The Kid Mero and co-host Kazeem “Kaz” Famuyide have criticized Hot 97’s management on air, while former producer Scottie Beam has alleged that employees are going unpaid amid reports of staffing cuts.
The complaints surfaced during an October 14 “Mind of Mero” segment on “Mornings with Mero.” As HotNewHipHop reported Sunday, the hosts questioned whether the station’s leadership was giving its broadcasters the support they needed.
Mero compared the situation to a talented sports team held back by poor management. He argued that even strong performers cannot succeed if the people making decisions fail to do their jobs, and questioned the value of executives earning far more than the staff.
Kaz was more direct. “This is the worst place I’ve ever worked in my life,” he said. He claimed the show had competitive ratings but lacked the resources to deliver the broadcast its audience deserved.
Both hosts praised their colleagues, including producers and technical staff, while directing their criticism toward executives. Kaz also said he understood the frustrations previously expressed by Ebro Darden, Peter Rosenberg and Laura Stylez after their departure.
Beam added a separate set of allegations on Threads. The former Hot 97 producer claimed DJs had been furloughed and that the company was not paying employees or rent on its space.
“They are NOT paying their employees,” she wrote. Beam said morning, afternoon and evening drive personalities had not been furloughed, but claimed weekend DJs and hosts at Hot 97 and sister station WBLS were affected.
Those allegations have not been independently verified. The reports reviewed did not include a response from MediaCo, which owns both stations.
Hot 97 contributor Bryson “Boom” Paul also announced his departure on X, thanking people who had supported his work at the station. Reports of broader layoffs have not established how many positions were affected.
The dispute has now drawn criticism from both current and former voices at the New York hip-hop station. What happens next, including whether MediaCo responds to the complaints, remains unclear.
