American-born Latina radio personality, entrepreneur, former rapper, and actress.
Martinez was born in the New York City borough of Brooklyn on January 9, 1971 (she was born two days before her friend, singer Mary J. Blige). She was later shuffled between other parts of NYC including the Bronx and Manhattan's Washington Heights community area, and later nearby Hudson County, New Jersey and Miami, Florida.
She began her radio career as an intern for Miami's Power 96 (WPOW) in 1985, but a year later, moved back to New York City to work as a telemarketer for Hot 97 (WQHT) and later became radio DJ Funkmaster Flex's protege as he convinced Hot 97's then-vice president Tracy Cloherty to grant Martinez her own radio show, when in 1996, she hosted the Angie Martinez Afternoon Show (later simply renamed in 2000 to the Angie Martinez Show). Martinez also credits Flex for introducing her to her close friend, Mary J. Blige, during a conduction for their interview on her radio show. On June 24, 2014, she parted ways with WQHT after 29 years of partnership and joined its rival station, Power 105.1 (WWPR), although she remained on good terms with her former comrades.
She received nationwide attention for conducting off-station interviews with rappers Tupac Shakur in 1995 (which remains unreleased), singer Brandy (2) in 2008 and J. Cole in 2018. As of 2015, she is managed by Jay-Z's entertainment conglomerate, Roc Nation.
As a rapper, she has only released two albums, Up Close & Personal (2001) and Animal House (2002), while previously receiving recognition for her appearance on Lil' Kim's "Not Tonight" remix alongside Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Da Brat and Missy Elliott. She retired from rapping in 2003 to focus on her radio and entrepreneurial careers.
Martinez is the mother of basketball player Niko Ruffin (b. 2003); her son's father is Nokio the N-Tity, the founder of R&B boy band Dru Hill; Mary J. Blige, Martinez's long-time friend, is her son's godmother.
