R&B veteran Case opened up about a surprising chapter in his career — his ban from New York’s Hot 97 radio station — during the October 30 episode of The Underground Lounge Podcast, hosted by comedian Spank Horton and former NBA star Lou Williams.
“Tell’em how you got banned from Hot 97… after Summer Jam,” someone blurted out behind-the-scenes to Case and the hosts.
This led Spank to ask the singer to speak about the incident. “You got banned from Hot 97?” Horton said, looking confused. “An R&B guy? What happened, man? Com’n on, Case.”
When the hosts pressed him about the incident, Case recounted how the ban originated from a spontaneous moment at Summer Jam in 1996, the iconic annual concert produced by Hot 97. Although Case wasn’t billed to perform that year, he found himself backstage during Mary J. Blige’s set.
According to Case, Blige, who had a 30-minute slot but planned to perform a shorter set, invited him to join her for his breakout single “Touch Me, Tease Me,” the 1996 hit featuring Foxy Brown that helped define his career.
“The radio station was like, ‘Nah,’” Case recalled, noting that Hot 97 denied the idea. Still, when Blige mentioned his name onstage, the crowd 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 said. “That’s the first time ever. I’m like, ‘Shit.’ I went out there and sang ‘Touch Me, Tease Me.’”
But the crowd’s excitement wasn’t shared backstage. As Case walked offstage, he noticed the tense reaction from Hot 97 staffers and Def Jam executive Mike Kyser, who appeared frustrated by the unsanctioned appearance.
“I just see everybody… arms folded,” Case said. “Then I see Mike Kyser from Def Jam like [hand over his face], he’s like, ‘What did you do to me?’”
The singer said the moment effectively got him banned — or “tried to” — from the influential radio station, which was pivotal in breaking R&B and hip-hop acts during the 1990s.
“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 performance became a defining moment in his early career . The bold act that captured his spontaneity and connection with fans.
However, it came at the cost of industry politics.
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