NYABJ Member Honored in the Heart of Times Square

By: Stephanie Woods-Mckinney 

Earlier this month, New York Association of Black Journalists member Gail Hall, also known as DJ Flame, was featured among seven other ‘Visionary Ambassadors of Influence’ on a Times Square billboard promotion, showcasing their images and highlighting the dynamic, successful, and influential magazine. The Times Square display embodied their ‘Unstoppable Momentum’ campaign, which, according to the brand, features ‘Real People, Real Talk, and Real Life.’

I Ascend Magazine Editor-in-Chief Dr. Margaret Grant Maynard demonstrated the magazine's resilience in a space where media struggles to maintain its audience. I Ascend Magazine is elevating promotions to a higher level. Celebrating their audience and engaging a broader demographic has been a strategic focus, and it exemplifies a publication's sustained relevance and "survival" in a competitive media landscape.

This moment is a true testament to DJ Flame’s impact. As The Anointed Mic Check DJ, she has a deep-rooted history in hip hop culture. DJ Flame is the first female urban gospel mobile/radio DJ and the first Afro-Latina female DJ in hip hop culture. Raised in Gun Hill Houses in the Bronx, New York, she began her hip hop career as the DJ for the iconic female group Mercedes Ladies. She is also the first Holy Hip Hop DJ.

Holding the title as the first female DJ in a male-dominated culture and with 50 years of experience, her extensive music knowledge and skills are a powerful testament to her influence. Her recognition with a billboard feature highlights her and other impactful visionaries who have made a significant cultural impact, illustrating the value they have earned.

While the billboard will eventually come down, the visibility and recognition DJ Flame has attained through her mastery and longevity will remain. The impact of her cultural artistry will continue to elevate and inspire.