J Video: Behind The Scenes of Hot 97’s Summer Jam XX

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Ebro Darden since starting my struggle hour and a half commute to work in 2012. This was right around the time Ebro began making guest appearances on Hot 97’s morning show, then just the program director trying to save the show’s ratings.

I have always appreciated his fluid on-air personality and the respect he has in the industry, which makes for better interviews; it’s his lack of tact surrounding some highly-sensitive issues that’s left me feeling some type of way more than once (the U.O.E.N.O. Rick Ross controversy comes to mind).

In the video you see the good and the bad, as Hot 97 gives you a behind-the-scenes look at last year’s Summer Jam through the eyes of “the old man.”

I was hoping to learn something new about the concert production process, which didn’t really happen, but having watched the show via live stream, it was interesting to see what was really going on backstage with the artists. (You have to peep Mariah showing up in the middle of the song she is supposed to perform with a champagne glass in hand (7:42). -__-) Check it out!

J Music: The Best Christmas Playlist Since 2002… When I Made It

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  1. Who Would Imagine a King – Whitney Houston
  2. The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole
  3. Silent Night – Mariah Carey
  4. Let It Snow – Boyz II Men
  5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Alvin & the Chipmunks
  6. O, Holy Night – Mariah Carey
  7. I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Whitney Houston**
  8. O, Come All Ye Faithful – Luther Vandross
  9. Walking in a Winter Wonderland – Ashanti**
  10. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)- Mariah Carey 
  11. Silver Bells – The Temptations 
  12. Away in a Manger – Gladys Knight & the Pips 
  13. All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey 
  14. Seasons of Love – Rent 

**In reflection, I would probably swap these two out. I like to remember Whitney at her best, and this isn’t it. And including Ashanti amongst these legends was just disrespectful.

If I burned a new CD today, I would add:

  • Mary, Did You Know – CeeLo Green
  • What Christmas Means To Me – Stevie Wonder
  • Santa Clause is Coming to Town – Jackson 5 (amongst a few others)
  • This Christmas – Chris Brown

Happy Holidays everyone!! 

Related Articles: 

J Music: O Holy Night – Luke Edgemon 

J Music: Mary Did You Know – CeeLo Green