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 If you're in the entertainment biz, you probably know who Angela Yee is. If not, she's a rising radio personality who has the Sirius/XM airwaves, and Internet, going nuts. She has two popular shows on satellite radio -- Lip Service and The Morning After, both very different in format, but fun and different at the same time.
While Yee's popularity has really taken off over the last few years, she's been in the industry for quite some time, working behind the scenes at various companiess, before she found a home on satellite radio.
She's usually the one asking celebrities the questions, but today, Angela was on the receiving end. In this BallerStatus exclusive, Angela tells us about the many jobs she had before radio, how she got there, and some of the ways she's been able to separate herself for her radio peers.
Today, get to know Angela Yee!
BallerStatus.com: People know you for your Sirius/XM shows, but before satellite radio, what were you doing? And how did it lead to radio?
Angela Yee: I had a multitude of jobs before landing at Sirius XM, and none of them lasted that long. I worked for Wu-Tang Corporation as assistant to the CEO, which was a great job because I had the opportunity to meet a lot of people at different labels, producers, and other artists. They also gave me so much responsibility, which I wouldn't have gotten in a larger more corporate position. One of my best friends at the time was working at Sony, and she told me not to accept a job there because all I would be doing was answering phones and setting up meetings, and that most of the other employees feel threatened by you if you're ambitious.
I also worked at Virgin Records, for a label called Cheeba Sounds, where D'Angelo was signed. That was one of those jobs where I hated going to work and every morning I debated calling out sick. That's when I decided that I didn't want to have a job just to get a check anymore, because it was the worst feeling.
Next I worked at a small marketing company where I helped put together proposals to get clients. Once we got those clients, I worked the accounts too and I was literally in the office all day and at events all night and on the weekends. I was always working, but I enjoyed what I was doing. Soon after that, I left and was freelancing several different jobs like clothing lines, websites, and a distribution label. I have no idea how I spent all that money.
Finally I decided it was time to focus again and Paul Rosenberg hired me to work for Eminem's clothing line when it launched. That eventually led to me working at Sirius Satellite Radio.
BallerStatus.com: Is radio something you've always strived to reach?
Angela Yee: I've always been very consumed with music. When I was in high school, I wanted to be a DJ and when I graduated, I got some turntables from DJ Muggs, as a thank you for a clothing line campaign I arranged for him. I dabbled in DJ'ing, but that was before Serato and I hated carrying crates of records out. I never considered being a radio personality, but when Paul suggested it I jumped at the opportunity. Really, who wouldn't?
BallerStatus.com: You became popular with your "Lip Service" show, where you grilled guests with personal and sexual questions. Tell us how the concept for that show came about, and why you chose to go in that direction?
Angela Yee: Lip Service all came from this segment I had on the morning show with Cipha Sounds called "Slutted Out." I would get some of my girls together once a month and we would record things we really talk about with each other. The segment got so popular that Sirius suggested I create a show from it. We even did a pretty funny mixtape, which we sent out with some anal beads and lube (laughs).
BallerStatus.com: Who would you say was your favorite guest on "Lip Service" and why?
Angela Yee: That's a hard one to answer because we've had so many great guests. Snoop Dogg surprised us one day and we had a great time with him, Maino is always blunt and fantastic, Remy Ma stayed for the entire two hours and gave us some crazy stories ... I could go on and on.
BallerStatus.com: Sometimes celebs don't wanna reveal personal info about themselves. Who was the hardest to break out of their shell?
 Angela Yee: I think some people are programmed to give very generic answers, like the Kardashians. They say the same things in every interview and no one asks them difficult questions because they're not equipped to answer them. After a while, you just say this is not going to be interesting because I'm not learning anything new and they don't want to discuss real issues.
BallerStatus.com: You also have "The Morning After". Tell us about that show -- why you launched it, and how it differs from "Lip Service."
Angela Yee: "The Morning After" is a daily show that operates like other morning radio shows, except we have no commercials, a lot more freedom, and it's uncensored. We do news, sports, rumors, new music, unsigned artists, advice, and it's not sex-oriented like Lip Service.
BallerStatus.com: Everyone has a radio show these days, especially with the popularity of internet radio. Why do you think you've been able to excel in the radio biz? What sets yourself and your shows apart from others?
