The Kid Mero Takes Over Hot 97: Joe Budden Weighs In on the New Era

A new era of New York radio has officially begun. Following the surprising cancellation of the long-running Ebro in the Morning, The Kid Mero made his debut Tuesday morning as the host of Hot 97’s new flagship slot: Mornings with Mero.

The move marks a seismic shift for the legendary station, and industry veteran Joe Budden isn’t staying silent on the transition. On the latest episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, the media mogul praised Mero’s credentials while questioning the station’s “solo” strategy.

“He Knows the City”

Budden was quick to validate Mero’s “New York-centric” appeal, noting that the Bronx native possesses the authentic energy required for the 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM block.

“He’s somebody that knows the city, speaks the city, speaks to the city, somebody that’s funny,” Budden remarked. “Let’s see how it goes.”

However, Budden couldn’t resist poking fun at the marketing. Pointing out that Mero appears alone on the promotional posters, Joe joked about the “pressure” of replacing a full ensemble cast:

• “Who the hell is Mero just up there? They didn’t even announce a crew, a friend… He just looks lonely in the picture.”
• “We just fired five n***s and Laura… Ebro walking around Apple and sht. You’re putting a lot of pressure on one man.”

Passing the Torch

Despite the sudden shakeup, there appears to be no bad blood between the old guard and the new. Ebro Darden took to X (formerly Twitter) to offer his public blessing shortly after the announcement.

“Shout to @THEKIDMERO…. This is so great!” Ebro wrote, signaling a peaceful handoff as he continues his prominent role with Apple Music.

What to Expect from Mornings with Mero

Mero isn’t taking the weight of the legendary frequency lightly. In an official press release via Radio Insight, he emphasized his deep roots with the station.

• The Vision: “I grew up listening to Hot 97, so to get the morning slot here isn’t just a job—it’s a responsibility to continue that legacy while bringing it into this next era of media.”
• The Vibe: “We’re gonna laugh, we’re gonna get into it, but it’s always gonna be real, and a real good time!”

Whether Mero will eventually be joined by a “work wife” or a rotating cast of co-hosts remains to be seen, but for now, the “Bodega Boy” is carrying the torch for NYC hip-hop culture solo.