Quantcast
"We all compete, but there's a line you just don't cross."
——Andrew Rosen, Regional VP, Clear Channel

NY RADIO WARS TURN UGLY

Hip Hop DJ Allegedly Beats Rival—Literally
Violence in Hip Hop? Say it ain’t so.

Instead of beating the competition for ratings points, DJ Funkmaster Flex of WQHT Hot 97 FM allegedly used his fists to beat rival DJ Big Steph Lova of WWPR Power 105 FM.

Steph Lova, whose real name is Stephanie Saunders, charges in a police report that Funkmaster Flex, aka Aston Taylor, attacked her last week in front of the Hot 97 studios at 395 Hudson St. in Greenwich Village, the Daily News reports. On Monday, word of the attack had spread like wildfire throughout the rap community

Saunders, who also is seen on MTV2, said she was talking with friends on the sidewalk just after midnight Thursday when Taylor emerged from the radio station and began verbally abusing her. Saunders said Flex then hit her, choked her and scratched her before she could run to her Jeep and flee, the police report says. Police said Saunders filed a police report Friday at the 6th Precinct in Greenwich Village, about 36 hours after the alleged attack.

Steph Lova also charged that Funkmaster Flex threw a wad of cash at her as she drove away to pay for any damage he caused her, the Daily News added.

"She's just really traumatized by the ordeal, and hurt by it," said Saunders' spokeswoman Getty Gizaw of G2Media. "This was a former colleague of hers, and he was actually someone she looked up to."

Funkmaster Flex was charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault when he turned himself in at noon Sunday to officers at the 6th Precinct. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to appear in court next month.

"I'm just appalled to hear something like that," said Power 105 program director Michael Saunders, no relation to Steph Lova. "It kind of took me aback that a man could hit a woman like that."

"We all compete, but there's a line you just don't cross," said Andrew Rosen, Regional VP, Clear Channel, which owns Power 105.

Saunders was a DJ for Hot 97 until she was wooed away this year by Power 105.The radio stations have been locked in a fierce battle for hip hop listeners, and Hot 97 has been feeling the heat from its upstart competitor, which went on the air in March.

Insiders say Flex has been seething at Steph Lova ever since she conducted an interview in June with rap star Nas, who accused Flex on the air of taking payola.

Nas made the accusations moments after storming out of Hot 97's Summer Jam concert when organizers refused to allow him to conduct a mock lynching of rival rapper Jay-Z, according to the Daily News.

Flex, who also runs a record pool that helps select and recommend records for DJs around the world, has denied rumors that he takes payola.

NEAR TRUTHS: KINGDOMS
File under: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. (3/26a)
ONE SHINING HITS LIST
She shoots, she scores! (3/26a)
YTD MARKET SHARE
Zeroing in on the elite teams (3/28a)
BEST IN THE WEST:
STEVE BERMAN
High time for another Eminem skit (3/26a)
MUSIC REVENUE TOPPED $17B IN 2023: RIAA
Streaming subscriptions lead the charge. (3/27a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country
CAPTCHA code
Captcha: (type the characters above)