25 Years Later, ‘106 & Park' Hosts Revisit Show's Iconic Role In Black Music And Culture
Believe it or not, it's been 25 years since 106 & Park first hit our television screens — a whole quarter-century since that iconic stage, those elevated couches, the Top 10 countdown, and the beginning of its unmatched cultural impact. Not only was the BET staple live, it was also consistent, and it was ours. 106 & Park gave viewers more than entertainment — it gave us visibility and a voice. It celebrated our style and amplified our sound. It captured the heartbeat of a new generation. It wasn't just a show, it was the pulse of Black youth. And we weren't just watching 106 & Park, we were a part of it.
For me, it was more than just a show; it was thee spark. Watching AJ and Free — and later Rocsi and Terrence J — interview legends and rising stars every day lit a fire in me to do the same. I used to race home from school to catch every episode because 106 & Park wasn't just a music video countdown; it set the tone for what was cool, what was in, and what was important to know in pop culture. I was so inspired, I even recreated a 106 & Park-style talent show at my high school in 2010, fully stepping into the role of host — embodying their energy, warmth, and deep connection to the show that shaped my love for storytelling in Black music and entertainment.
In celebration of the iconic show, Terrence J, Rocsi Diaz, and AJ Calloway (without Free) sat down with VIBE to reflect on what 106 & Park meant and still means to Black culture.
When asked to reflect on a moment that stands out from his 5-year tenure (2000-2005), AJ didn't hesitate. 'Getting an opportunity to interview Michael Jackson… that was pretty crazy,' he said, recalling how BET legend Stephen G. Hill rode with him and Free to the 106 set, prepping them the whole way. 'We submitted 100 questions, they approved none.' And yet, AJ managed to slip in the gem: 'What is it like to have the number one record in the world again?' he recalled. A simple, but powerful question to the King of Pop.
For Terrence J, it was the unforgettable and heartbreaking moment when Michael Jackson passed away. 'We were on air as it happened,' he said, reflecting on the show's role in not only reporting but connecting with the community during raw, emotional moments. 'We could be celebrating Beyoncé's birthday in the afternoon, breaking in a new artist named Justin Bieber, and then later interviewing Kobe Bryant or an unknown senator named Barack Obama.'
Rocsi shared a different angle and reflected on the evolution of the show becoming mainstream. 'Madonna came to the show, Lady Gaga came to the show… we started getting Fallon-type, Kimmel-type guests,' she recalled about her and Terrence's tenure (2006-2012). But she also made sure to credit the true stars: the live audience. 'It was their show. We just were traffic control,' she said. If you ever sat at home screaming during 'Freestyle Friday' or swooning when your favorite artist walked through those shimmering streamers, you know exactly what she means.
Sitting across from the very people who first made me fall in love with media felt like a full-circle moment and more like catching up with the big cousins who used to 'babysit' me after school. From launching careers and setting trends that we still see today in current media, the show was pure magic. Or as AJ simply put it: 'Lightning in a bottle.' And that's what made 106 & Park different.
'We magnified us, and anytime we magnify us, it becomes special,' AJ reflected. It was one of the few spaces on broadcast TV that unapologetically centered Black youth, Black music, and Black joy. When AJ and Free were on-air, it was pre-Twitter, pre-Instagram, pre-YouTube — before social media and streaming changed the way we consume media. If you missed an episode, you really missed out on what took place that day. And it's not like you could catch up on clips later — you had to be there (unless you had a DVR). It was 'destination television,' the original algorithm before we even knew what that meant.
'If you didn't watch it, you couldn't talk about it at school, at the water cooler, or even on your way home — you had to see what was going on,' AJ recalled. When reflecting on today's media landscape, he added, 'A lot of television now feels like everyone wants to be as cool as the guest. But I think there's something powerful about just saying, 'I'm a fan.' The people that are watching are fans, so if you're asking questions that the fans want to hear, it's going to resonate more.'
