Radio One goes Classic Hip-Hop in Houston.

Story by Inside Radio

Days after replacing all-news with all-Beyonce, Radio One has settled on a permanent format for Houston’s KROI. “Boom 92.1 FM,” a classic hip-hop station, launched yesterday on what was home to “News 92” for the past three years.

Radio One claims it’s “the first major market throwback hip-hop station of its kind in the country.”

Core acts include Jay Z, Biggie, 2Pac, Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott, Geto Boys and UGK.

The new station will complement urban AC “Majic 102.1” KMJQ and Rhythmic CHR “97.9 The Box” KBXX, giving the company a three-pronged approach to attracting the market’s African American population.

The company says its research uncovered a void for a format devoted exclusively to throwback hip-hop, which is typically too edgy for urban AC and too old for Urban and Rhythmic CHR.

Operations manager Terri Thomas said the new format will “bring Classic Hip-Hop back to listeners who grew up on the lyrics, beats and rhythm of this genre of music.”