Angela Yee: We definitely have great resources and a credible name behind us because we're a nationwide ... a really worldwide platform that people can listen to in their cars. We're also consistent and work hard to book some great guests: mainstream and offbeat. The amount of research we do before an interview is tremendous and we pride ourselves on that. I also make sure that I'm in the mix, as far as events and showcases, so people can get to know me personally, which helps make a connection.
BallerStatus.com: You've really been able to get a lot of exclusives, and your shows really get a lot of love across the web, via blogs and urban sites. How have you been able to beat major publications in breaking stories? Or getting the juicy gossip?
Angela Yee: We definitely have a system. Because of the freedom we have, we can just spontaneously put a guest on the air to break news. We also know a lot of artists and people behind the scenes personally, so they feel comfortable talking to us and know that we won't try to make them look bad for the sake of ratings. Once we break a story, we make sure to post the audio/video for people who didn't hear it firsthand and it really spreads after that.
BallerStatus.com: How do you stay up on your gossip and news? What are some of the places you'd say are "musts" when it comes to getting your info?
Angela Yee: Of course Ballerstatus! And CNN, TMZ, TheYBF, Bossip, MediaTakeOut, RapRadar, NahRight, MissInfo, NecoleBitchie, BallerAlert, GyantUnplugged, VladTV, WorldstarHipHop, ThisIs50, IFuxWitIt, SOHH, AllHipHop, EW, People, GlobalGrind, 57thAve, OnSmash, SmartenUpNas, and the list goes on. I check so many sites every day, I couldn't even list them all!
BallerStatus.com: What's a typical day like for Angela Yee?
Angela Yee: I wake up at 6, then hit snooze twice. Shower, get on the train, go to work, and sit in front of the computer in the studio looking up news and gossip stories for the next two hours, at least. I also check what's happening on Twitter because that's one of the most valuable resources nowadays for getting primary information. I hang around at work after the show to discuss what we have coming up for the week, then hopefully post some things on my site. Usually I have meetings to go to practically daily, and then I go to an event/party at night, get pretty drunk off Belvedere, go home and pass out, and do it again!
BallerStatus.com: You launched your own blog/site, TeamYee.tv, in the latter part of last year. Why? With so many blogs out there, why was it important for you to launch your own?
 Angela Yee: It is a great way for me to archive what happens on our show. We get picked up so much by other sites that it only made sense for me to have a central location for the content from our show. And personally, it's good for me to have the site for any other business ventures I'm looking into. They can look there and see what I'm all about.
BallerStatus.com: How hard is it for a busy radio girl to keep her blog/website up-to-date?
Angela Yee: It's definitely not easy. I was just saying that I need some help!
BallerStatus.com: What was the single biggest thing for you in 2009?
Angela Yee: Celebrating the 1 year anniversary of my morning show. When Cipha left, I don't think the powers that be had faith in my abilities and they weren't sure I would be able to do it. As a female, and someone who didn't have a background in radio, they weren't taking me seriously.
BallerStatus.com: What else does Angela Yee have coming up?
Angela Yee: We're working on trying to get the visuals to go along with Lip Service. I've always wanted to be a writer, so I'm also trying to focus on that. And I do want to get my website together.
BallerStatus.com: On a personal note, are you single?
Angela Yee: Yes! And it's much more fun in the summer.
BallerStatus.com: How many times do your male, or maybe even female guests try to holler at you?
Angela Yee: It's not often that guys try to holler at me seriously. They may flirt a little to see if things seem likely, but then most artists/celebs don't have the attention span to put in the work.
BallerStatus.com: Is it hard to keep business and pleasure separated?
Angela Yee: I think sometimes the two are interchangeable. I have definitely formed friendships with people I've met through my job and try to support them as much as possible. Whether or not those friendships would last if I lost my job is a whole other story! One of the most difficult things to do is deciding whether or not to address a negative story about someone you're cool with. Usually I don't, but if I do I make sure to get their side of the story as well.
You can catch Angela Yee's "The Morning After" show on weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon EST, or her "Lip Service" show on Mondays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. -- both on Surius/XM Shade 45. Or hit her official website at TeamYee.tv.
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