Angie Martinez has opened up about her forthcoming Iconic Records visual podcast series and Hip Hop celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Martinez plays host and executive producer of the eight-episode Iconic Records series, which kicks off on April 29 delving deeper into Biggie’sLife After Death double-album.
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“I’ve pivoted in my career. At this point, I want to do things that I’m truly passionate about… Things that I want to leave on the table,” she told Billboard earlier this week.
The legendary Power 105.1 radio host interviewed 25 subjects over the course of five days for the series which will find Lil Cease, Fat Joe, Pusha T, Rick Ross, Too $hort and more reminiscing about the late Brooklyn rap deity.
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“Celebrating B.I.G. and 25 years of this album in a different way was exciting,” Martinez continued. “That’s because some of the people we talked to weren’t the traditional people we see or hear from and who had different types of viewpoints on him.”
Iconic Records arrives courtesy of WMX (Warner Music Group’s creative content division) and will be available to be streamed on the WMX Hip Hop channel on The Roku Channel (Ch. 1137) at 8 p.m. ET on April 29.
The In Real Life podcast host has been an industry staple for nearly three decades when she transitioned from artist to radio Hall-of-Famer. Being affiliated with the rap game since the ’80s, Martinez reflected on Hip Hop turning 50 years old in 2023.
“It’s a beautiful time to reflect on its history and evolution,” The Voice of New York City said. “It’s come so far that it’s very easy to forget the history. And attention spans are so short that sometimes people skip over details. So this is a great opportunity for us to lift up Hip Hop’s history and make sure people are aware of the founders, the ups and downs while celebrating the evolution.
“There are a lot of people doing cool stuff, which I salute and respect. Like Nas, a pillar of the culture, and what he’s doing with Mass Appeal. But then I also see people just trying to jump on the bandwagon and throwing up hashtags without offering any thoughtful or caring input on the culture. I don’t love to see that. Let’s make this anniversary important; let’s make it matter.”
