave such artist a home. Behind the scenes, the Sway & Tech would use their influence and fight to get many of these artist regular air time. Because of KMEL's dominant position in the early 90s as the country's number one rap station, an artist getting regular rotation there usually led to doors being opened everywhere else. A lot of these so called 'familiar artist couldn't wait to get on the Wake Up Show where they not only got nationwide exposure, but also had freedom to rip freestyles as well as chop it up with some hosts who have long been true to the game. Heck, one major artist who got his big break off the Wake Up Show is Mr Slim Shady aka Eminem. That cat was up there on the regular busting freestyles and earning his stripes. It was Wake Up Show exposure that led to him getting 'discovered' by Dr Dre. It's a shame he doesn't acknowledge that Wake Up Show connection nowadays in his interview but that's a whole other story.

The other thing we should add is that over the years there's a long list of people who are now doing well in the industry and got their big breaks and recommendations from the Wake Up Show. I won't expose their names, I'll let them speak for themselves in due time, but cats know the deal. There are very few people who came through the Wake Up Show who have not gone onto to do bigger and better things. The Wake Up Show for folks in LA has been more then just a radio show.. Its been a major stepping stone, a valuable resource and true home for Hip Hop culture. The saddest thing about the Wake Up Show being taken off the air in LA is that it severely limits the type of access LA's burgeoning 'underground Hip Hop scene can have on the major airwaves. There have been a a whole lot of graf artist, deejays, b-boys, b-girls and underground rappers ranging from Mykill Meyers to Dilated Peoples who got some major shine through the Wake Up Show. At a time when so much 'commercial' and 'familiar' Hip Hop is wrought with mindless materialism, rampant sexism and unnecessary violence, the Wake Up Show has been a welcome and much needed change of pace.. Fortunately the show will continue to run in syndication in other 15 or so markets it has managed to secure over the years.

Sway noted that management at the Beat may not realize how such a move can effect a community. It seems to fall in line with the current trend within radio to limit the amount of diversity and variety you hear and experience on the airwaves. In my personal humble opinion, removing the Wake Up Show is major loss for LA. It's a big disappointment that that The Beat chose not to have it.. Drop a letter of concern to the Beat programming department at 5900 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUIT 1900 LOS ANGELES, CA. 90036 or call 323.634.1800 again ask for the programming department

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