Funk Flex has issued a public apology to RZA and the Wu-Tang Clan on behalf of Hot 97, after years of tension between the radio station and legendary rap group.
The New York DJ, who was recently named Creative Program Director of Hot 97, took to Instagram on Saturday (February 4) to share a picture him and Bobby Digital alongside a caption squashing the longstanding beef.
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“I WANNA TAKE THIS TIME TO APOLOGIZE TO THE @RZA AND THE ENTIRE @WUTANGCLAN !!! ALMOST 25YRS AGO THE GROUP, ME AND HOT97 HAD A DISAGREEMENT THAT TO ME NEVER GOT PUT TO BED AND I APOLOGIZE!” Flex wrote.
“LOOKING BACK AT THIS 20 SUMTHIN YEARS LATER.. WE GONNA MAKE UP FOR THE TIME WE MISSED…” he continued. “THE WORLDS GREATEST RAP GROUP AND THE WORLDS GREATEST RADIO STATIONS ARE GOING TO COME TOGETHER BRING U SOMETHING AMAZING!”
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Flex then teased a collaboration of some sort between himself, RZA and the Wu-Tang, before signing his post off as “Creative Program Director, Funk Flex.”
The post, which tagged each individual member of the Wu, saw responses in the comment section from both RZA, who posted three Wu-hands emojis, and Raekwon, who wrote: “Nothing but love Blackman ! And that’s Reciprical !!!!!”
The fallout between Hot 97 and Wu-Tang Clan dates back to 1997, when the legendary Staten Island group were booked to headline Hot 97’s Summer Jam at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey.
Inspectah Deck alleged during the group’s 2019 docuseries Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Menthat the group were strong armed into flying to the East Coast on their own dime to perform at Summer Jam for free.
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“The deal was, as far as I remember, you gotta come back and do this Hot 97 Summer Jam or we’re not gonna play any more of your records on your station,” he explained.
Reacting to ultimatum, Ghostface Killah proceeded to take to the stage and call out the radio station, screaming “Fuck Hot 97!” while getting the crowd to join in with him.
“They didn’t play our records for like the next 10 years,” said Deck, noting that other radio stations followed Hot 97’s lead. “Us not being involved while they playing the Biggie shit, they playing Nas shit, everybody that was rocking with us at the time. That affected our sales, that affected our touring, that affected everything. That affected our presence.”
Despite the blackballing, the Wu and Hot 97 did eventually mend fences, with Wu-Tang playing Summer Jam in 2013.
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Meanwhile, Funk Flex recently caused a bit of a stir when he promised to start putting 6ix9ine’s music back into his rotation as a result of the “trend” of rappers copping plea deals.
Flex’s point was made in relation to an Instagram post from the rainbow-haired rapper, which saw him catching some Z’s on a private jet while snuggling up with a lap full of money.
