For what reason did WQHT Hot 97 become known beyond New York?

Back in the day, when hip-hop was still raw and real on the streets, Hot 97 broke records that other stations wouldn't touch. They gave a voice to guys like Biggie and Jay-Z before they were household names, and that mix of street credibility with a massive signal meant you could hear it in Philly or even down the Jersey shore. It was the first time a station outside of LA or Chicago truly felt like it was broadcasting the pulse of the whole country, not just the five boroughs.