Terrence J recalled how 106 & Park was more than a music show — it was where culture, fashion, and technology collided in real time. 'People would talk about Free's outfits, and people would always talk about Rocsi's shoes…what heels she's [wearing]. There was no other live person your age that you could see on a daily basis rocking the new heels or the new clothing,' he said. 'You were seeing fashion … dance troupes flying in from Chicago with the latest moves, crews from the Bay teaching everyone how to Dougie — live on air.'
And he's not lying. It all happened right as social media was emerging. MySpace launched in 2003, Facebook in 2004, YouTube in 2005, and Twitter came around in 2006. According to the hosts, 106 was the first show to break Twitter on a broadcasting show. 'Yeah, the Twitter map on TV,' Terrence and Rocsi beamed while reminiscing. 'All these things [were] exploding at once, and when people say why it couldn't happen the same way now, it's [because it's] like confetti pieces. There's all these different podcasts, there's all these different networks, different YouTube channels, and different ways to consume media … whereas back then, this was the headquarters.'
Although Terrence and Rocsi had one more year of tenure than AJ and Free, the pressure of following in the phenomenal duo's footsteps wasn't lost on them. Rocsi admitted, 'It was a lot of pressure,' but shared how Free had her back from day one. 'Free for me was really a big sis. She was like, 'I got you.' She held my hand the entire way.' Rocsi added how Terrence and she came into the show with 'a very unique circumstance,' but thankfully, their chemistry made it easy. 'We always had each other's backs from day one,' she declared.
For Terrence, he knew exactly what they were stepping into. 'AJ and Free were this blueprint. They were something that we were inspired by and looked up to, but then [we] were always being compared. I always looked at it as a motivational thing, and AJ and Free were always so gracious,' he expressed. AJ then took a moment to give his forerunners their flowers. 'To see them take it to other levels and other heights… honestly, they've gone way past whatever we did,' he praised Terrence and Rocsi. He also shared a gem that he told Terrence back then: 'Use them, don't let them use you.' Clearly, that piece of wisdom came from someone who'd been through the fire and wanted better for those to follow.
The show's production, however, wasn't always polished. The hosts reflected on many of the moments that may have been caught on camera but didn't air. There were lights going out mid-show, fires breaking out backstage, and yes, a few fights during 'Freestyle Friday' (that somehow still leaked online). 'The one time,' Rocsi sighed when recalling how she once had to break up a fight. 'I was like, 'I don't want to do this no more.'' Real ones remember the chaos, but also the energy and magic that took place.
'BET and 106 & Park created this iconic culture. A brand. A legacy. And to sit here 25 years later, trading stories and realizing how many lives were impacted, it's surreal,' Terrence J summed up. 'I turned on Good Morning America, and there's Rocsi, interviewing guests. What started as this little engine that could, as AJ said, grew into something that launched careers, inspired movements, and gave voice to a generation.' Shouting out another pillar in Black culture, he continued, 'To sit down with VIBE and reflect on all of this, there's just a deep sense of pride. We weren't the kids doing morning weather, and we couldn't rap either, but 106 gave us a lane to still be part of the culture in a real way.'
And as for what Gen Z will miss out on with the nostalgic show's revamp? Rocsi said it best. 'Rushing home from school and knowing that you had to get your homework done before six o'clock,' she said. 'To turn on the TV, to see your favorite artists, because you knew that they were going to be there that day.' Rocsi even recalled Michelle Obama telling her once, ''The girls [Malia and Sasha] had to finish their homework before they watched 106.'' That's the kind of impact it had. No matter how you identified in your Blackness, 106 created a digital and physical hub for us and by us.
Although Marie 'Free' Wright couldn't be present for this chat, she and the rest of the beloved 106 & Park family will be showing up live at the 2025 BET Awards (June 9) not only to celebrate 106 but also 25 years since the award show's inception. The day of celebration is set to include Mr. 106 & Park himself — Bow Wow — Amerie, B2K, Jim Jones, Mya, T.I., and many more. Additionally, during the BET Experience weekend, fans will get the chance to step onto a recreated 106 & Park set — really reliving the nostalgic era.
Watch the entire interview with AJ Calloway, Rocsi Diaz and Terrence J above.
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