Hey, everyone listening to the podcast. This is Ari Melba, and this is a podcast digital exclusive, which you can tell because I'm talking directly to you.

It's not just the start of the show. I have been doing some extra interviews because we've heard from you guys that you like that, especially sometimes when we go beyond what's in the news. And boy, has the news been heavy lately? Well, this is something totally different.

Angie Martinez is a Grammy-nominated artist and intrepid hip-hop music interviewer.

Barack Obama called her the voice of New York, and you're about to see why, because this

is my conversation with her running over 30 minutes in-depth podcast style.

We talk about what it was like interviewing Obama, the politics of Tupac Shakur, how it felt to be backstage at that hip-hop Super Bowl halftime show. You know, that was a big deal. Well, we talk about why when it was gearing up for that big show with Snoop and Jay Z who helped program the whole thing, she was back there with both of them and Mary J. Blige, as well as her top five MCs right now. And by the end, we get into her life advice. She's really an amazing person. This is the first time I've ever gotten to interviewer. If you know me at all, you know this was definitely on my music bucket list, and it was so enjoyable. So as always, you can connect with me on social media or at ari melbaer.com. You can sign up for free newsletter just go to ari melbourne.com and sign up for the newsletter and i'll email you my thoughts on news politics and music you can go to ad ari melbourne on social media or you can keep it locked right here where you get your podcasts from us and as always if you think we deserve five stars go ahead and give it to us or whatever you think we deserve. We appreciate all the

feedback in the comments. We read them and we're happy to keep in touch with you even as the world

tests all of us. So for something a little different here is my conversation with the one and only

Angie Martinez. This is the beat with Ari Melba and boy do we have something special today,

the music legend.

Angie Martinez, the voice of New York, a radio superstar. I'm going to go through a couple things inducted into the Hall of Fame for radio for your iconic work on the Angie Martinez show, which is a hit, of course, long time on Hot 97 in New York and now. New York's Power 105.1. Martina is also a Grammy nominee.

And I will say, from what I see from afar, she is that rare interviewer in the game, in the

industry, who seems like family, even when she's around music royalty.

For example, the backstage hangout session at the Super Bowl with the power combo, Snoop,

Mary J. Blige, and Jay-Z.

Looks like you made it. Thanks for being here, Angie.

I got to tell you, first of all, hi, Ari. Thank you for having me. I'm so happy to be here.

That picture and that moment was, it was as special as it looks.

I mean, all I'll say, we're looking at it right here. You're in these rooms. Sometimes I'll be like two doors down, not in the room but nearby. And the only thing I know from being two doors down is you're not in that room unless every single person wants you there, which speaks to the long-time relationships you have. And so, Angie, I don't want to embarrass you, but it is your debut on the beat.

I've wanted to do this for a while.

And so we put together a little tape.

So many know you, especially as mentioned in the game.

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