Angela Martinez (born January 9, 1971) is an American radio personality, rapper, singer, and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice of New York" during her two-decade tenure at New York City station HOT 97 (WQHT), she left that position in 2014 to join crosstown competitor Power 105.1 (WWPR). Martinez won the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Marconi Radio Award for "Major Market Personality of the Year" in 2018, and was inducted into the

Radio Hall of Fame The Radio Hall of Fame, formerly the National Radio Hall of Fame, is an American organization created by the Emerson Radio Corporation in 1988. Three years later, Bruce DuMont, founder, president, and CEO of the Museum of Broadcast Communicatio ...

in 2020.

Radio career

Martinez got her first break in FM broadcasting at the age of 16 answering hot lines at the urban radio station WQHT ("Hot 97"). There she met popular DJ Funkmaster Flex, and began working as his

protégé Mentorship is the influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the personal and p ...

. Martinez quickly picked up on the craft of running a successful radio program. She hosted the Afternoon Drive weekdays, alongside HOT 97's

DJ Enuff Ephrem Lopez (born January 25, 1969), known professionally as DJ Enuff is a DJ and radio personality from the United States. He mixes on-air for New York's Hip Hop radio station HOT 97 on weekdays from 4pm to 6pm. He is best known for being The N ...

, where she interviewed the biggest names in music such as

Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...

and

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...

. She resigned from Hot 97 on June 18, 2014. She was announced to have signed on with Hot 97's main New York radio competitor, Power 105.1 (WWPR-FM) on June 19, 2014.

Acting

As an actress, Martinez received small roles in independent hip hop films such as ''Blood Is Thicker Than Water'' and ''

Paper Soldiers ''Paper Soldiers'' is a 2002 American urban crime comedy film. This hip-hop comedy from Roc-A-Fella's film division stars Kevin Hart (in his film debut), Beanie Sigel, and Stacey Dash. Rapper Jay-Z appears in a cameo role. Hart plays the charact ...

''. She then appeared in '' Brown Sugar'' starring

Taye Diggs Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs (born January 2, 1971) is an American stage and film actor. He is known for his roles in the Broadway musicals ''Rent'' and '' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'', the TV series ''Private Practice'' (2007-2013), ''Murder in the ...

, Queen Latifah and Sanaa Lathan. In October 2002, Martinez appeared in ''Paid In Full''. More recently, she appeared in ''Video Girl'' in 2011, '' Generation Um...'' in 2012, and in the docu-comedy television series '' This Is Hot 97'' in 2014.

Music career

In 1996, Martinez was encouraged to give rapping a shot by friend

KRS-One Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from New York City. He rose to prominence as part of ...

. She appeared on his track "Heartbeat" from his 1997 album ''

I Got Next ''I Got Next'' is the third solo studio album by American musician KRS-One. It was released on May 20, 1997 via Jive Records. Production was handled by Domingo, Jesse West, Showbiz, Gordon "Commissioner Gordon" Williams, DJ Cipher, DJ Muggs, T ...

''. After the song gained a strong fan following, another friend,

Lil' Kim Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include: * * * * * better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and reality television personality. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, she lived much of he ...

, offered her a spot on the "Ladies Night Remix" of her song " Not Tonight" for the '' Nothing to Lose'' soundtrack. Along with

Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...

, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Da Brat, the ladies enjoyed one of the most successful singles of 1997. It peaked on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart at No. 6, and reached No. 3 on the Hip-Hop / R&B charts. The single sold over 1,000,000 copies and was certified Platinum. The ladies were nominated for two

Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

that year, and were also invited to perform the song live on the

MTV Video Music Awards The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honour the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category) ...

. A major label battle began to sign Martinez to a recording contract. Her appearance on other rapper's material was in high demand. She recorded songs with

Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...

("Christmas in the City"), Cuban Link ("Freak Out"), N.O.R.E. ("Oh No Remix"),

Beenie Man Anthony Moses Davis (born 22 August 1973), better known by his stage name Beenie Man, is a Jamaican Dancehall deejay. Biography Davis was born in the Waterhouse district of Kingston in 1973.Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Mus ...

("Tell Me Remix") and Funkmaster Flex &

Big Kap Keith Carter (February 26, 1970 – February 3, 2016), also known as Big Kap and The Wardin, was an American hip-hop DJ who was born in New York City and was later based in Atlanta. Career In 1995, he was a member of hip hop supergroup The Flip S ...

's compilation album ''The Tunnel'' ("Wow"). She also recorded interludes for mixtapes by

Kid Capri David Anthony Love Jr. (born February 7, 1967) is an American DJ and rapper better known by his stage name Kid Capri. Early life Kid Capri's humble roots can be traced back to his parents' home in the Bronx, where ten year old David Antho ...

DJ Clue Ernesto Shaw (born January 8, 1975), better known as DJ Clue, is an American disc jockey (DJ), record producer, radio personality and record executive. Early life DJ Clue was born in Queens, New York City to Panamanian and Jamaican immigran ...

and

DJ Kayslay Keith Grayson (August 14, 1966 – April 17, 2022), professionally known as DJ Kay Slay, was an American disc jockey (DJ) from New York City. He is referred to by ''The New York Times'' as "Hip Hop's One-Man Ministry of Insults". He released fou ...

