When the hosts pressed him in regards to the incident, Case recounted how the ban originated from a spontaneous second at Summer Jam in 1996, the enduring annual live performance produced by Hot 97. Although Case wasn’t billed to carry out that yr, he discovered himself backstage throughout Mary J. Blige’s set.

According to Case, Blige, who had a 30-minute slot however deliberate to carry out a shorter set, invited him to hitch her for his breakout single “Touch Me, Tease Me,” the 1996 hit that includes Foxy Brown that helped outline his profession.

“The radio station was like, ‘Nah,’” Case recalled, noting that Hot 97 denied the concept. Still, when Blige talked about his identify onstage, the group erupted in chants demanding him.

Case Talks About Getting Almost Banned From Hot 97 In 1996 With The Underground Lounge

“The whole crowd starts cheering, ‘We want Case,’” he stated. “That’s the first time ever. I’m like, ‘Shit.’ I went out there and sang ‘Touch Me, Tease Me.’”

But the group’s pleasure wasn’t shared backstage. As Case walked offstage, he seen the tense response from Hot 97 staffers and Def Jam govt Mike Kyser, who appeared annoyed by the unsanctioned look.

“I just see everybody… arms folded,” Case stated. “Then I see Mike Kyser from Def Jam like [hand over his face], he’s like, ‘What did you do to me?’”

The singer stated the second successfully obtained him banned — or “tried to” — from the influential radio station, which was pivotal in breaking R&B and hip-hop acts through the Nineties.

“When I tell you I seen that n***a age in front of me right there in dog years,” Case joked.

Despite the fallout, Case’s efficiency grew to become a defining second in his early profession . The daring act that captured his spontaneity and reference to followers.

However, it got here at the price of trade politics.