106 & Park Deserved All Its Flowers For What It Did For Black Entertainment

I remember being in middle school and rushing to the bus stop to make it home in time to see what artists and their music videos made it on the top ten countdown. Would Chingy’s rap/love serenade “Pullin’ Me Back” featuring Tyrese or Cam’Ron’s “Oh Boy” dominate the charts? Who would be the celebrity interview for the day? Don’t let it be Friday; I was itching to find out which up-and-coming aspiring rappers would advance to the next round in “Freestyle Fridays.” Watching 106 & Park was like chilling with family on a good Sunday afternoon. Yes, I was thousands of miles away living in Los Angeles while the show was being taped in New York, but you couldn’t tell my 13-year-old self that I wasn’t part of the 106 family. A.J. Calloway and Free were like my honorary uncle and aunt. While my mom was working or tending to whatever it is that she needed to do, I felt like they were babysitting me somehow. I know it sounds crazy, but that’s how invested I was with this show. 

I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. This show has impacted so many people and has changed so many lives. Not only has it had a positive impact on myself, but also millions of viewers worldwide - and most importantly the Black voices in entertainment. 

Black Representation…

BET also known as Black Entertainment Television was, and still is, a platform that celebrates Black arts and community. It was, and still is, the go-to network for all things Black entertainment. Artists such as Alicia Keys, Lil Bow Wow (who dropped the ‘lil’ and goes by ‘Bow Wow’ or his birth name, ‘Shad Moss’ and was also known as ‘Mr. 106 & Park’), Ciara, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Pretty Ricky, B2K, Mya, Young Money, and more have been celebrated during the early stages of their career because of shows like 106 & Park. When they sat on that couch, they knew they were in a safe space to be their authentic selves. This show reinvented Black media and it was very apparent that each guest felt like they were at home.

The Audience…

As mentioned,106 & Park was not just a space for the artists, but for the millions of fans worldwide. The audience was filled with beautiful Black faces, all excited and just happy to be part of this cultural celebration. As a child at home watching this, it was captivating to witness. Watching their joy made me feel exhilarated and I surely had a severe case of FOMO. The fan engagement was everything! Not only were audience members captivated by their favorite artist(s) presence literally a couple feet away from them, but seeing their supporters in the crowd definitely kept 106 & Park guests with a smile on their face.

The Hosts & Their Legacy…

We can’t mention the 106 & Park legacy without A.J. and Free. They set the bar high on how Black hosts should be represented on television. Their chemistry was unmatched, as well as the way they were able to effortlessly connect with their celebrity guests and the audience. I think we all felt a wave of sadness when they announced their departure from the show. They held down the 106 stage for five years (2000-2005), before passing the torch to Rap City’s: Tha Basement’s Big Tigger and model Julissa Bermudez who hosted from 2005-2006. Terrence J (Terrence Jenkins) and Rocsi (Raquel Diaz) would become our resident hosts before 2006-2012. After their reign, Bow Wow, Shorty da Prince (Jordan Johnson), Paigion (Kimberly Walker), and Miss Mykey (Mykel Gray) shared the stage for a year (2012-2013) Keshia Chante joined Mr. 106 & Park in 2013. The two would be the final hosts until the show permanently ended with its’ final episode on December 19, 2014. 

If you got the chance to experience 106 & Park as a child or adult, you were one of the lucky ones. Have you ever heard someone say “they don’t make shows like they used to anymore,” 106 should definitely be on that list.