By: Stephanie Woods-McKinney
Photo Courtesy: Stephanie Woods-McKinney
As Black Music Month comes to an end, The New York Association of Black Journalists is celebrating one of our newest members, Ms. Gail Hall "Anointed Mic Check" aka 'DJ Flame' or 'DJ La Spank.'
You can follow her transition and growth by paying attention to changing of her name, reflecting how she 'evolved' in music, her style and DJ methodology with the times. This powerhouse is featured in throughout the year. We can celebrate her during "Black History Month, Women's History Month, and Hip Hop Anniversary Month in August.
Gail is no stranger to radio or the music industry. She has spent most of her life rocking turntables, performing at many local events and openings for many New York top DJs – most recently DJ Mister Cee (RIP).
The Anointed Mic Check queen was raised in the Gun Hill Houses in the Bronx, and she is the first 'Afro Latina' hip hop and holy hip hop DJ, Plus, she is the 1st generation DJ/MC for the legendary hip hop group The Mercedes Ladies, Inner City Disco; The Erotic Disco Brothers and The Chapter 5 MCs.
Gail was the "only" female to earn a 'DJ Residency' at the legendary hip hop venue, "T Connection" and this too, and she was one of three female DJ's who also MC commercially for the culture and her dedication. Her skills and hard work were recognized May, 2014, when she was Inducted into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame. The accolades continued as she received several Citations from two Bronx Borough Presidents and a Proclamation from the City of New York in 2021.
Most recently, she is the recipient of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame Legacy Award for Woman in Hip Hop in 2023 and she performed on Harlem Week's main stage 'Holy Hip Hop' for the Hip Hop Hall of Fame showcase 2023.
The whopping success does not stop with DJing. Gail also served in the R&B community as a background session singer and was a solo singer at several popular New York City clubs in the 1980s and early 90s such as Sweetwaters, Cafe' Wha, Nell's, Honeysuckle's, Chaz & Wilson's and others but her fondest gig was hosting at Melba Wilson's famous open Mic Nite at Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem, New York.
In 1996, she started attending Greater Faith Temple Church of the Living GOD and decided to answer the call: She became a minister of the gospel and that's when the mobile music ministry of DJ Flame became 'The Anointed Mic Check.' Due to her music mastery, community service and continued love for ministry and hip hop, Gail became the first female radio host/producer at the "only" urban gospel show in New York City 'WHCR 90.3 FM Radio' and "The Anointed Mic Check" continues to spin and mentor others after 37 years as a hip hop pioneer.
You can hear her live on the radio Wednesday mornings 4 a.m.- 8 a.m. when you can "bask in the Lord," as she says, and you can hear the hottest gospel mixes as she continues to bring the best of urban and holy hip hop music to the Harlem community.
NYABJ is proud to showcase and celebrate this fierce 'Black Music Month' powerful radio personality and hip-hop icon.
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