Last week’s Urban First article on Urban AC embracing classic Hip-Hop prompted responses from several PDs on how they too have learned to incorporate the genre into Urban AC programming. In this response from Service Broadcasting’s Director of Operations and KRNB “Smooth R&B 105.7” Dallas PD Michael Erickson, we see that some stations have expanded their “classic hip-hop” playlist to include songs from the ’90s and even ’00s.

Erickson tells us, “I too believe there are still too many misconceptions about Classic Hip Hop’s place in today’s Urban AC. While my station does not play any one song a lot per week, I play many a few times per week which gives us a distinctive sound and really caters to the taste of our audience. Here is a list below of rotation songs (we also play many more in our mixes that are not listed) that get anywhere from one to 5 spins per week on ‘Smooth R&B 105.7’ KRNB-FM Dallas. That’s an average of 45-50 spins per week of Classic Hip Hop songs on an Urban AC.

2Pac– “Keep Your Head Up”
2Pac f/Jodeci – “How Do U Want It”
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince – “Summertime”
Doug E. Fresh f/ Slick Rick – “The Show”
Dr Dre f/Snoop Dogg – “Nuthin’ But A G Thang”
LL Cool J – “I Need Love”
Nelly – “Hot In Herre”
Nelly f/Kelly Rowland – “Dilemma”
Notorious B.I.G. – “Hypnotize”
Notorious B.I.G. – “One More Chance”
Notorious B.I.G. – “Big Poppa”
Slick Rick – “Children’s Story”
Sugarhill Gang – “Rapper’s Delight”
Kanye West f/Jamie Foxx – “Gold Digga”
Whodini – “Friends”

Erickson adds, “As timing would have it, we just finished our first ’90s Hip-Hop Mix’ that is going to debut next Friday at lunchtime on our station. It will be the first time we will play 30 minutes of straight classic hip hop on the station. Thanks, and keep spreading the word.”

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What's your take on playing classic Hip-Hop on Urban AC? How deep do you go into the Hip-Hop catalog, and how old/new are the records you choose to play? Give us your thoughts in the Radio-Info.com comments section below.