Latest news with #RocsiDiaz
Black America Web
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Rocsi & AJ Explain Why They Missed the 106 & Park Reunion at the 2025 BET Awards
Source: Christopher Polk The 2025 BET Awards had no shortage of iconic moments—from major wins to unforgettable performances. As the network celebrated its 25th anniversary, one of the most talked-about segments was the long-awaited reunion of 106 & Park , the classic music video countdown show that helped shape an entire era of hip hop and R&B culture. Text 'RICKEY' to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. ( Terms and conditions ). While many former hosts and contributors showed up for the celebration, fans quickly noticed that two key figures were missing: Rocsi Diaz and AJ Calloway, one of the most memorable host duos in the show's history. The pair, who helped define the early 2000s run of the program, were missed by fans hoping for a full reunion. Shortly after the show aired, both Rocsi and AJ posted heartfelt apologies on Instagram, offering insight into why they couldn't be there and sharing just how much the show still means to them. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE. Rocsi Diaz was open about her disappointment, writing, 'I'm so sorry if I let you down. Just know I tried everything possible to be a part of the 106 & Park reunion—it really meant a lot to me.' She explained that an unexpected job opportunity conflicted with the event, preventing her from attending. Despite the scheduling clash, she expressed deep appreciation for the team behind the scenes and her fellow hosts, calling her time on 106 the best thing that ever happened in her life. AJ Calloway shared a similar sentiment, revealing that he was literally in the air on a flight when the reunion aired. 'When your phone blows up because you missed a huge night for the best and livest audience in the world!' he wrote. He also promised that this wouldn't be the last opportunity to reunite: 'I know we will do something where we all can make it.' CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR APP AND TAKE US WITH YOU ANYWHERE! Both hosts used their messages to reflect on the incredible impact 106 & Park had not only on their careers but on the culture. In a previous interview, AJ had stated, 'We had no idea that it would have the global impact that it did. To the fans of 106 , thank you for the constant love—we love you right back.' Related Article: Gallery: Black Couples We Swooned Over At The 2025 BET Awards Related Article: Deion Sanders Addresses 'Getting It On' with 'Work Boo' Rocsi Diaz The absence of Rocsi and AJ didn't go unnoticed, but their heartfelt messages showed fans just how much the show still means to them. As the 2025 BET Awards wrapped up, fans were left with nostalgia, excitement—and perhaps a little hope that the full reunion could still happen in the future. With such strong fan energy and ongoing love for 106 & Park , who knows? A reboot or full-scale reunion could still be on the horizon. HEAD BACK TO THE HOMEPAGE SEE ALSO Rocsi & AJ Explain Why They Missed the 106 & Park Reunion at the 2025 BET Awards was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Black America Web
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Rocsi Diaz and AJ Calloway Apologize After Missing 106 & Park Reunion
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty Former 106 & Park hosts Rocsi Diaz and AJ Calloway have issued heartfelt apologies to fans after their unexpected absence from the highly anticipated reunion segment at the BET Awards. The reunion brought together a number of familiar faces from the beloved music countdown show, including Bow Wow, Terrence J, and Free, creating a nostalgic celebration for longtime viewers. Rocsi Diaz took to Instagram to explain her absence, expressing sincere regret to her fans. 'I'm so sorry if I let you down,' she wrote. 'Just know I tried everything possible to be a part of the 106 & Park reunion. It really meant a lot to me to be there with my fellow host. 106 was by far the best thing that's ever happened in my life.' AJ Calloway also shared a message, revealing travel issues prevented his attendance. 'When you're on a plane and your phone blows up because you missed a huge night for the best and livest audience in the world! I'm so sorry I couldn't make it tonight—I'm literally still in the air,' he posted. 'I tried, honestly, but it didn't work out.' Despite their absence, the reunion was filled with memorable moments. Comedian Druski delivered laughs with a skit reenacting Ginuwine's iconic performance of 'Pony' on the show, and the return of former hosts created an electric energy onstage. Fans continue to hope for a full-circle moment in the future where all hosts can reunite. Speaking of 106 & Park, The Tom Joyner Fantastic Voyage has just announced an exciting addition, '106 & Sea'. Which will serve as a nostalgic celebration featuring 106 & Park legends AJ Calloway and Free. As the beloved music video countdown show marks its 25th anniversary, fans will get a rare chance to relive the magic, live and in person. SEE ALSO Rocsi Diaz and AJ Calloway Apologize After Missing 106 & Park Reunion was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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. More from BET To Revamp '106 & Park' Ahead Of The Show's 25-Year Anniversary Barack Obama Sends Heartfelt Message To Joe Biden Following Cancer Diagnosis Michelle Obama Opens Up About "Nightmare" Of Keeping Daughters' Partying Photos Out Of Tabloids Best of 10 Rap Albums Snubbed Of The Grammys' Album Of The Year Award 21 Black Entertainers Who Are Almost EGOT Winners 11 Black-Owned Games To Play At The Next Function Or Kick Back
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
Rapper YG reveals past sexual abuse in new single
ABC News' Rocsi Diaz speaks with rapper YG in an exclusive about his new single, "2004," and about experiencing sexual abuse by an older woman at 14 and why it was important for him to share publicly.
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
ABC News Live at the Met: Usher explains ‘Dandyism'
Usher spoke with ABC News' Rocsi Diaz about the significance of Black dandyism taking center stage and what it meant to co-chair this year's Met Gala.
