Angela Yee: From Brooklyn Roots to Media Mogul – An Exploration of Education and Career

Variety Magazine aptly describes Angela Yee as “one of the media’s best-known multi-hyphenates.” This article delves into the educational background and career trajectory of this award-winning media personality, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. From her early life in Brooklyn to her current status as a nationally syndicated radio host and businesswoman, we will explore the key influences and decisions that have shaped Angela Yee's path to success.

Early Life and Education: The Foundation of Success

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to a Black mother and Chinese father, Angela Yee demonstrated ambition and a love for learning from a young age. She recalls, “Growing up, I spent the majority of my free time writing short, fictional stories and reading every novel I could get my hands on.” This early passion for writing and reading laid the foundation for her future career in media.

Wesleyan University: Cultivating a Passion for Words

Yee's love for writing continued through college, where she earned a degree in English from Wesleyan University. Wesleyan University is known for its liberal arts curriculum, which emphasizes critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, and exposure to diverse perspectives. This well-rounded education has contributed to Angela Yee's intellectual curiosity, cultural awareness, and ability to connect with audiences from different backgrounds. Wesleyan's commitment to social justice and community engagement has likely influenced Angela Yee's own values and commitment to using her platform to address important issues. After graduating, Yee utilized the relationships she built through internships at MTV, TVT Records, and Wu-Tang Management to become assistant to the CEO of Wu-Tang Corporation in Detroit.

Early Career: Forging a Path in the Music Industry

Angela's early music connections ultimately led her to SiriusXM Satellite Radio, where she launched a successful radio career, serving as co-host on Shade 45’s Cipha Sounds Effect morning show and her own radio shows, Lip Service and The Morning After with Angela Yee. She quickly developed a name for herself as a burgeoning media star by interviewing top entertainers-Nicki Minaj, Chris Rock, 50 Cent, and more-and providing a platform for unsigned artists, like then- emerging Drake, Machine Gun Kelly, and Big Krit, with her segment ‘Don’t Quit Your Day Job.’

SiriusXM: Honing Her Radio Skills

Yee’s talent and work ethic did not go unnoticed, and after six years at SiriusXM, she was fielding job offers from radio stations all across the country. She took a risk and accepted a position at the underdog station in radio’s number one market, New York City’s Power 105.1. In a way, it seems that because she started off at Sirius and had no prior radio experience, it was hard for the higher ups to understand the value she brought to the station. Even when I felt like I wasn’t getting what I deserved, I made sure I worked above and beyond what was expected. I was always on time, never called out sick, didn’t use all my vacation days, and really branded our morning show by making sure I was out and about even when I didn’t feel like it, to make the show better.

The Breakfast Club: A National Phenomenon

Power 105’s The Breakfast Club morning show was formed in December 2010 with Angela, DJ Envy, and Charlamagne Tha God. After only two years, the show became nationally syndicated in over 100 markets. Avid listeners of the show anticipate Angela’s regular ‘Rumor Report,’ ‘Ask Yee,’ and ‘Front Page News’ segments. The Breakfast Club’s undeniable impact on the culture has garnered the trio a number of accolades: Radio Hall of Fame inductee in 2020, an Ambies nomination for Best Comedy Podcast in 2021, the iHeartRadio Urban Personality of the Year award in 2017, the NYS Broadcasters Association Outstanding On-Air Broadcast Personality or Team award in 2014, and the number one radio program in The Source’s Power 30 issue for 5 years in a row.

The Power of Three: Chemistry and Success

The best part about working with them is that it’s always funny. We always have a good time. It doesn’t feel like work. Yes, I hate getting up every morning (laughs), but I never get up saying “I don’t want to go to work.” I say, “I wish I could have gotten another hour of sleep!” I don’t hate my job. I love it. Of course, we get into it sometimes, but even our arguments are funny. My favorite thing about working with the two of them is how much we support each other. I know that no matter what happens, they’ll have my back.

