What Is “Ebro in the Morning” and Why It Mattered
“Ebro in the Morning” was Hot 97’s flagship morning show, hosted by Ebro Darden, Laura Stylez, and Peter Rosenberg, blending hip-hop, celebrity interviews, local news, and political debate for New York City and a global online audience.[1][3] Over 13 years, it became a cultural touchstone where records were premiered, artist beefs were unpacked, and mainstream politicians were forced to address issues important to hip-hop listeners.
Because of its mix of music and uncomfortable questions, the show stood out from more traditional, comedy-driven morning formats and became a key node in how hip-hop culture talked to itself and to power.[1] For many fans, losing the show on Hot 97 feels like losing a daily forum where the city, the music, and the politics all collided in real time.
Why Did Hot 97 Cancel “Ebro in the Morning”?
Hot 97 abruptly canceled “Ebro in the Morning” in mid-December 2025, ending its 13-year run as part of a wider shakeup that also removed at least one other long-running program from the station’s lineup.[3] Coverage of the decision framed it as a major change for New York radio, given the show’s long tenure and its status as a flagship brand for the station.[1][3]
Ebro has publicly argued that the cancellation was tied to his political views and the show’s confrontational interviews with powerful guests, claiming that corporate leadership grew wary of its political edge rather than its ratings.[1] Other reporting emphasizes more conventional business pressures, including changing listening habits and the migration of audiences to podcasts and streaming, with station executives declining to fully detail their rationale.[3]
Behind the Scenes and What Comes Next
In the wake of the cancellation, Laura Stylez pushed back on fan criticism that the hosts had been “mailing it in” by broadcasting virtually instead of from Hot 97’s studios, explaining that poor building conditions such as roaches and the presence of unhoused individuals in common areas made the physical workspace increasingly untenable.[2] Her comments suggested that the show’s remote format was driven by safety and comfort concerns, not a lack of effort or engagement.[2]
Despite their exit from the station, Ebro and his co-hosts have said they plan to continue the show independently on digital platforms, reflecting a broader industry trend in which personality-driven brands migrate from terrestrial radio to on-demand audio and video.[1][3] For fans, the end of “Ebro in the Morning” on Hot 97 marks the close of an era, but it also signals a new phase where the hosts can potentially operate with fewer corporate constraints while still speaking to a large, loyal audience.