They say all good things come to an end. After hosting the first hip-hop show ever at Hot 97 in 1992, Funkmaster Flex announced Thursday (Aug. 28) that he’ll be unplugging his turntables for good at the station next week.
Funk Flex will be dropping his signature bombs and hitting the airwaves at 7 p.m. on Labor Day (Sept. 1), which will be his final show with Hot 97.
“THIS MONDAY LABOR DAY SEPTEMBER 1ST WITH BE MY LAST SHOW ON HOT97 AT 7PM,” he wrote to X. “ALL THINGS COME TO AN END! END OF AN ERA THAT I ENJOYED VERY MUCH!”
Flex continued: “I SUPER ENJOYED IT ALL! I WILL MAKE THE LAST SHOW A GREAT ONE! APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME OVER THE YEARS!”
Fans of the station were stunned about Funk Flex’s departure announcement, wondering what his next move would be. “END OF AN ERA INDEED! We gonna need another classic moment before you go out with a BANG, Flex,” one person wrote.
Another added: “We living in the end of times the mayans were talking about wtf!”
After starting at Hot 97 over three decades ago, the Bronx native is responsible for plenty of classic NYC radio moments, including his premiere of Jay-Z and Ye’s “Otis” in 2011, which he restarted roughly 25 times and dropped 63 bombs on over the course of 22 minutes.
Earlier in August, Flex was presented with a Key to the City by New York City Mayor Eric Adams for “his role in shaping the global reach of NYC’s hip hop scene through his iconic platform.”
“I’m humbled and honored to receive the Key to the City I’ve always called home,” Flex said. “New York made me. Hot 97 gave me the mic and hip-hop gave me a voice. This moment means everything.”