. In 2001, she appeared in the music video for

and

R. Kelly Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and sex offender convicted of racketeering and multiple sex offenses. During his recording career, Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwid ...

's "Guilty Until Proven Innocent". On April 17, 2001, she released her delayed debut album, '' Up Close and Personal''. The album included production by

Salaam Remi Salaam Remi Gibbs (born May 14, 1972) is a Grammy winning American record producer known for his association with Nas, Amy Winehouse, Robby, Fugees, Fergie, Estelle, Black Thought, and Miguel, and for his reggae-tinged (often referred to as ...

, Knobody and Rockwilder among others, and featured guest appearances by

, Snoop Doggy Dogg,

, Wyclef Jean,

Busta Rhymes Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver ...

and

Kool G. Rap Nathaniel Thomas Wilson (born July 20, 1968), better known by his stage name Kool G Rap (or simply G Rap), is an American rapper from Queens, New York City. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as ...

. The first single, "Dem Thangzzz" was produced by The Neptunes, and also featured background vocals by

Pharrell Williams Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom he ...

and Q-Tip. The album debuted at No. 32 on the ''Billboard'' 200 Albums Chart, and No. 7 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album Chart selling 69,000 its first week. The second single, "Coast 2 Coast" (Suavamente) featuring rapper Wyclef Jean re-sparked interest in the album. She promoted the album with magazine posters, in-store signings, club appearances and television appearances with

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

and BET. Following her first album's release, Angie began work on a second record, 2002's '' Animal House''. In order to build anticipation for the record, she appeared on BET's '' Rap City'' and began a nationwide radio tour. She recorded a verse for the remix to her artist

Sacario Jamar Austin, also known as Sacario is an American rapper and songwriter best known for writing the song " If I Could Go" for Angie Martinez. ''Billboard'' named the song among the biggest songs of the year in 2002. It was featured on '' Totally ...

record "Live Big". It became the number one record in the tri-state area and coincidentally coincided with the release of Martinez's first single from her second album, "

If I Could Go "If I Could Go!" is the first single released from American rapper Angie Martinez's second studio album, ''Animal House'' (2002). The track features rapper Sacario and singer Lil Mo and was produced by Rick Rock; Sacario co-wrote the song. It i ...

" which also featured

and singer

Lil' Mo Cynthia Karen Loving (born November 19, 1978), known professionally as Lil' Mo, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, television and radio personality. She is best known for her 2001 single " Superwoman Pt. II", featuring then-unknown rapper ...

. "If I Could Go" became a huge crossover hit on pop radio, climbing into the top 20 on The Billboard Hot 100 Chart. It became the No. 1 played on urban radio in 2002. The album, '' Animal House'' (named after Martinez's own production company and recording posse), was released on August 21, 2002. It entered the Billboard Hot 200 Albums Chart at No. 11, and the Billboard Hot Hip-Hop / R&B Charts selling 92,000 units in its first week. The follow-up single, "Take You Home" featuring R&B singer Kelis became a minor hit reaching the top 100 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was more strongly received by critics and fans. Following the release of the album, she was featured on a remix for labelmate Lil' Mo's track "Gangster", and Nina Sky's hype single "Time to Go". Following this she announced she was retiring from the recording industry to concentrate on her other projects. In 2002, Martinez was hired to be a judge on the second season of ''American Idol'', but quit after a few days of auditions, citing discomfort with crushing the dreams of auditioners. In November 2014, Martinez was signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation.

Personal life

Martinez's father was Puerto Rican and her mother was of

Cuban Cuban may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean * Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent ** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof * Cuban citizen, a perso ...

and Dominican descent. She has a son born in 2003 with

Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin Dru Hill is an American R&B group, whose repertoire included soul, hip hop soul and gospel music. The group was founded in Baltimore in 1992 and is still active. Dru Hill recorded seven Top 40 hits, and is best known for the R&B number-one hit ...

of Dru Hill. In 2014, Martinez ran the 2014 New York City Marathon in support of CC Sabathia's charity, the PitCCh In Foundation. In late 2019, it was revealed that she had sustained major injuries, including a fractured

lumbar In tetrapod anatomy, lumbar is an adjective that means ''of or pertaining to the abdominal segment of the torso, between the diaphragm and the sacrum.'' The lumbar region is sometimes referred to as the lower spine, or as an area of the back i ...

and shattered vertebrae, in a serious car accident.

Awards and nominations

**2020 inductee * NAB Marconi Radio Awards **2018, Major Market Personality of the Year * BET Awards ** 2002, Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (nominated) *

** 1998, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group "Not Tonight" (nominated)

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

References

External links

*
Angie Martinez's official website
(archived)
Angie Martinez's page at Hot97.com
(archived)
Angie Martinez
on YouTube * {{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez, Angie 1971 births Living people Actresses from New York City American female models American women singers American film actresses American actresses of Puerto Rican descent American people of Dominican Republic descent American people of Cuban descent American radio personalities American women rappers Elektra Records artists Hispanic and Latino American rappers Musicians from Brooklyn People from the Bronx Rappers from Brooklyn John Dewey High School alumni Cuban women rappers 21st-century American rappers 21st-century American women musicians 21st-century women rappers