Yeah it's sad cause I wouldn't have got into 106 if it weren't for my older siblings but we gotta move forward. We all gotta deal with change rather we like it or not.
AJ learned a valuable lesson: don't ever think of the company you work for as family. They are a business and they would be more than willing to let you go if they needed or wanted to. Be loyal to yourself, not your employer.
So right I find it's a valuable lesson in life in general. Enjoy the moment, do your best and give your all, but when due season is up leave knowing you did your part, thank God for the opportunity, and look forward to your next assignment.
AJ is one of the coolest celebrities I ever met . Me and a former coworker hung out with him at a bar in nyc , we were pretty tipsy that night he took care of us made sure we was good. He ended up giving me a diamond access pass to Rihanna’s event and gave advice to my coworker since she was in school for journalism . Big ups to him he’s really dope in real life
When I was in grade school I would power walk home to watch 106 and park on my television set. Life was a million times better before social media existed. 🎈
Before social media, we were all brought together by television. I do miss those days. I'm in my early 30s and I'm soooooo happy to have been a big kid during those times and could understand this culture at the time. So much has changed. I'm blessed to have these memories even the generation 10 years under me can't even understand.
Me too! I’m 33 and it was an amazing time to be a teen. The music and content on tv was so much better. The generation born in the 2000’s and 2010’s would never understand unfortunately
When Free & AJ left is when BET as a whole fell off. All of our favorite daytime & night shows slowly started to dissolve like Rap City, Midnight Love, Comic View etc... Only to be replaced with Baby Boy everytime you turn the station on 😂😂.
Well since Viacom owns MTV and VH1, who are basically airing the same type of movies, they had to do the same for BET. Actually after they bought this station, you didn’t see shows like Video Soul, Teen Summit, BET Tonight, etc.; just those Tyler Perry movies like you mentioned.
I remembered Aaliyah’s last appearances was a few days after she went to the Bahamas. That was the episode Aaliyah gave away a SUV . Then she became an 👼.
I like how Free was always classy and professional. She never overdid it and tried to act too "hood". She was just herself. I don't remember Tom Cruise OR Michael Jackson bein on 106 & P!! 😂😂. Damn errryyybody was on that show!!
Facts Them Shows Used Be My Daily Routine When I Used To Turn The Channel From Toonami (Cartoon Network) Into To BET I Watched Both Of The Shows Rap City & 106 & Park On The Weekend Side BET 25 Countdown Citas World BET’s UNCUT
AJ hit it right on the head. Looking back as an adult now, the 90’s was when Hip Hop went commercial, but when AJ & Free left 106&Park in 2005 it had turned into RAP and there was no longer any substance. The commercialized subject matters were negative. AJ cried because he knew the positive impact he and Free had on us as teens. It hurt like hell to see my aunti and uncle in my head go. Hip Hop had officially died like Nas said and nothing was the same. 😩😭
The show was about so much more than the music. We had a place to come together and celebrate ourselves, see ourselves in a positive light, and learn. They talked about health, dating, voting etc. We needed that daily reminder that we are ONE, are beautifully made, we have a voice.
Yes. I remember they used to have segments where the spoke about safe sex and brought awareness to HIV/AIDS on World AIDS day. This was important if you consider the fact that not a lot of public schools have sex education.
BET was a totally different network back then, you had Teen Summit, Caribbean Rhythms, The Black College Tour, Tavis Smiley, Rap City, and tons of other great platforms for us to express ourselves on.. news geared towards us.. Viacom bought it strictly to destroy it. I would love to hear why Robert Johnson Jr sold it, because I doubt it was for money since he was a billionaire already.
MY favorite 106 And Park moments was when AJ and Free was just as excited when celebrities arrived as the audience was. They helped us make a connection.
I was SOOOOOO angry & COULD NOT get with nor understood having a non-blk woman as a host. It completely turned me off from 106 & Park & BET as a whole! It made no sense & I completely stopped watching 106 & Park. Hell, I stopped watching BET altogether. As a very young black women in the late 90s / early 2000s, it was extremely important & meant so much to me having Free; a natural, natural hair, beautiful, intelligent well dressed “darker” complexioned blk women representation on my TV screen everyday (especially since I grew up in a predominantly yt, suburban community) . I thought I was the only person that felt this way. BET completely dropped the ball & further doomed 106 & Park by replacing Free with a non-blk female host. Always wondered if they’re aware that played a MAJOR part in the demise of the show?
@@919ENTERTAINMENTLLC Yeah I wasn’t going to there but exactly. He acted like Bow Wow the rapper instead of just trying to host the show. Every time a rapper was on he had to remind everyone he had a rap career. Occasionally he acted bitter towards some of the male rappers especially Drake like he resented them.
@@msnewsenior I mean I can see his frustration teen idol to show host with his career in the dumpster...but what he should have seen a second lease on my celebrity life and make it the best.
