

Scottie Beam On Leaving Hot 97, Colliding With Purpose & Becoming Her Own Brand
Scottie Beam is living beyond her wildest dreams. One year since making her most fearless career move yet, the Hot 97 alum sits alongside Joe Budden, Remy Ma, and Brandon "Jinx" Jenkins on Revolt TV's State of the Culture.
The unfiltered show on all things hip-hop was three episodes in, and garnering over one million views, when I met up with the media personality in midtown Manhattan at the dawn of fall. Sporting a JAY-Z 4:44 T-shirt on what she deems a chill day in her schedule, Scottie breaks her stride on 7th Avenue when she runs into a former coworker, who seizes the chance encounter to celebrate her success beyond the building she called home for 10 years.
However, once she and I decided on an impromptu dinner at a Friday's nearby, she cuts no corners to discuss her latest win. She, instead, takes her time revisiting a season in her life that didn't seem to hold much promise at all.
As the daughter of WBLS veteran Shaila Scott, the Bronx native, née Deanii Scott, naturally developed a deep passion for music as a child but resisted patterning her steps after her mother's. "I fought it a bit," she reveals. "I didn't think that my talent was in radio, and I wanted to find something else I was really good at only to come right back around to the radio station."
At 17, she started out as a KISS FM street team member and later joined Hot 97 when the iconic R&B station folded in 2012. At that time, a day in the life looked like setting up tables, grabbing a mic, and giving voice to the audience fueling the station where hip-hop lives. "Now that I think about [it], it was a great time, but back then I hated it," she says, describing the job as both electrifying and exhausting.
While, in retrospect, the street team granted her an opportunity to build the foundation for her rise in the years to come, Scottie entered college unconvinced that she had a future in radio and soon began to sink under the pressure of pinpointing her purpose. "I was drowning," the onetime Clark Atlanta University student explains. "I didn't know exactly what my calling and existence on this earth was. That's how deep it went."
"I didn't know exactly what my calling and existence on this earth was. That's how deep it went."
Miles from her support system at home and unable to find one on campus, Scottie made the decision to drop out of school her junior year. "I hit this dark road where I just quit and locked myself in a room," she tells me. "I was severely depressed. I did not want to be here anymore. I didn't think anything would be missing if I did not exist. That was my darkest time."
In search for the deeper meaning of her life, Scottie returned to New York, and tried her hand at fashion as an employee at Vinnies Styles, all while holding down her spot on Hot 97's street team. "I got in, and then I realized that I was trash at making clothes, so I was like, What exactly am I supposed to do?" she recalls. "I've tried everything – anything that I thought I was good at."
Though Scottie fought to zoom in on what she wanted to do, her work ethic was never called into question. When she landed an unpaid internship at Columbia Records (after concealing her status as a college dropout), she tested her stamina to the extreme. "I'll work until I'm tired. Until I have no more hands, no more feet, or no more voice," she stresses. "Once they eventually found out [that I lied], they kept me around because they knew I worked hard."
Within two summers, Scottie made her presence felt at the label but ultimately discovered she had little interest in the business of music. "I just love music," she emphasizes. "I love the artistry and the way it makes people feel and putting people on to that."
As she inched closer to the essence of her passion, Scottie began to grow weary of staying still at Hot 97. "I think it's important to set time limits on certain things, especially things that you know you don't want to do forever," she says. "I've seen people do 10, 15, 20 years on street team, and I didn't want that to be me."
Since she couldn't muster the funds to travel between New York and her home in Piscataway, New Jersey, Scottie slept at the station many nights. With little money to her name, she also forwent food on several occasions. "I was tired of that kind of struggle," she expresses.
With no desire to abuse her mother's support, Scottie was ready to chart her own path—even if that meant giving up music. After lying on her resume once again, she secured a fashion merchandising job at Adidas. The day she planned to quit street team, however, the universe intercepted with bigger plans: Angie Martinez was interested in Scottie joining her team as a digital producer.
"That's favor. That was God," she says with conviction. "He knew I was going to hang that sh*t up. I was done, but even if you say it's over, it's really not over until God says so. A lot of people will quit on you, but God won't."
Pink Pig Productions
"Even if you say it's over, it's really not over until God says so. A lot of people will quit on you, but God won't."
Under the influence of the Voice of New York, Scottie got a dose of the impact she could one day make behind the mic. "Angie has taught me so much," she reflects. "Seeing how much of a boss she is, how serious she takes this craft, really pushed me to at least mirror some of the things that I learned."
