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The NBA playoffs are different when the New York Knicks are involved.
The Knicks are in discussions to represent the Eastern Conference for the first time since 1999, but they must first go through the Atlanta Hawks.
The Knicks and Hawks have had a bit of a rivalry since the 2021 playoffs after Trae Young became a Knick killer and ultimate foe.
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Kazeem Famuyide and The Kid Mero attend the New York premiere of Netflix’s ‘The Rip’ at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on January 13, 2026, in New York City. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
The teams will begin their series Saturday at Madison Square Garden, but for New York radio host Kazeem Famuyide, the battle began several days ago.
Famuyide, who is part of “Mornings with Mero” on popular New York hip-hop station Hot 97, said Monday that his station “should not play any Atlanta artists until the end of the series.”
That means no Usher, Ludacris, TI, Lil Baby and many others.
“Day 1 of my music event in Atlanta starts today, we’re not trying to hear ANY of this until the first round lol,” Famuyide posted on X the next day.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Madison Square Garden on March 24, 2026 in New York. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
The station lost Atlanta on Monday and Famuyide said the music was “still good and current.”
The Athletic noted that Famuyide said he wanted to “show a little New York solidarity” during Friday’s show. Famuyike also co-hosts a podcast with Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony.
If Atlanta decides to hold the same protest, it would be denying some of the greatest artists of all time, including The Notorious BIG, JAY-Z, Nas and Fabolous.
A general view of the New York Knicks logo before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 6, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE)
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani weighed in on the Knicks-Hawks rivalry earlier this week, placing blame on the aforementioned Young for expensive playoff tickets at the Garden. Young, however, no longer plays for the Hawks.
The Hawks beat the Knicks in five games in their last playoff meeting. New York is the third seed in the conference, while Atlanta finishes sixth.
