DJ Mister Cee's been pretty busy this holiday season. Upon resigning from Hot 97 last month, he's taken up a new post at Radio 103.9 and has continued to spin at clubs. In an interview with the New York Times, he opened up for the first time about his decision to leave Hot 97, and how he's been handling his own personal troubles.
When Mister Cee resigned from Hot 97 for good in November, he claimed that going into work that day, “Nobody knew that I was going to resign." When the announcement broke on Instagram at noon, Funkmaster Flex and 50 Cent called him to try and get him to change his mind, but Mister Cee was at peace with his decision. In his mind, he was just getting too damn old to be still playing what he was playing.
According to the New York Times, he told 50 Cent, "I can’t be on Hot 97 at 50 years old." He elaborated: “I can play anything, any genre of music, but I do feel that because of the direction that Hot is going in. I might be the answer for now, but I don’t think I’ll be the answer five or 10 years from now." He wouldn't discount his age completely though, saying, “There’s room for an old man in hip-hop, let’s not get it messed up."
Weeks after leaving Hot 97, Mister Cee took a hosting gig at Radio 103.9. In contrast to younger, aggressive, and more up-to-date hip-hop that Hot 97 is known for, Mister Cee is given license on Radio 103.9 to play a different type of set—one that's more in line with the older female audience that the station captures. Think less Bobby Shmurda, and more The Fugees. "You have to be careful to not be as aggressive on the mike," he said.
Mister Cee also opened up about his sexuality, speaking with candor and honesty: “Saying all of it was wrong is not fair to myself, and it’s not fair to the gay community,” he said. Going to therapy twice a month has provided Mister Cee with some clarity, and has helped explored what he calls his addiction.
Naturally, when speaking on such a difficult subject, he brought his thought process back to the music: “It’s not that I don’t want to say I’m bisexual. It’s almost like, you hear a certain record—is this a hip-hop record or an R&B record? I’m not so sure. I guess that’s where I am."
[via The New York Times]
