Tensions are rising at Hot 97, at least according to according to Page Six.
The famed rap station is preparing to announce a number of changes to its schedule, including a move that will see hip hop legend Funkmaster Flex move into the plum spot currently occupied by beloved host Nessa, while she will shift into his late time slot.
Sources say she’s “very upset” about it — and many network insiders are siding with her.
They say that while Flex may be an industry superstar who helped the network become the hip hop powerhouse it is today, Nessa has done more than enough to each the respect of network bosses.
“Hot97 executives didn’t even respect her enough to call her directly about the changes, but informed her team of the change, leaving Nessa feeling blindsided,” said one pal of the host.
Meanwhile, Flex helped invent the network, hosting its first hip hop show in 1992, back when it was a pop station. It’s gone on to become a juggernaut in the genre, hosting.
He also had a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful mixtapes, including 1999’s “The Tunnel,” which featured Tupak Shakur, Biggie Smalls, Nas, Eminem, Lil Kim, Jay Z and a slew of other household names.
The current plan, we’re told, is for Flex to take Nessa’s drive time spot, while Nessa — who is also the girlfriend of Colin Kaepernick — picks up his hours, which wrap up around midnight.
“She views it as a step back in her career,” said the insider. “Funkmaster Flex is the face of Hot 97 and has been an influential force within the hip hop community for over three decades. So he will always take precedence when it comes the time slots.”
Nessa shares a child with former NFL player Kaepernick.
They started dating in 2015 and she gave birth in 2022. The former quarterback,36, played for the San Francisco 49er’s and sparked controversy when he decided to take a knee during the singing of the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. He has been out of the league since 2016.
The host, 43, was also host of MTV’s “Girl Code” and “Talk Stoop,” for which she received an Emmy nomination.
“Nessa has accomplished a lot [broadcasting] so to move her to nights is not only disrespectful but it would totally interrupt spending time with her child,” said an insider, “She is really upset about the time switch and is looking into ways to keeping her schedule as is after all it is what she signed up for.”
