Greg Mack

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Greg Mack
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Born (1959-06-22) June 22, 1959 (age 64)
Emory, Texas
NationalityUSA
OccupationRadio Host

Greg Mack (The Mack Attack)[1] is a radio personality and music Program Director (PD) known for his contributions to the development of West Coast hip-hop and the popularization of the genre through his radio show, The Greg Mack Show,[2][3] which first aired on the Los Angeles radio station called, 1580 KDAY AM during the 1980's.[4] He is credited with being one of the first D.J.s to play and promote West Coast hip-hop music[5][6][7] and creating the first 24-hour hip-hop radio station in the world beginning in August 1983, according to Dan Charnas's book The Big Payback.[8][9][10] His show helped launch the careers of many notable hip-hop artists, including Ice-T, N.W.A., and Dr. Dre.[3]

Mack is regarded as a pioneer in the hip-hop industry and has been recognized for his significant contributions to the genre.[11] Mack has been in radio with a radio for 48 years.[3] He was also portrayed in the movie, Straight Outta Compton (film)|Straight Outta Compton.[12] Referred to as the "Godfather of Hip-Hop Radio",[13] Mack is known for helping to break hip-hop groups such as N.W.A., Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Tone Loc, M.C. Hammer, LL Cool J, Young MC, J.J. Fad, Big Daddy Kane, Queen Latifah, and so many more.[11]

Mack has a syndicated radio show, The Greg Mack Show, in over 30 cities across the U.S. and 3 countries, with well over 7 million listeners weekly.[7] He also works as a live on-air radio personality in Los Angeles, California, on 94.7 The Wave and as their expert Program Director for Precious 95.7 radio station out of Bakersfield, California.[14][2] Mack can also be seen in several hip-hop documentaries like The World's Most Dangerous Radio Station, Set in the West: A History of L.A. Hip Hop (2016) and Unsung (2008).

Early career

Mack got his start in radio while he was still a high school student at Fox Tech High School in San Antonio, TX.[15] Additionally, he worked at KTSA-AM/KTFM-San Antonio, TX, moving on to KEYS-AM in Corpus Christi, TX, then KMJQ-FM Majic 102 FM in Houston, TX before landing at 1580 KDAY AM in 1983 where he would launch the first, what is called Rhythmic Format,[16][3] playing a mixture of Hip Hop, R&B and Freestyle music.[16][8]

Realizing the potential of this new genre, Mack fully embraced it, and used his show as a platform to promote up-and-coming West Coast hip-hop artists and help bring their music to a broader audience.[16][3] The hip-hop genre's impact influenced a multitude of West Coast talents.[5] In the 1980s, the breakthrough for iconic West Coast rappers like Dr. Dre, NWA, Ice Cube, Easy E, Ice-T, and others contributed to the success of the 1580 KDAY AM[17] radio station in Los Angeles, CA.[18] Most notably known as "The World's Most Dangerous Radio Station,"[17] Mack created this title through the controversial rap music that he was not fearful to play on his radio show, regardless of the backlash.[3] Mack would later influence a host of award-winning rappers and inspire political conversations about the freedom of speech.[5] His show quickly became a hit with listeners and helped establish 1580 KDAY as one of the country's premier 24-hour radio stations for hip-hop.[13][15] After working for 1580 KDAY, he crossed over to KJLH-FM, Los Angeles, before leaving these radio stations and venturing on his own.[3] Mack purchased several radio stations in various cities.[3] His discography includes deals with MCA Records and Motown[16] even a collaborative hit song with the late rapper Easy E called, "Radio."[19]

Community service

Mack has volunteered in various communities.[2] Mack has also supported education by providing lectures about the history of hip-hop.[2]

Legacy and honors

Mack has worked in the music industry as a consultant, manager, producer, radio station owner and as an executive producer for various record labels and artists.[3] He has also been named number twelve out of the twenty top Black radio jockeys in the history of radio. [20] In 1987, he released a three-CD compilation highlighting his D.J. mixing crew called the "MixMasters".[16][10][4] Mack's discography includes the 1989 album Greg Mack: What Does it All Mean?[11][21] which features the hit "Highroller's Girl"[22] by the late MC Trouble.[22] He also received countless recognition awards from various communities where he had served.[2] Mack hosts, and is the program director, for the syndicated radio show that is heard worldwide called the Greg Mack Show.[2][3]

References

  1. ↑ Lincoln, Ross A. (2015-08-18). "Greg Mack, Rap Radio DJ Who Broke N.W.A, To Get Biopic". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "GREG MACK". Bakersfield's number one radio station playing your favorite old school jams and new school hits!. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Charnas, Dan (2011). The big payback: The history of the business of hip-hop. N. Penguin.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Abrams, Jonathan (2022). The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop. CROWN Publishing. Penguin Random House LLC. ISBN 9781984825131.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Westhoff, Ben (2016). Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap. Hachette Books. ISBN 9780316344869.
  6. ↑ "Hip-hop at 50: How West Coast rap sparked a seismic shift within mainstream music". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "When L.A. invented rap radio: The rise of KDAY". Los Angeles Times. 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "About The Big Payback | Dan Charnas". 2010-10-19. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  9. ↑ "Greg Mack's schedule for LA Times Festival of Books 2019". latimesfestivalofbooks2019.sched.com. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Coleman, Brian (2016-01-07). "1580 KDAY — AND THE BEAT GOES ON". Medium. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Greg Mack's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  12. ↑ Grow, Kory (2018-08-08). "N.W.A's 'Straight Outta Compton': 12 Things You Didn't Know". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Greg Mack » Old School 104.7". oldschool1047.com. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  14. ↑ "Greg Mack - Saturdays 7AM-11AM | 94.7 The WAVE". audacy.com. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "The Lasting Impact of L.A.'s "Most Dangerous Radio Station"". rockthebells.com. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 "Episode 105: A (Brief) History of Rap & Hip-Hop Radio & Culture, Part II of II (Los Angeles) w/ Greg Mack – SOUNDS VISUAL RADIO". Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Doc Chronicles Music Director Greg Mack's 1580 KDAY". audacy.com. 2020-08-07. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  18. ↑ "Episode 105: A (Brief) History of Rap & Hip-Hop Radio & Culture, Part II of II (Los Angeles) w/ Greg Mack – SOUNDS VISUAL RADIO". Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  19. ↑ "Greg Mack and 1580 KDAY: Hip-Hop, Radio and the Mack Attack - Street TV". iHeart. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  20. ↑ "National Radio Day: Top Black Radio Jockeys Of All Time".
  21. ↑ timsanchez818 (2014-01-10). "Greg Mack Shares More KDAY History and Discusses Racism In Radio". AllHipHop. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Williams, Stereo. "Do You Remember MC Trouble?". rockthebells.com. Retrieved 2023-10-19.

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