Sooooo glad I was part of the generation that grew up with 106 & Park!! It really was not the same after AJ & Free left , but I understand needing to grow and wanting to do other things.
AJ spoke alot of real shit about setting a leading positive example for our kids and our culture. 106 & Park was definitely a staple to my Jr. High & High School years.
The moment when B.E.T was Never the same. Not just 106 & Park, but the entire network. They’re vibrations transcended beyond the show, and as they stated they were indeed the faces of the network. I’m glad I had the chance to enjoy.
Free natural hair was mainstream before Shea Moisture products. I look back and think about what it symbolized for her to have her natural hair out. This show just meant so much with them.
AJ's words from 10:22 to 11:20 is the most important part of this video and he is correct about how blacks get so lost into music and it's negative lyrics and how it subconsciously and distracts blacks from paying attention to what's being done to them. He felt like he played a part in that. People watched this video should be discussing that instead of talking about AJs hair and Free's clothing.
It's funny how he wasn't saying those things when he was working for BET. He only had these things to say after he was gone and no longer collecting a check, so his words mean little to nothing coming from him.
@@KKelly-ng1ni according to the numbers, the music has a higher impact on murder rates than bad parenting. Not dismissing your argument that parents are at fault but at the end of the day this music is hyping it
@@muvamiah1974 Not only parents, but relatives who are criminals are a big influence on young people around them. Then you have all of the violent movies, TV shows and video games. I think the music is the easiest thing to target in all of the equation.
I remember Free and AJ were some of the biggest role models of my generation back then. They comforted the community when Aaliyah passed away, when 9/11 occurred, when Lefteye passed. They gave us kids something to look forward to after school each day not just to see the latest music videos, but to keep up with our culture and entertain ourselves in a positive manner.
Fr, he was really pointing at programming that a lot people can’t see smh . love AJ he kept it professional and he told his truth respectful love to see that
This is reminding me of how BET virtually banned the rap group, Little Brother from promoting a lot of their tracks from the album 'The Minstrel Show' because it was "too intelligent". (More info should be on their Wikipedia and Google if you want it.) Completely fked up that a network for Black teens and adults was operating like a YT media network - keeping the masses dumb. Smh!
@@laylayofficial9001 definitely not lying but its hard to combat that truth with everyone saying its up to the parents to monitor what their kids listen to. Its really not that simple. You’d literally have to home school your kids with no access to TV/wifi or friends.
Man y’all did not have to make me cry with that AJ clip. Free and AJ were my childhood and I loved seeing NATURAL BLACK MEN AND WOMEN just being themselves- they were fly and beautiful ❤️
The fact that we still trying to figure how and why this happened to them/us let's me know that we are in no position to prevent it from happening again
With free and Aj it felt like a show for adults and younger people but after they left it was a show for teens. AJ is absolutely correct about how music has a effect on the community. That's why I fell out of love with hip-hop as I got older. I am over hearing songs about money, jewelry, cars, clothes and women. They narrative is played out. I wish it would step back into storytelling. It shouldn't be uncool or lame to try to uplift each other. I hate seeing young children trying to replicate what they see in music videos. It's not cute to see a 5 year old trying to twerk. 🙄
Spot on!!! I never understood why my mother took my sisqo and Mase cd away at 14 until I got older and read the lyrics of those songs and other popular songs such as Barbie Girl at the time even as recent as last yr. The fact that I was so naive....damn.
There was another Show as well that were great for the Teenagers. Called Teen Summit. I agree once everything went digital shows just weren't able to sustain. The 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and the earlier 2000s were the best time for Television.
Yea BET declined when free & AJ left. For my junior high and high school years after school l would hurry to finish homework to watch 106 & park. Great times in TV.
I'm sorry to say bit there was no 106&Park without Free and AJ my faves hands down! I miss you guys to this very day...much love and blessings you two! 💯💪🏾🙏🏽❤️
AJ wouldn’t sell his soul and Free was probably HELLA VOCAL about not selling her soul too. I’m sure she fussed Stephen Hill ass out and they either fired her, or she quit right before that award show. I didn’t think it was possible, but this makes me respect them EVEN MORE 🤩👏🏾
And that’s why it no longer exists. They were trying to keep it fresh by replacing them with new faces, while we were very content and happy with them. That’s why it was never the same after they left.
A bad move. One that wasn’t well thought out. The ratings should be what guides. If it were about “keeping it fresh” they had fresh. They didn’t want to increase their salary.
AJ and Free. My childhood. They were the show. Had Rocsi and Terrence not taken over, the show would have been dead after Free and AJ. Bow Wow and whoever those other people are were whack
Terrance and Rocsi weren't that bad tbh, they just lack chemistry. Bow and rest on the other hand were the real cornballs as hosts! That's why I slowly stopped watching 106 during their time. 106 would've been still alive if they had better hosts.
@@NJPWGirlFacts. But I loved Terrence and Rocsi. Their energy was different but they brought a whole different but relatable vibe for me. Bow Wow and the others were just horrible. No chemistry and just bland.
