Hip-hop and Houston may not seem a likely combination. However, Houston has a pretty strong scene when it comes to music, and that includes R&B, soul and hip-hop. Radio has always been a way to keep up with the most current up-and-coming artists, top hits, new releases by favorite acts, shows coming to town and stories about your favorite celebrities.
These days, radio isn’t limited to your car or home either. You can stream it wherever you are—like your laptop, or through apps on phones and tablets. Listen at the park, at work, on a walk, pretty much anywhere. There are a few radio stations you’ll want to have saved so you can get your hip-hop music fix and find new tunes for your playlist.
97.9 The Box
The first thing you’ll want to know about The Box is that they have a hilarious morning show—The Madd Hatta Morning Show. If you have to drag yourself out of bed for work or school, the show is an instant pick-me-up. They describe themselves as a “full-service hip-hop morning show,” which is pretty accurate. It runs Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. It's entertaining and a great source for water cooler gossip.
The morning show isn’t the only one with a solid listening pool. Early hours J Que has a draw, as do JJ, G-Man and The Chile.
In addition to their popular shows, The Box plays all the top hits, gives you the latest news, and has some wickedly great contests. Who doesn't want to win $500? Use their website to find out about concerts coming to town or to use the playlist to find new music to upload.
Boom 92
This station is all about the old school. It’s classic hip-hop that had teens of the 80s and 90s talking about big butts and wearing Hammer pants. Sure, the era had some cheese, but some hip-hop legends also came out of that time—so you got to pay some respect.
Have some fun on their site with the throwback of the day. The younger kids will learn about Ataris and the first rap group to appear on SNL, while old folk will get a kick out of the flashback memories. And what music will you hear? Bone Thugs and Harmony, L.L. Cool J, Salt & Pepa, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and many more who paved the way for the hip-hop artists of today.
Power Hits 281
Power Hits 281 has new music daily—that means you’ll always be right on top of what’s coming out. The station is also known for some unique features. They encourage listeners to send in their own music, so not only does the station play current hits, but indie music as well.
They like listener feedback, you can Vote 4 AirPlay, and keep up with what they’re doing by following them on social media. Another standout feature of Power Hits 281 is the daily hour with Fleet DJs from noon-1 p.m.
Your Houston Hip-Hop Resource
Are you interested in all things hip-hop in Houston? The Houston Hip-Hop Fix will keep you connected to all that's goings on. The site features news, concerts, events, fashion and more. It’s a one-stop fix that will keep you hot on the trail of the entire Houston scene.
Houston may not be the birthplace of hip-hop, but it has certainly gotten the job done since it joined the revolution. Some excellent acts came out of the city, and even joined big names on tours and albums. Some notable favorites include UGK, Devin the Dude (and his unique rapping style) and Z-Ro.
Who knows, maybe you’ll hear the next big thing on Houston radio. Or you can simply enjoy everything The Box, Boom 92, and Power Hits 281 have to offer. You don’t even have to pick a favorite, simply add them all to your saved stations.
