We know record companies and DJ’s have a significant history with payola, they just don’t usually broadcast the inner workings or differences the way Funkmaster Flex of Hot 97 did on the radio last night. Flex had the support of the radio station and the GM behind him as he went on a rather long, live, radio rant against an Interscope employee. This was NOT a battle between  Flex and an Interscope employee, read between the lines, this was clearly a battle between Emmis Communications and Interscope Records. Flex gave Interscope 24 hours to fix the problem (which he never identified on air). He also threatened to go hard at everybody else that works for the label the following day if the problem wasn’t resolved. Flex did pucker up to 50 Cent but he still vowed not to play all of their records (that includes Eminem who is about to release an album). Isn’t the DJ’s job to play the hottest songs? How can one DJ tell the public, the listener’s, the buyers that their just not going to play an entire labels music? We’re talking about 50 Cent, Akon, Eminem and Dr. Dre’s music to name a few!  It all boils down to this, radio stations get payback or shown love from the artist and their labels by appearing at various different shows like Birthday Bashes or Summer Jams. The radio stations don’t pay the artist performance fees for the events but they are exchanging favortism, special attention or free publicity. Interscope records clearly didn’t provide Hot 97 with a courtesy appearance of an artist they requested which left them highly upset. So upset that they are willing to not play Dr. Dre, Eminem, Akon and 50 Cent. Get the hell outta here! Continue reading Funkmaster Flex and Hot 97 putting the strong arm to Interscope