KMJQ Houston
Benjamin Thompson, professionally known as Madd Hatta and by his rap moniker Mista Madd, is an icon in Houston, Texas, the nation’s fourth-largest city. The Houston transplant from Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a former morning radio show host, founder and president of the hip-hop label Paid in Full Entertainment, Texas Radio Hall of Famer and tireless community supporter, this is one legend that’s never been content to sit back and rest on his accomplishments.
A graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Hatta kicked off his radio career at Greensboro’s 102 JAMZ (WJMH-FM).
He arrived in Houston in 1993 to handle nights for Majic 102 (KMJQ-FM), later moving to afternoons then eventually to morning drive time for 97.9 The Box (KBXX-FM), Houston’s hip-hop hitmaker. There he hosted The Madd Hatta Morning Show for 20 years. His show was consistently rated in the Top 5 Houston morning shows and listed among Source Magazine’s Top 30 Morning Shows for several years in a row. In addition, Hatta was the renowned DJ mixer on sister station KMJQ-FM’s Club Majic show, mixing hip-hop, old school, funk and soul (rated #1 among adults 25-54).
He’s been recognized for his many achievements in radio and his contributions to his community, including being nominated for the prestigious Marconi Prize for achievements and advancements made in the field of communications, and Billboard Magazine’s Air Personality of the Year award. He received a Community Hero Award from Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs of Texas. In 2014, Madd Hatta was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.