Charlamagne Tha God is challenging claims that Hot 97’s Mornings with Mero has been outperforming The Breakfast Club, adding another chapter to the ongoing competition between two of New York’s biggest hip-hop radio shows.
The debate intensified after Kazeem “Kaz” Famuyide, a co-host of Mornings with Mero, claimed that his program had beaten The Breakfast Club and Power 105.1 in ratings over the previous three months. During an October 14 discussion about his experience at Hot 97, Kaz also argued that his show was competing against larger operations despite having significantly fewer resources.
Charlamagne responded to those remarks during the October 19 broadcast of The Breakfast Club, disputing the claim and pointing to his program’s performance among key New York City audience demographics.
The radio personality thanked listeners for helping the show secure the top position among adults ages 18–34, 18–49, and 25–54, according to the ratings he referenced on air. He also directly addressed Kaz and The Kid Mero, saying that their show had not beaten his program.
Charlamagne added that he had already spoken with Kaz and executive producer Jayson Rodriguez about the situation. He expressed sympathy for the challenges facing the Hot 97 team but questioned where the claim about its recent ratings success originated.
The disagreement highlights how competitive New York’s hip-hop radio landscape remains. Hot 97 has long been a major force in the genre, while Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club has grown into a nationally syndicated morning show with a broad audience.
The latest figures cited in coverage of the dispute show that Power 105.1 recorded a 3.1 Average Quarter Hour Share in September 2026, compared with Hot 97’s 2.3. These figures measure each station’s share of radio listening during an average 15-minute period. However, station-wide ratings are not necessarily the same as ratings for individual morning shows, and comparisons can vary depending on the demographic, market, and time period.
That distinction matters because Kaz’s claim specifically concerned the performance of Mornings with Mero over a three-month stretch. Without the underlying figures and matching measurement criteria, the public statements alone do not settle every aspect of the dispute.
The controversy also comes amid broader changes at Hot 97. Mornings with Mero launched in January 2026 after the station parted ways with longtime morning hosts Ebro Darden, Peter Rosenberg, and Laura Stylez the previous December. The new program, led by comedian The Kid Mero, brought a different personality and format to the station’s morning lineup.
For now, Charlamagne has made his position clear: he disputes the suggestion that Mornings with Mero has been beating The Breakfast Club. Whether Hot 97 responds with more detailed ratings data remains to be seen.
With both programs competing for listeners in one of the country’s most influential radio markets, the debate has become about more than bragging rights. It also reflects the continuing battle for relevance, audience loyalty, and influence in hip-hop media.
