What is Angie Martinez's Net Worth and Salary?
Angie Martinez is a radio personality, rapper, and actress who has a net worth of $3 million. Angie Martinez is best known for being the "Voice of New York" during her two-decade tenure at the station WQHT (HOT 97) from 1994 to 2014. After leaving that station, she joined the crosstown competitor WWPR. Martinez has also released two studio albums, "Up Close and Personal" and "Animal House," and appeared in films such as "Brown Sugar" and "Paid in Full."
Early Life
Angie Martinez was born on January 9, 1971 in New York City. Her mother is of Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban descent, while her father is Puerto Rican.
Radio Career
Martinez got her start in radio at the age of 16 by answering hot lines at the urban station WQHT, also known as HOT 97. It was there she met DJ Funkmaster Flex, who became her mentor. Martinez quickly developed an aptitude for running a successful radio program, and soon became the cohost of the Afternoon Drive weekdays alongside DJ Enuff. In that position, she interviewed major musical artists such as Mariah Carey and Jay-Z. Martinez became so popular on HOT 97 that she was dubbed the "Voice of New York." Toward the end of her tenure, she appeared in the VH1 reality television docuseries "This is Hot 97," about the lives of the station's staffers and employees. After two decades at HOT 97, Martinez resigned in mid-2014 and subsequently joined the crosstown competitor station WWPR. She was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2020.
Music Career
In 1996, Martinez was encouraged by her rapper friend KRS-One to give rapping a try. She took his advice, and the following year appeared on his track "Heartbeat" from his album "I Got Next." Martinez had her biggest hit yet with the "Ladies Night Remix" of Lil' Kim's song "Not Tonight," on which she was joined by Missy Elliott, Lisa Lopes, and Da Brat. The song made it to number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997 and earned two Grammy Award nominations. Martinez went on to make appearances on tracks by various other artists, including Mary J. Blige, N.O.R.E., and Beenie Man. In 2001, she released her debut studio album, "Up Close and Personal," featuring guest appearances by Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, and Wyclef Jean, among others. The album debuted at number 32 on the Billboard 200 and number seven on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Martinez released her second and final studio album, "Animal House," in 2002. Featuring guest appearances by such artists as Missy Elliott, Sacario, and Kelis, it debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 and number six on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Moreover, the album spawned Martinez's highest-charting song as a lead artist, "If I Could Go!," which peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another single, "Take You Home," was a minor hit. Martinez next made an appearance on a remix of Lil' Mo's "Gangsta," and after that appeared on Nina Sky's single "Time to Go." Following those appearances, she announced that she was retiring from the music industry. Over a decade later, Martinez signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation agency.
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Acting Career
Martinez began her acting career with small roles in independent hip hop films, including "Blood is Thicker Than Water" and "Paper Soldiers." In 2002, she appeared as herself in the romcom "Brown Sugar," starring Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan, and had a bit part in the crime drama "Paid in Full," starring Wood Harris, Mekhi Phifer, and Cam'ron. Martinez's other credits include 2011's "Video Girl" and 2012's "Generation Um…," starring Keanu Reeves, Bojana Novakovic, and Adelaide Clemens.
Personal Life
With singer Tamir Ruffin, best known as a member of the R&B group Dru Hill, Martinez has a son named Niko. In 2014, she ran the New York City Marathon in support of the PitCCh In Foundation.
