Mero, Mia Bella, Kazeem, and Shani Kulture kick off Friday with a packed episode of Mornings With Mero. The crew talks self-awareness after Mero reflects on attending Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt 30th anniversary listening session, the legendary hip hop conversations that followed, and why sometimes you have to know when it’s time to go home.

The team dives into Phoenix Flex’s viral Summer Jam controversy, the debate around AI in music, vocal authenticity, and whether artists are embracing trends instead of creating their own sounds. Plus, they discuss the rise of 80s-inspired hip hop records and why every successful sound eventually gets copied.

It’s Hip Hop Jeopardy time! Callers compete for Summer Jam tickets with questions covering East Coast hip hop, culture, R&B, and Southern hip hop.

Later, the crew talks about AI-generated images, protecting your identity online, social media privacy, and the fear of people using artificial intelligence to profit from someone’s likeness. They also share stories about family parties, teaching younger generations classic hip hop, and passing down musical history.

Catch Mornings with Mero on HOT 97, Weekdays from 6am-10am

<p>Catch Mornings with Mero on HOT 97, Weekdays from 6am-10am</p>

HOT 97 Mornings with Mero

HOT 97 Mornings with Mero is a weekday morning radio show on New York's Hot 97 (6 a.m. to 10 a.m. EST), hosted by The Kid Mero (Joel Martinez) starting January 2026. The show features Mero's signature Bronx energy, comedic commentary, current events with a focus on New York City and hip-hop culture.  

<p><a href="https://hot97.com" data-ved="2ahUKEwi00rqp6cKSAxWJFFkFHQ8FKYoQgK4QegQIARAB" data-hveid="CAEQAQ" data-processed="true">HOT 97 Mornings with Mero</a>&nbsp;is a weekday morning radio show on New York's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rap-up.com/article/the-kid-mero-new-hot-97-morning-show-host" data-processed="true">Hot 97</a> (6 a.m. to 10 a.m. EST), hosted by The Kid Mero (Joel Martinez) starting January 2026. The show features Mero's signature Bronx energy, comedic commentary, current events with a focus on New York City and hip-hop culture.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>