Way Up With Angela Yee: A New Chapter

Angela Yee has officially launched “Way Up with Angela Yee,” a nationally syndicated radio program that puts the former Breakfast Club co-host in the driver’s seat. The show kicks off on an upbeat vibe with listeners calling in to “Shine a Light on ‘Em,” acknowledging a person who has performed a positive act. Yee is already renowned for having the inside track on celebrity news and current events and will be branding her “YeeTEA” rumor segments as well as her “Under the Radar” segment focusing on important news stories impacting our community that may have been overlooked. As a serial entrepreneur, Angela’s weekly “Wealth Wednesday” will highlight stories and information of economic empowerment, ownership, building your brand, and investing. On the side of familiarity, Yee is also bringing her popular weekly relationship podcast “Lip Service" to the airwaves as well as incorporating her advice segment “Ask YEE” into the show daily.

Expanding Her Reach: Television, Podcasts, and More

In addition to appearing as herself on 3 episodes of the hit Fox television series Empire, Angela also expanded her media presence by launching her own podcast Angela Yee’s Lip Service, where she and her girlfriends discuss intimacy, sex and relationships with the hottest stars in hip-hop and R&B. Previous guests include Lizzo, City Girls, Nick Cannon, Saweetie, Miguel, Issa Rae and Cardi B, among others. In 2019, Yee partnered with Live Nation on the nationwide Lip Service Live tour.

Entrepreneurial Ventures: Building a Business Empire

As her media persona continued to rise, Angela’s entrepreneurial spirit kicked in and in 2016 she partnered with Styles P (of the legendary hip-hop group The Lox) to open a juice bar, Juices For Life BK, in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Once she saw how beneficial the business was for the community, she launched a line of organic pressed juices called Drink Fresh Juice to provide broader access to healthier options. Her other entrepreneurial ventures include a black-owned coffee company Coffee Uplifts People (C.U.P.) with a brick-and-mortar location slated to open summer 2021, a return to Detroit with the launch of her own hair shop Private Label, corporate sponsorships with Rocket Mortgage and other apps, and various real estate investments.

Read also: Davis's Activism and Scholarship

Philanthropy and Community Engagement: Giving Back

Giving back to the community remains the core of all Angela’s business endeavors. Her dedication to providing information and access to nutrition, financial literacy, education, and culture is reflected in her philanthropic associations. She’s the first ever Global Ambassador for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement for Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment (BSE) and the New York Public Library. She sits on numerous boards including: American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI), Nile Rodgers’ We Are Family Foundation, the Fund for NYC Housing Authority, and The Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute. Additionally, she has channeled her early love for reading into the Angela Yee’s Book Club literacy initiative to encourage her followers to read more and to support authors with unique stories to tell. In 2018, the New York City mayor officially designated August 28th as Angela Yee Day.

Accolades and Recognition: Acknowledging Success

Angela has received two prestigious Gracie awards, one for National Radio Host/Personality and another for her Lip Service podcast. Her other awards include Spirit of Detroit, WEEN Mission, the Shirley Chisholm Woman of Distinction, Vice-Chancellor’s Achievement award for AFUWI, the Airblazer award from the Mentoring & Inspiring Women in Radio Group, and Talentmasters Morning Show Bootcamp.

Advice and Insights: Lessons Learned Along the Way

Don’t change yourself but be a bigger version of you. And make sure you stay on top of all the current events so you know what you’re talking about. I believe if you’re great at what you do, you can still show your personality even with more restrictions.

Overcoming Challenges: Perseverance and Determination

I think the biggest challenge is always feeling like you’re getting what you deserve. And I think a lot of people feel that way. I remember being at Sirius and feeling like, “Ok, come on guys. I’ve been working here for six years now and ya’ll still treat me like how you treated me when I first came in here.” And I think that’s an issue a lot of people have because it was my first job in radio. It’s not like they wooed me from some other place and offered me the position because they wanted to, it was a situation where I was placed here and they didn’t really have a choice about it so I think that’s always a difficult thing. And they’ll tell me, “You’re doing a great job but we don’t have any money,” and that’s always an issue. That’s an issue at a lot of different places, to get what you feel you’re worth.

tags: #angela #yee #education #background