By Tai Saint Louis
Less than 48 hours since his abrupt dismissal from WBLS’s The Wendy Williams Experience, Charlamagne Tha God is preparing for his return to South Carolina radio, he revealed to AllHipHop.com exclusively today (November 8).
Charlamagne, who hosted his own show for six years on Columbia, South Carolina's Hot 103.9 (WHXT-FM), will be back on airwaves in Columbia as early as next week.
“I will be doing a specialty show with WXBT 100.1 'The Beat' in Columbia,” he told AllHipHop.com. "I can do that from up here and it will broadcast down there. Radio is like training, [you] have to stay on that bike to keep the conditioning up for when that big fight comes. I didn't have a non-compete clause, so I am able to work immediately in New York. I'm just weighing out my options right now.”
Charlamagne joined The Wendy Williams Experience in March 2006, adding more spice to the controversial syndicated afternoon talk show.
He was terminated from his position as Wendy Williams’ co-host just minutes after the broadcast on Monday (November 3).
Citing budgetary constraints as the reason, WBLS also terminated the show’s executive producer Tarin Donatien, talent booker and publicist Nicole Spence and production director Trev Hollywood.
But the relationship between the self-proclaimed “Queen of All Media” and her protégé remains strong.
In an on-air statement to fans on Thursday about his departure, Wendy expressed her support and assured fans that he would be okay.
“He’s gone, he’s not forgotten,” she said. “He is still part of la familia. That is still my boy. He still sleeps in the purple room when he comes to the house. We still drink our Patron on Friday nights.”
In an email on Friday, Williams added, “I was disappointed in their decision not to have him on the show but I’m not worried about his ability to go on and do very well for himself.”
As for their professional relationship, Charlamagne says that it actually continues to expand.
In addition to serving as consulting producer on Fox's The Wendy Williams Show, which returns for a full run in July 2009, Charlamagne is preparing to release a new book through Wendy’s newly created publishing imprint.
“I write for Ozone Magazine every month and I do various blogs on different websites including my sites www.stupiddopemoves.com and www.myspace.com/cthagod, so it just came to a point where everyone was telling me I should write a book. So I started to do just that and the book will be titled Socially Irresponsible.”
The non-fiction tome, which Charlamagne describes as a “candid compendium of politically incorrect views and potentially dangerous rhetoric,” brings together spirituality and Hip-Hop culture to challenge the Hip-Hop community to be more responsible.
It is scheduled for release in the fall of 2009.
“Too often, many individuals look in the mirror and see what is right, but are too afraid to see and admit what is wrong,” explains the budding author. “I’m challenging the Hip-Hop community by pointing out the flaws in the reflections and demanding that those who know better should do better. If you read my articles in Ozone, you should know what to expect.”
In the meantime, Charlamagne continues to utilize his independent label, Stupid Dope Moves, Inc., to bring attention to the burgeoning South Carolina movement.
His first project on the label, South Crack The Album has sold 12,000 units to date.
His next project is the release of a street album entitled Ratchet Music by the label’s marquee artist, Lil Ru.