Responsible for generating content on social media, Scottie spotted a gap she wanted to fill. "I don't see a lot of Black women talk about music, unfortunately. Not a lot of Black women have voices, period, in this industry," she explains. "I decided to give it a try."
When Angie Martinez made the decision to join Power 105.1 in 2014, marking the end of an era at Hot 97, Scottie dug deeper into her goal as a digital producer for Ebro In The Morning. "That's when I really started to realize what it is that I wanted to do," she reveals.
Dedicated to amplifying unsigned artists, Scottie curated playlists on her own time and took hold of the chance to produce Hot 97's Who's Next showcase. "Putting people on to new artists was one of my favorite things to do, so having the opportunity to do that every month was a gift," she reminisces.
When I ask when it all became unfulfilling, Scottie notes that the walls of the station began to close in on her as the desire to be limitless blossomed. With no room for growth, the only thing left to do was stare at the ceiling. "It was the biggest honor ever to sit in that building," she assures. "I learned so much, but it was time."
Moved by Nina Simone's musings on freedom, Scottie submitted her two-weeks' notice in May 2017. "I never felt I could exist without [Hot 97]," the former digital producer admits. "I felt like it defined me because I thought that that's what careers were supposed to do: the brand is supposed to define you and when it doesn't anymore, you find another brand. Then, I realized that I was the brand."
Revolt TV
"I realized that I was the brand."
In the months to come, Scottie landed opportunities to work with Revolt TV, HBO, and Nike. She would later host Broccoli City Festival 2018 (marking hosting a first in her career) and narrate Reebok's "Flipping The Game" podcast centered on women in the sneaker industry.
In between her success, she also collided with sheer disappointment. In November 2017, the radio personality landed her own weekend show with New York City's Satori Radio and was promoted to the prime time slot a mere month later. Before the end of January, however, the online station shut down entirely, leaving Scottie in a funk. "It's really the name of the game in radio," she chimes on the harsh reality. "One day you're on air, the next could be your last."
Throughout it all, Scottie spun one verse from J. Cole's "Premeditated Murder" into an affirmation: Keep grinding girl, your life can change in one year. "His music was definitely the reason why I decided to get out of bed some days or why I decided to try again or take an opportunity I wasn't confident about," she shares.
As she navigated wins and losses, Scottie poured into a mounting fan base of Black women tuned into her personal journey as one of five voices behind the Black Girl Podcast. "Ebro had always taught me that when it's your show, you have to be transparent. Nothing is to be left off the mic," she says when discussing the nature of the show.
The ladies of 'Black Girl Podcast'
Pink Pig Productions
The audio series – also hosted by Hot 97 alumni Gia Peppers, Sapphira Martin, Rebecca "Bex" Francois, and Alysha Pamphile – has drawn more than one million downloads since its premiere in December 2016, unlocking a deeper dimension to Scottie's ever-crystallizing destiny. "It helps Black women feel seen, and I didn't know I was that passionate about it until it was happening," she muses.
It's a zeal she carries with her as a panelist on State of the Culture, which she tested for numerous times before gracing YouTube and television screens this past September. "Easily, I'm the most hated," she insists. "I've gotten some crazy, crazy letters."
And yet, whether discussing sexual abuse or double standards attached to women, Scottie has no plans on muting her voice to make others comfortable. "The color of my skin and my gender have already pissed people off, so why stop there?" she says. "My heart is in this work. There is no way that something can be ugly or stomped on when it's made with nothing but love and true intent."
As Scottie and I wrapped up our meal, she reveals she still has no map to guide her on her road to success—but this time, she's perfectly fine with that. "None of this was my vision. I just wanted to create. I just wanted to do stuff that meant something. I wanted to do something that people would remember," she says. "I want one person to feel like if she went through this sh*t and went through a bunch of failures, there'll be a win somewhere. I'm sure I'm not done failing, but I also know I'm not done winning either."
To keep up with Scottie, follow her on Instagram.
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Shanice Davis is a writer from New York, dedicated to illuminating women of color and Caribbean culture with her pen. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @alwayshanice.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Masturdating: A TikTok Dating Trend That We Should Totally Get Behind
Imma tell y’all what — it seems like not one week goes by when I don’t see some sort of so-called term that has me like, “What in the world?” For instance, when I first stumbled upon “self-partnering,” honestly, I laughed. Then shared it with some other single people as well as married folks I know. And I kid you not, every individual was like, “What the heck does that mean?” When I told them that it was yet, one more way to seemingly define single living, basically everyone’s follow-up was, “Oh, brother.”
