The New York radio world can finally stop clutching its pearls now that the smoke has cleared regarding the latest Hot 97 hosting announcement.
When the station initially dropped a cryptic post introducing Ronndell Smith, Lana Harris, and Million as the “NEW HOT 97 Hosts,” the internet immediately assumed the worst.
Coming right after the sudden cancellation of Ebro In The Morning, fans and industry legends like Joe Budden and Funk Flex went on the attack, assuming these three were the permanent replacements for Ebro Darden, Peter Rosenberg, and Laura Stylez.
However, the new trio has officially entered the conversation to clarify that they aren’t taking anyone’s morning slot in the Big Apple.
The outrage was fueled by a lack of context that many are now calling “rage bait” from the station’s marketing team. While the new hosts are definitely heavy hitters in their own right, Lana Harris has a decade of news experience, Ronndell Smith is a seasoned comedian, and Million is a rising interviewer, the Tri-State area wasn’t ready to see “unknowns” in such a legendary seat.
Joe Budden voiced his disapproval on his Instagram Story, simply writing, “Not even doing this with them today lol.” Funk Flex followed suit with a series of laughing emojis, signaling he wasn’t on board with the news either.
But here is where the story takes a turn: the new group isn’t even staying in New York. They have officially confirmed that they will be based in Atlanta to launch Hot 97 News, a daily live national television program.
This new venture is an expansion for the MediaCo brand into the TV and digital streaming space, rather than a local radio shakeup.
The trio even addressed the “hater” energy with laughs and playful clap backs at anyone who jumped to conclusions before the full details were released.
Scheduled to premiere this coming January, the Atlanta-based show will focus on journalism, hip hop, and culture through a national lens.
With this clarification, the search for the actual Ebro In The Morning successor continues, and the New York airwaves remain a mystery for now.
New Hot 97 Host clear up rumors that they were replacements for the NYC morning show. They were actually new host hired to host the digital multimedia daily show for hot 97 in ATLANTA. pic.twitter.com/zwW1wYADy1
— thestop (@thestoptv) December 24, 2025