I also wish people would’ve gave tigger & julissa more credit for filling in cuz it wasn’t their fault & they actually gave us a lot of memorable moments on the set.
I liked Bow, I didn't like the other pple. Even BET knew they wasn't it. They was switching them out every other month 🤣 there was like 4 or 5 other mfs with Bow lmao
There will never be a 106 & Park without AJ & Free. This was one of the best shows of my childhood and like so many great shows we 90s and 2000s people grew up on these kids today will never know what these shows did for us and the impact it had on our upbringing and community.
Whew!! Tears!! It’s crazy how you don’t realize just how much you miss something UNTIL you realize it!! I was very saddened and disappointed when they left the show! A whole generation grew up on 106 & Park! BET will never be the same! Period!
The reason they wouldn't like it is because it involves ppl actually talking to each other FACE TO FACE and not over social media. They have absolutely zero social skills. I know, I have a 19 yr old 🙄
@@mrsx7944 I think I have zero social skills too 🤣 because it's easy for me to comment in talk online then in person it's like I lost my social skills if i had any because these people on the streets are mad all the time and dont want to talk that's what fucking things up for the rest of us I dont even like talking to a stranger in person anymore I remember I said hey how you doing to someone outside a store parking lot they just look right pass me in kept it moving I felt like I was talking to the air or something I said to myself never again these people on some other shit a doctor couldn't prescribe thier prescription 🤣 real talk have a good one
yeah I def watched TRL everyday after school and then switched the channel to watch 106 & park before having to start my homework 😭. Even though those were basically the same shows conceptually, there were such different vibes. You could tell that the guests were more real and relaxed on 106 & park. I remember watching celebrities appear on TRL promoting whatever they were there to promote and then go on BET and just they were more relaxed and themselves. Free and AJ created that safe, comfortable space for those celebrities.
My children loved that show I have so many special memories of the kids and I watching the show and dancing . Thank Free and A.J. for being apart of content for our kids to enjoy and express themselves and just be kids ❤️ for being the role model they needed .
I remember being in Kindergarten 04 & seeing the 106 & park commercial “106 & Park is on I gotta get in the house” or something like that so nostalgic 🥰
One of my favorite moments was during FreeStyle Friday. One of the competitors said something disparaging about A.J to the person he was battling. Free jumped on the mic and said "Yo, don't EVER disrespect the man of the house!" I loved that because everybody was always coming for A.J. for no reason. Much respect to them both!
That was a great breakdown. Thank you for this one, sis! 106 is more than nostalgia alone for us & you reminded the world of that, I really appreciate all of your hard work on this one; for real!!
Brings back memories when Free and Aj were the host. Remember going to school people talking did you watch 106&Park last night did you see so and so on there lol did you watch the performance who you think won the rap battle did you watch the the new video of the day lol. The generation z will never know how it was being kid or teenager old enough to remember watching these things on cable tv. I remember the episode when they announced they were leaving the show. Not just the network BET changed most of the networks on cable tv changed once the mid 00's started rolling around. Then with the writers strike of 2007 in my opinion it just shifted alot networks for the worst.
Yep. Especially Cartoon Network. Cartoon Network really went through a dark age from 2007-2010 because of that writer's strike before Adventure Time and Regular Show came in and saved the network.
The OGs of 106 & Park! Free & AJ were truly the face of the show! It was sad when they were no longer hosts. It was never the same vibe after they left. Great episode! Thanks for continuing to bring nostalgia to my soul.
I saw Free in a lounge in NYC a few years ago. I asked to take a picture with her but she refused because I had a Lakers jersey on 😆 She was mad cool tho
Damn... I miss this show I remember coming home from school to watch this. AJ and Free will always be the best host for 106 and Park it’s a shame the show was eventually canceled and lost its charm... kids these days wouldn’t appreciate such a show. The 2000s era of BET will always be the best from comic view to rap city in my opinion
Wow, i cannot express enough how well researched and presented this video was. Always felt like AJ & Free weren’t willing to comprise their own integrity for the show. They definitely made a mark and honestly i never got into 106 & Park after they left. Love your videos!! Thank you ❤️❤️❤️
I agree with you guys. I am being taken down memory lane.....the early 2000's. It was all about the group B2K for me😍, Destiny's Child, Chris Brown. Those were some fun times.
Favorite moments was Aaliyah teaching Aj to dance . BEYONCÉ AND FREE DANCING . Teairra mari performance was really good I remember . . . Omfg FREE STYLE FRIDAY
That Ginuwine on a stretcher performance is still one of the funniest and greatest performances I've ever watched. 😂 AJ & Free were really incredible. Such a good moment in time.
Early 2000's was lit! The music and the vibes was prime. We had 106&Park, Rap City: Tha Basement and Cita's World just to name a few. Back when BET was actually black owned it was unmatched!