Why can’t (more) singles just be single and be okay with that? Good Lord. Why does there need to be some sort of relational play-on-words to make it sound like we’re with someone — even if we’re not?
Now masturdating? Even though it’s not even close to being a “real” word, it’s something that also brought a laugh outta me — although it was then followed by a genuine smile. The laugh because I almost immediately caught the play-on-words. The smile was due to the intention behind it all.
If you’re not familiar with what masturdating is and you’re curious about why you should even care, take a few moments to at least skim through what it’s about and why I think participating, as a single person, is a pretty cool (and effective) concept.
@knotlukas Masturdate: a date w oneself
What’s Masturdating All About?
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Masturdating. Okay, so let the word marinate for just a moment. What does it sound like? Yeah…exactly. And since a huge part of masturbation centers around self-pleasure, it’s cool to explore how “self-dating” could produce similar (as far as pleasure is concerned in a broader sense) results. Because masturdating is all about spending quality time with yourself, pampering yourself, treating yourself— and yes, taking yourself out on dates.
Any of you who may think that masturdating is a consolation prize — and a pitiful one at that — for not being able to go out with another human being or get that dream $200 first date that social media was all in a tizzy about last year (bookmark that) — personally, I think that you’re the demographic who needs to try out masturdating first and the most. Why? Off top, I’ll share my three good reasons.
3 Reasons To Strongly Consider Masturdating
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1. It’s an intimate way to get to know yourself better. I’ve been working with couples for a pretty long time at this point and if there’s a pattern that I see arise, OFTEN, it’s that two people are oftentimes so busy trying to “find their person” that they didn’t even know who they were. As a direct result, they found themselves in a relationship with someone who only complemented the “kiddie pool version” of who they were.
That’s why it can be so beneficial to spend time getting to know yourself on the “deep end” of things: what makes you tick, what your passions are, what you want most out of life, what are your interests beyond obvious things — and masturdating can help you to discover all of this. Whether it’s traveling alone or taking out a weekend to drink some wine and journal, the more you get to know yourself, the clearer you’ll be about who complements you on a romantic and friendship level.
2. It will definitely help to boost your confidence levels. I guess since I’m an ambivert, I don’t really get why people freak out at the mere thought of going to a restaurant or movie alone. Personally, I think it requires a helluva lot more energy and gumption to wait around and plan stuff with other people (#Elmoshrug). However, whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert, there’s no way around the fact that the more comfortable you get with doing things alone, the more your confidence levels will increase — no, soar — because of it.
One article that I read on the topic said that doing things alone can make you more creative, improve your mental health, and help you to be totally okay with being alone (so that you’re not “needy” for other people’s attention). A psychotherapist from a New York Times article on the benefits of spending time alone said, “Getting better at identifying moments when we need solitude to recharge and reflect can help us better handle negative emotions and experiences, like stress and burnout.” And when you’re able to stare negativity in its face without flinching, how could that not make you bolder, more self-secure, and hopeful about your life?
3. It will teach you to value your time more effectively. In every facet of your world, you’re gonna operate from a healthier place if you’re operating from a “full cup” rather than an empty one. When it comes to this topic, think about it — if you’re constantly waiting on someone to call you to go out or wishing for a dream date with some guy, all you’re doing is wasting precious time that you could be spending taking a cooking class or hell, hiring a chef to make you dinner at your own home.
Indeed, waiting has two sides to it: when it’s in the form of patience, it is indeed a virtue, yet when it’s wrapped up in the notion that you’re not really living life unless you have an audience…it is totally working against you. Choose wisely.
10 Solo Date Ideas To Help You To “Master” Masturdating
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So, what if you’re someone who has either never considered actually masturdating before or you don’t really know what to do beyond dinner and the movies? Here are a few ideas to consider:
1. Attend a workshop or masterclass that you’re interested in. If there’s something that you’ve always wanted to learn, sign up for a workshop or masterclass. The cool thing about this option is there are probably some in your city, as well as some that you can find online (like here) that are convenient and affordable.
