Angie Martinez
For nearly three decades, her voice was the trusted, influential pulse of hip-hop culture and New York City's airwaves.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American radio host and rapper·Birthday: January 9·Generation X
Biography
Angie Martinez didn't just play records; she became the connective tissue for hip-hop's most vital era. Starting as an intern at Hot 97, she earned her stripes through sheer hustle and an innate understanding of the streets that birthed the music. By the mid-90s, she was on-air, interviewing legends and breaking new artists with a style that was both authoritative and relatable—a friend in the booth. Dubbed 'The Voice of New York,' her interviews were events, from a tense, historic conversation with Tupac Shakur to mediating the epic Jay-Z vs. Nas feud. Her move to Power 105.1 in 2014 was a seismic industry shift. Beyond radio, she's authored a best-selling memoir and hosts a successful podcast, continually evolving as a cultural curator while maintaining the authentic voice that made her an institution.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Angie was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Angie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Angie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Hosted the highly influential afternoon drive-time show on New York's Hot 97 for over two decades, shaping hip-hop taste.
- Conducted a landmark 1996 interview with Tupac Shakur just months before his death, which is widely studied and replayed.
- Successfully transitioned to rival station Power 105.1 in 2014, a major move that dominated industry headlines.
- Authored the memoir 'My Voice: A Memoir' in 2016, which became a New York Times Best Seller.
Did You Know?
She released a single called 'Live at Jimmy's' in 2001 featuring Jay-Z and Nature.
She turned down the opportunity to be the original host of MTV's 'Total Request Live.'
She voiced a character in the video game 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.'
“I never set out to be 'The Voice of New York.' I just set out to be honest and connect with people.”
