Two Queens On The Mic: Besa Gordon Joins Elisha Michelle on The Legendary Dope Show

The Legendary Dope Show recently welcomed Back2Besa and Almost The Weekend! host Besa Gordon for an honest, joyful conversation about her media journey, personal growth, and what she’s learned along the way — on and off the mic. Hosted by the one and only Elisha Michelle, the episode felt less like an interview and more like a reminder that sometimes the path makes sense only after you’ve lived it.

If you know Besa today, you know her for her bright energy, quick wit, and ease in front of the camera. But what many people don’t realize is that confidence came with time. Growing up as an only child in a large, loud family full of boy cousins, Besa was actually pretty shy — even dealing with social anxiety early on.

“As an adult, I don’t fight,” she joked. “But when I was younger? We used to get down. I would bust heads.”

That mix of humor and honesty set the tone for a conversation that traced her love of media all the way back to childhood — specifically, radio. Long before she was on air, Besa found comfort in listening. She used to fall asleep with the radio on, imagining herself hosting shows, answering phones, and connecting with people she couldn’t see.

That love turned interactive fast. Alongside her childhood best friend Tressa, she became a frequent caller to local stations under the name “Tressa and Janay.” They called so often, the hosts actually knew who they were.

Hearing Black voices on Seattle radio — especially personalities like Eddie Francis and Tiffany Warner on KUBE 93.3 — planted a seed.

“Seeing Black people doing that, being heard, being themselves, made me realize something was possible for me in media.”

Right out of high school, Besa didn’t wait for permission. Noticing a lack of lifestyle coverage centered on Pacific Northwest artists, restaurants, and Black-owned businesses, she started her own blog. Armed with curiosity, hustle, and her aunt’s small silver point-and-shoot camera, she taught herself how to edit, write, and publish on the fly.

“I didn’t see what I wanted to see,” she said. “So I decided to create it.”

That mindset carried her forward. In her late teens, Besa connected with Chukundi Salisbury, founder of SeaSpot Media Group, and began gaining hands-on experience in media production — not because she had everything figured out, but because she was willing to learn.

“I didn’t have radio experience yet,” she explained. “But I knew if I could get my foot in the door, this could really be the start.”

And it was.

After spending time away from Seattle, Besa returned home determined to work at iHeartMedia. She joined the promotions street team, laser-focused on one goal: KUBE 93.3. That focus paid off. She officially started at iHeart in 2015 and by 2018, she was on the mic at Seattle’s premier hip-hop station.

From there, radio took her across the country — with stops at JAM’N 107.5 in Portland, B95 in Fresno, V101.1 in Sacramento, and 103.7 The Beat in Austin — all while continuing to sharpen her voice and presence.

So when KUBE 93.3 was pulled from the airwaves in 2023, the loss hit deep.

“I was crushed. I still feel it. We worked so hard for that station to earn respect.”

What’s important — and often misunderstood — is that even during the pandemic, Besa never left radio. She was still actively reporting, still on air, still informing her community in real time. But like so many creatives, she adapted. From her apartment, she began interviewing artists via Instagram Live — names like Jack Harlow, Blueface, Erica Banks, and BIA — using whatever tools were available to keep conversations going when studios shut down.

It was those moments — those TikToks, those lives, that consistency — that caught the attention of Omari Salisbury. Omari reached out to Besa after seeing her work and told her plainly: you should be doing television.

That conversation led to Converge Media, to meetings, to decks, and eventually to “Rewind with Besa.” From there, everything expanded — not because she pivoted away from radio, but because she built on the foundation she already had.

Today, Besa is not just a host, but a producer and executive producer, leading Back2Besa on FOX 13 Seattle and co-hosting Almost The Weekend! alongside Curtis Delgado II. She’s intentional about her creativity, her rest, and listening to inspiration when it shows up — even if that’s late at night.

“I’m super creative after midnight,” she shared. “That’s when I’m editing, planning, brain-dumping. That’s when ideas hit.”

At its core, Besa’s story isn’t about overnight success or sudden pivots. It’s about showing up, staying curious, and trusting that the skills you build along the way will eventually meet the moment.

You can keep up with all things Besa Gordon at whereweconverge.com, and check out Elisha Michelle’s Legendary Dope Show wherever you stream podcasts.