2. Binge-read at a local coffee shop. Aside from their coziness and oftentimes inviting scents, I once read that a lot of us gravitate to coffee shops because we can be around people without having to actually socialize with them. So, if you want to “hang out” while still being able to enjoy a bit of solitude, take a book that you’ve been trying to finish to a local coffee shop, order your favorite latte, and sit in a big-ass comfy chair. Usually, you can sit there for hours, and the staff will be just fine with it (another bonus).
3. Have a spa day in the next town. You can never go wrong with a spa day. And while going with a friend can be fun, sometimes there’s too much talking transpiring to be able to fully chill out and relax. So, go off of the grid, get a change of scenery, and hit up a spa in the next city (or town). There are lots of studies out here supporting that day trips or “daycations” can actually be really good for your long-term health and well-being.
4. See a community play. Some of the best solo dates that I’ve ever been on consisted of taking in some of the local arts in my city. What’s really cool about this particular option is, oftentimes, they are extremely inexpensive, if not totally free of charge (in exchange for making a donation or putting money into a tip jar).
5. Plan a trip. Whenever people say something along the lines of, “If you don’t expect anything, you won’t be disappointed,” I know that they low-key have some (additional) healing to do from past disappointments. There’s simply too much intel out here to support that anticipation (of good stuff) makes us more motivated and optimistic, keeps our dopamine levels up, and makes life more exciting overall.
Since traveling alone is more cost-effective, gives you the freedom to do whatever you want (when you want), and increases the possibility of meeting new people and having new experiences on your journey — why not devote a day this weekend to planning a solo trip? All the way around, it’s good for you.
6. Try your hand at your own “$200 date.” Uh-huh. Roll your eyes if you want to, but it’s real easy to talk left about how a man should be able to just drop $200 like it’s nothing…until you actually try to do it. So yes, while taking yourself out on this type of date could serve as a bit of a reality check, it can also “scratch the itch” of waiting on some dude to do it for you. It’s also way less emotionally draining because, at least when you’re taking your own self out, it’s guaranteed that you’ll enjoy the company…right?
7. DIY some pampering. When you get a chance, check out “5 Reasons You Should Unapologetically Pamper Yourself,” “Want To Love On Yourself? Try These 10 Things At Home.,” “I’ve Got Some Ways For You To Start Pampering Your Soul,” and “When's The Last Time You Actually Pampered Your Vagina?” The bottom line here is pampering is all about, not mere self-maintenance; it’s all about treating yourself to levels of EXTREME SELF-INDULGENCE. So, if nothing else tickles your fancy on this list, at least consider doing that, chile.
8. Feed your creativity. Something that I used to be really good at is art. That said, one of my goddaughters is insanely talented, so she has reminded me to tap back into it. Also, a big part of what got me into the writing world is poetry; I actually used to be a house poet at a local spot. Sometimes, my best quality time moments with myself have been revisiting these creative sides of me — and this is definitely easier to do (and enjoy) alone.
9. Try some stargazing. When’s the last time you took a blanket into your backyard, laid down on it, and just stared at the stars for hours on end? While some say that stargazing can teach you to be mindful, others say that being in that form of nature reduces stress, while others believe that looking up at the universe at night can increase your attention span. All solid reasons to give it a shot, if you ask me.
10. DO. ABSOLUTELY. NOTHING. Let me tell you something that nobody will ever be able to make me feel bad about: doing absolutely nothing. I’ve got data to back me up. Good Housekeeping shares that doing nothing can help you decide how you want to respond or react to certain things. I like howThe Guardian says that taking this approach helps you to regain control of what you give your attention to.
TIME magazine says that it can ultimately make you more productive.BBC offers up that it can help you tap into your ingenuity.Henry Ford Health says that it can make you kinder and a better problem-solver. So, if you want to invest in yourself, do nothing sometimes.
Closing Thoughts from the Lovely Javicia Leslie
While some of y'all may know Javicia Leslie from being the former Batwoman, I discovered her back in the day from the indie series Chef Julian (and yes, "Julian" was right to say that "Mo" looks like Tatyana Ali...the real ones know). Sometimes I'll hop on her IG to see what she's got going on and this story popped up within a few hours of me penning this...so, I took it as hella confirmation.
TREAT YO SELF. WAIT FOR NO ONE.
WAIT FOR NO ONE. TREAT YO SELF.
RINSE AND REPEAT.
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Sooo…what kind of masturdating plans do you have for this coming weekend? While going out with others has its perks, hanging out with yourself has a ton of ‘em too. Enjoy!
No…for real. ENJOY!
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