Angie Martinez on Marking Hip-Hop’s fiftieth Birthday, ‘Iconic Records’ Podcast – Billboard

“I’ve pivoted in my career. At this point, I want to do things that I’m truly passionate about … things that I want to leave on the table.”

One of these “things” for Radio Hall of Famer Angie Martinez, aka “The Voice of New York,” occurs Saturday with the April 29 premiere of Iconic Records. Spotlighting iconic albums in popular culture, the brand new visible podcast sequence kicks off its debut season with a glance again at The Notorious B.I.G.’s esteemed remaining studio album, the 11x platinum Life After Death. Martinez doubles as host and an govt producer of the eight-episode sequence from WMX, Warner Music Group’s next-generation artist providers, media and inventive content material division. Viewers can watch the present on the WMX Hip-Hop channel on The Roku Channel (Ch. 1137; 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

“Celebrating B.I.G. and 25 years of this album in a different way was exciting,” says Martinez of being approached by WMX concerning the venture’s inaugural season, which coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop. “That’s because some of the people we talked to weren’t the traditional people we see or hear from and who had different types of viewpoints on him.”

The ever-busy multimedia character additionally talked about a couple of different issues she’s leaving on the desk. Those embody her podcast In Real Life With Angie Martinez, nominated for an NAACP Image Award within the arts and leisure class this yr, and nonetheless holding court docket within the afternoons on her eponymous radio present on iHeartMedia’s Power 105.1 in New York. She additionally shared reflections on hip-hop’s momentous birthday.

As the Iconic Records promotional trailer notes, you spoke to “25 people over five nights.” What was that like?

It was quick. [Laughs] When you do one thing in 5 days, you’re, like, immersed in it. But we didn’t wish to drag it out; we needed it to really feel contemporary. It was cool as a result of the interviews would overlap. Somebody can be strolling out, anyone can be strolling in and it will create this storytelling vitality, even off digital camera. [Among the guests sitting down with Martinez were Lil Cease, Fat Joe, Pusha T, Rick Ross and Too $hort.] It was this group of individuals reminiscing about B.I.G. and the album; private tales that I’d by no means heard earlier than. And you possibly can really feel his spirit. It was additionally thrilling to speak to a few of the producers and the individuals who labored at Bad Boy. There have been so many who had been round for a very long time and had a lot impression in so many areas that I’d by no means had an opportunity to speak with earlier than. Like, I’d by no means interviewed [producer/DJ] Clark Kent, who’s a pal of mine and a beacon within the tradition. So to have that second with him was nice.

The first anniversary of In Real Life is in August. Why did you resolve to do a podcast?

I’ve been actually fortunate in my profession. I really like what I do, at all times have. The cause I nonetheless love what I do is as a result of I’m at all times attempting to problem myself and develop. It’s not even about reinventing. It’s about ensuring my profession is aligned with the place I’m in my life. And that was how IRL opened up. I’ve had a number of real-life classes: success, trauma, heartbreak, disappointment. I don’t wish to say it was a calling, however I simply felt compelled that this was one thing that I needed to supply; I needed to have this dialog about life. So I sort of jumped out the window with it, calling Lauren London and asking if she’s discuss with me. She stated sure. [Martinez’s guests since then include Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige and Mike Tyson.]

Everything is so calculated and metrics-driven in our enterprise now that you simply lose the guts of what simply feels proper. Honestly, the fantastic thing about creating your personal content material, proudly owning your personal firm and being able the place you possibly can function out of your intestine is so releasing and rewarding. I’ve been leaning into that. Sometimes I don’t know who’s going to be the following visitor. But anyone will name and say they wish to discuss. It’s been so pure. Even the viewers group that we’re constructing is natural as I actually haven’t executed any main promotion but. It’s been an impartial effort, which I’m so pleased with. Because now now we have the roots that come from an trustworthy, genuine place. And watching that develop goes to be enjoyable for me over the following few years. I additionally produce other concepts about doing stay occasions and creating content material for different folks. So it’s going attention-grabbing as nicely to see the place this evolving street takes me.

Why is radio nonetheless necessary?

Over at the very least the final decade, I’ve been listening to folks say, “You better start figuring something out. Streaming platforms are coming and your job isn’t going to exist anymore.” [Laughs] I nonetheless love being on the radio, speaking about music and with new artists. At the top of the day, it’s about connection. There are individuals who really feel related to their favourite radio station or character. Radio is free, it’s native, it’s comfy. It’s going to be there though it might shift by way of the way it operates or what the verticals should be. But radio is only a staple.

What does hip-hop reaching such a momentous birthday imply to you?

It’s a good looking time to mirror on its historical past and evolution. It’s come thus far that it’s very straightforward to neglect the historical past. And consideration spans are so quick that generally folks skip over particulars. So this can be a nice alternative for us to carry up hip-hop’s historical past and ensure individuals are conscious of the founders, the ups and downs whereas celebrating the evolution. There are lots of people doing cool stuff, which I salute and respect. Like Nas, a pillar of the tradition, and what he’s doing with Mass Appeal. But then I additionally see folks simply attempting to leap on the bandwagon and throwing up hashtags with out providing any considerate or caring enter on the tradition. I don’t like to see that. Let’s make this anniversary necessary; let’s make it matter.