What Do You Listen to on the Radio?
by Adam Bonislawski
Our favorite driving music is definitely the Bulgarian Women’s State Choir — and we’ve only crashed three times while listening to it, so that’s pretty good. We also like to listen to recordings of our own voice when we were younger. It’s both funny and sad, but mainly funny. Hahaha.
ALIOUS
Where I hailed him: LES
Where he hails from: Guinea
Years as a cabbie: 5
Previous profession: Street merchant
I work nights, so from 5 to 10pm I listen to 1010WINS for the traffic reports. After 10 I put on music. Usually from 10 to midnight I listen to 106.7FM — that’s like soft music. And after midnight I put on Hot 97 — it’s like rap music, for all the young people who are out.
DIEGO
Where I hailed him: Financial District
Where he hails from: Mexico
Years as a cabbie: 20
Previous profession: Construction worker
I like 97.9 [FM, aka La Mega]. It’s a Spanish-language station. That’s the main reason I listen to it. A lot of the guys, the hosts and stuff, are pretty good. There’s some English stuff I listen to, too, but not as much. Sometimes the customers ask to listen to something, and if they do I’ll put it to that. I don’t mind, whatever sounds good.
GURMAIL
Where I hailed him: Soho
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: Two days (!)
Previous profession: Mover
I keep the radio off. It’s distracting. Sometimes I’ll listen to songs on 103.5, but usually the only reason I have it on is to listen to the traffic on 1010WINS.
TAHER
Where I hailed him: Gramercy
Where he hails from: Bangladesh
Years as a cabbie: 18
Previous profession: Garment salesman
Most of the time I listen to 1010WINS, but at night I always listen to public radio on AM820. It’s like the BBC — they talk about politics, social issues. I never listen to music unless my passenger asks for me to turn some on.
FRANK
Where I hailed him: East Village
Where he hails from: Staten Island
Years as a cabbie: 8
Previous profession: Barber
I don’t pay attention to the stations, just whatever I can sing along with. The only thing I make a point to listen to is the news, I guess. I like Rush Limbaugh, that guy is fucking hysterical. But a lot of people here hate him, so I don’t have him on when I have a customer. You never want to get into an argument with a customer, not if you want a tip.
ALIOUS
Where I hailed him: LES
Where he hails from: Guinea
Years as a cabbie: 5
Previous profession: Street merchant
I work nights, so from 5 to 10pm I listen to 1010WINS for the traffic reports. After 10 I put on music. Usually from 10 to midnight I listen to 106.7FM — that’s like soft music. And after midnight I put on Hot 97 — it’s like rap music, for all the young people who are out.
DIEGO
Where I hailed him: Financial District
Where he hails from: Mexico
Years as a cabbie: 20
Previous profession: Construction worker
I like 97.9 [FM, aka La Mega]. It’s a Spanish-language station. That’s the main reason I listen to it. A lot of the guys, the hosts and stuff, are pretty good. There’s some English stuff I listen to, too, but not as much. Sometimes the customers ask to listen to something, and if they do I’ll put it to that. I don’t mind, whatever sounds good.
GURMAIL
Where I hailed him: Soho
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: Two days (!)
Previous profession: Mover
I keep the radio off. It’s distracting. Sometimes I’ll listen to songs on 103.5, but usually the only reason I have it on is to listen to the traffic on 1010WINS.
TAHER
Where I hailed him: Gramercy
Where he hails from: Bangladesh
Years as a cabbie: 18
Previous profession: Garment salesman
Most of the time I listen to 1010WINS, but at night I always listen to public radio on AM820. It’s like the BBC — they talk about politics, social issues. I never listen to music unless my passenger asks for me to turn some on.
FRANK
Where I hailed him: East Village
Where he hails from: Staten Island
Years as a cabbie: 8
Previous profession: Barber
I don’t pay attention to the stations, just whatever I can sing along with. The only thing I make a point to listen to is the news, I guess. I like Rush Limbaugh, that guy is fucking hysterical. But a lot of people here hate him, so I don’t have him on when I have a customer. You never want to get into an argument with a customer, not if you want a tip.
