Each Friday, “The Riot,” a music show on KCOU 88.1 FM, has filled the station’s airwaves with DJs’ eclectic choices. A listener might hear the likes of Tim McGraw or Lil Wayne.

“The Riot” premiered Oct. 19, 2012, and this Friday, it will air on KCOU for the 100th time at 6 p.m., a milestone for the show and the radio station.

“Reaching 100 shows was actually the last thing on my mind,” said Eddie Duckworth, one of the show’s DJs. “When I first started out, I thought ‘The Riot’ was fun. I didn’t know how long it was going to last, but I thought as long as it’s here, I am here.”

Duckworth hosts [“The Riot”](https://twitter.com/theriotkcou) along with Lovectecus Allen and Amuche Nwafor. On the air, they go by DJ Swoove, DJ Lil’ Love and DJ Che, respectively.

“The Riot” is a music show that focuses on showcasing many different genres of music including country, hip-hop and pop. Besides playing music on-air, Allen conducts phone interviews with artists and people around Columbia.

“We try to bring a high-energy show since it’s a Friday during rush hour and people are just getting off of work,” Duckworth said “You want something to look forward to for the weekend. We can help people to get out of their crappy work mindset.”

The idea for the show came about because from an early age, Allen was always told he had a big personality — a riot — so he wanted to keep that same idea.

General manager Carson Cornelius said shows must re-apply each semester in order to ensure the shows are keeping up high levels of content. “The Riot” has stuck around every semester since it began.

“They have really worked together to build a brand around their show,” Cornelius said.

Allen said many people want the 6 to 8 p.m. block, but since “The Riot” is always advertised for that time slot, the radio show has always broadcasted during that time.

“Over the past two years, we as a station have basically built up the Friday block to be the best day out of the week,” Duckworth said. “I don’t know if it was intentionally planned, but however it happened, it works well.”

Allen’s interest in radio started very young, and he began by interviewing his family. Then, he progressed to interning and working for a corporate radio station next to Forest Park Community College in St. Louis when he was 19 before joining KCOU.

Allen was also the previous business director for the station. KCOU Music Director Brian Soetaert said he was the most successful in acquiring underwritings (a third party member who contributes a monetary donation or trade of services) and sponsorships in KCOU history.

“He was always willing to go the extra mile to create relationships with businesses and with people we had previously not contacted,” Soetaert said.

He said underwriting is important because it does not only fund radio shows, but also events that KCOU puts on around town. Soetaert also said Allen always wears his sponsor’s clothing or stickers to show support.

As for Duckworth, this was his first radio show. However, he said he had no real challenges.

“I have a lot of fun with it,” he said. “I like having the creative control that we have. I like being able to goof off on air when everybody is listening. Although when I am on air, I pretend that no one is listening … This is our studio and I own the mic.”

Allen and Duckworth were paired up together when they applied, but they did not know each other at all before they began their first show.

“We gel together well,” Allen said. “You never know what you are going to get out of me. I’m loud, fun, energetic, and he’s the chill, laid-back, calm-me-down type of person.”

Nwafor joined the show in October 2014. She said when she first joined she was shy and afraid she would not fit into the atmosphere, but once she started she became more comfortable.

This will be Duckworth’s and Allen’s last semester hosting “The Riot.” Although the men will no longer be a part of KCOU, the show will not be dissolved. Plans to replace them are already in the works, with Nwafor taking over Allen’s role.

“It’s kind of like ‘Avatar: the Last Airbender’ and ‘Avatar: the Legend of Korra,’”Duckworth said. “It’s kinda the same thing but not necessarily. It’s like a spinoff.”

Allen’s favorite times were when it was just the three of them in the studio.

“There’s no interviews, nobody is coming in and they just throwing shade at me, but it is all in good, Riot fun,” Allen said. “I also love when Swoove goes on his rants, because it brings out the personality within himself.”

Allen said the content of the 100th show is kept under wraps, but there will be cake and pizza at the studio.

“Riots don’t end, “ Duckworth said. “People just go to sleep and then they start rioting again.”