Hoodz Radio streams golden-era hip-hop and R&B live, 24 hours a day, to Troy, NY and the whole Collar City. Independent. No app required. No algorithm deciding what you hear.

Troy has always had its own sound — from the block parties on River Street to the cyphers that used to run outside the old Uncle Sam Parking Garage. Hoodz Radio picks up that thread. We’re broadcasting live from 418 Broadway in Albany, a straight shot down I-787 or across the Green Island Bridge, and we’ve built our programming for listeners who grew up on golden-era hip-hop and real R&B — not whatever a streaming algorithm decided you’d like this week. Since 2006, we’ve been an independent home for the culture: real DJs, real voices, and a rotation that respects where this music came from while still making room for who’s carrying it forward.

What Troy Hears on Hoodz Radio

Our programming is built around the eras and artists that actually shaped hip-hop and R&B — the deep cuts alongside the classics, not just the songs that made it onto a “best of” playlist.

  • Golden-era hip-hop — the boom-bap, the samples, the lyricism that built the genre before it got flattened into a formula.
  • Classic and contemporary R&B — the vocal groups and solo artists who never left rotation in a real household.
  • Daily Traffic Mix — our weekday drive-time block, built for the commute up and down 787, whether you’re heading into Troy or out to Albany.
  • Shoutouts & requests — call or text 844-346-6397 and we’ll put Troy on the air. This isn’t a station that ignores its listeners.
  • DJ mixes and live sets — extended blends, not just three-minute radio edits.

Serving Troy and the Collar City

Hoodz Radio streams to Troy’s downtown corridor, the RPI and Russell Sage College campuses, the Hill, Lansingburgh, and everywhere in between — River Street, Monument Square, Frear Park, the Troy Farmers Market on a Saturday morning. Because we’re an internet station, there’s no signal to lose driving under an overpass or through the South End — if you’ve got a connection, you’ve got Hoodz Radio, full strength, whether you’re at home, at work, or walking down 4th Street.

We also cover the rest of the Capital Region — Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs — so Troy listeners with friends and family across the area can put them on to the same station.

Common Questions from Troy Listeners

Troy listeners tuning in for the first time usually ask us some version of the same handful of questions — here’s what we tell them:

  • “Can I actually pick up Hoodz Radio in Troy, or is this an Albany-only thing?” Internet radio doesn’t work like a broadcast tower — there’s no range limit. If you’re in Troy with a phone, laptop, or smart speaker, you get the exact same stream as someone standing in our Albany studio.
  • “Do you take requests from outside Albany?” Yes. Text or call 844-346-6397 — we don’t care what zip code you’re calling from.
  • “Is there a Troy-specific show?” Not a dedicated block yet, but our hosts shout out Troy regularly, and DJ/host applications are open if someone from the Collar City wants to bring a show to the station.
  • “Can I submit my own music if I’m an artist based in Troy or RPI?” Yes — we take submissions from independent artists across the Capital Region, including Troy and the college scene.

Why Troy Listens to Hoodz Radio

We’re not a corporate station reading off a playlist handed down from a program director three states away. Hoodz Radio is independently run, built by people who grew up on this music and still play it the way it was meant to be heard. We answer our own requests. We built this for a Capital Region audience first — Troy included — not for a national syndication package with local ads stitched in.

Respect the legacy. Amplify the movement. That’s not a slogan we bolted on — it’s the actual programming philosophy: play the records that built the culture, and give the artists carrying it forward a real platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hoodz Radio free to listen to in Troy, NY?
Yes, completely free, streaming live 24/7 with no subscription and no app download required.

What genre does Hoodz Radio play?
Golden-era hip-hop and R&B, with a rotation built around the artists and eras that shaped the genre.

How do I listen to Hoodz Radio from Troy?
Go to hoodzradio.com and hit play — works on any phone, tablet, computer, or smart speaker with a browser.

Can I request a song or get a shoutout on air?
Yes — call or text 844-346-6397 anytime.

Is Hoodz Radio an FM station or internet-only?
Internet-only, which means no signal drop and full-strength streaming anywhere in Troy, the Capital Region, or beyond.

How do I submit music or apply to host a show?
Reach out through the submissions and DJ/host application pages on hoodzradio.com.

Tune In From Troy

Hoodz Radio broadcasts live 24/7 from 418 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207 — serving Troy, the Collar City, and the entire Capital Region. Stream free at hoodzradio.com, no app required. Call or text 844-346-6397 for shoutouts and requests.