Audacy Classic Hip Hop “94.7 The Block” WXBK Newark/New York continues to staff up with the addition of Shelley Wade as afternoon host and Ed Lover in evenings.
Wade previously hosted middays and overnights at iHeartMedia CHR “Z100” WHTZ for twelve years. She has also worked at KBXX Houston, KSSX and KMYI San Diego, and KBIG Los Angeles during her career. She will be heard from 2-7pm starting March 21.
Lover, who will continue to host mornings at Audacy’s “104.3 Jams” WBMX Chicago, will be heard from 7-10pm. Lover previously co-hosted mornings at Hip Hop “Hot 97” WQHT from 1993 to 1999 and then helped launch “Power 105.1” WWPR-FM in 2002 with co-host Doctor Dre. The duo also hosted Yo! MTV Raps and worked at KKBT Los Angeles, while Lover later hosted at SiriusXM and had a daily syndicated show.
The additions of Wade and Lover follow the debut of Nick Cannon’s syndicated show in middays last month.
Audacy welcomes Shelley Wade and Ed Lover to 94.7 The Block (WXBK-FM) in New York. Wade will join as afternoon show host and be heard weekdays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. Lover will join as evening show host and be heard weekdays from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET. Both moves are effective March 21.
“These two additions signal the growth of our new station as we fill out its first ever air staff,” said Chris Oliviero, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy New York. “Both Shelley and Ed possess rich experience in this format and have the talent, insight and entertainment value that will make them stars on 94.7 The Block.”
“I am so very excited for this new ride on The Block. Wow, coming back to NYC,” said Wade. “These eight years I’ve been away have flown by. It feels like I took a sabbatical to SoCal to hike, take in the ocean, meditate and now my battery’s recharged and I’m ready to take on New York again. Thanks to Skip Dillard, Chris Oliviero and Audacy for believing in me, my brand and what I bring to the table. This is going to be fun.”
Wade has graced the airwaves of legendary radio stations like 97.9 The Box in Houston, Z100 in New York and 104.3 MYfm in Los Angeles. An entertainment journalist, Wade has appeared on the “Today Show,” “The Talk,” the “Steve Harvey Show,” CNN, MSNBC, Access Hollywood, Inside Edition and more. Wade is also the host of the All The Rage With Shelley Wade podcast and digital reports, narrator of a NASA documentary that played before the United Nations and has also voiced projects for Beyoncé, H.E.R., Missy Elliott, Ke$ha, Donnie Simpson, Al B. Sure! and more. She has hosted several of New York’s top events, such as the Revlon Run/ Walk for Women, the U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, and more. Wade is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and former president of the San Diego Association of Black Journalists.
“I’m extremely happy and grateful to be back on the air in NYC, my home,” said Ed Lover. “No matter where I’ve traveled, New York is always with me. God bless this city! I’m back and energized!’
James “Ed Lover” Roberts joins 94.7 The Block after serving as morning show host for Audacy Chicago sister station 104.3 Jams (WMBX-FM). He launched his career in hip hop as one of the original hosts of “Yo! MTV Raps!” on MTV, internationalizing and establishing the now iconic genre of music known as hip-hop around the globe. In 1993 Ed Lover along with his partner and friend Doctor Dre dove into morning radio becoming the first all hip-hop morning show on the all- hip-hop FM station HOT 97 in New York City. In 1999, Ed Lover left Hot 97 to reunite with Doctor Dre on LA’s 92.3 The Beat. Two years later, Ed Lover returned home to New York to become an original on-air talent for hip-hop and R&B station Power 105.1. In 2010, Ed Lover hosted “Backspin” on SiriusXM satellite radio before launching was his syndicated morning show, “The Ed Lover Show with Monie Love,” in 2016. In addition to radio, he also does stand-up comedy around the country opening for, sharing the stage with some of the biggest names is comedy; has co-starred in several movies and TV shows, and is the host of C’mon Son, a weekly podcast available on all podcast platforms.