Thursday, July 21, 2011

Part of our team

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

INTRODUCING..........




Alexie Figueroa (Alexie F) has embraced music and the gift of words ever since he can remember. At an early age his father put bongos in his hands, setting off a spark that became a flame. The bongos led to congas and song writing followed. His respect for the art of music is uncanny.  Besides bongos & congas, Alexie plays piano, drums & guitar. He wrote lyrics to his first song at the age of 12. One of the greatest connections for him was the fact that he literally lived around the corner from the birth of Hip Hop, Sedgwick Avenue.

Alexie F. passion for music allowed him to embrace many genres which includes, Rock N Roll, R&B, Salsa, Hip Hop, House, Meringue just to name a few.  In the early eighties, he gained admission into one of the hottest house music clubs, the Paradise Garage. That experience changed his life forever. Music writing & arranging was truly in his blood. 
By the 90's, Alexie scored his first production credit with a group called AURA. Alexie wrote the local smash "Trust Me Boy". He later worked for Sparkle Management as an A&R person under the direction of George Vascones assisting such artists as Marc Anthony, George Lamond, T.K.A, Judy Torres, Two without Hats and Sam Savon.

Alexie F also wrote for the Harlem Nites Press contributing a monthly poem for their "What's Going On" column. In 2004, Alexie began his 5 year run as co-host along-side Eric “EDAYE” Daye on the Hip Hop radio show THE ZRO HOUR, which started out as a show on Galaxy Plus a Haitian pirate radio station pirate radio in Brooklyn and ended up being one of the first Hip Hop podcasts broadcastings on the internet with a huge internet following. He interviewed the likes of Lin Q, Milk Dee & Eternia just to name a few.
In 2009, Alexie F branched out on his own and started his own online entertainment magazine called Afro Boy (with the assistance of artist/author Trina Slade-Burks) which introduced to the world his unique interviewing style through his Vlogs and Q&A’s as well as his distinctive commentary   to the variety of music from the past and present that he respects.  Some interviews include the 5th Column camp, Producer/Videographer Justin Thomas, Hip Hop’s Marco Polo, Grammy award winner Easy Mo Bee, and r&b singer Goapele.

His writings have appeared in two poetry/art books What is My Priority?2Faced: the Devil’s Advocate.  Alexie F is in the process of writing 4 books, one which is in pre-production called Sex Rules which he has already launched a lingerie line for. He is in post-production on a Hip Hop documentary called The Lost Tapes a Just In Case It Rains Productions.

If he doesn’t seem like he has enough on his plate, he is in heavy negotiations to open an entertainment lounge.  And because of his love of fine art in 2010, Alexie F collaborated with A.T.B Fine Artists & Designers LLC. as one of their New York art reps.  So if you think Mr. Figueroa isn’t busy enough, you are sadly mistaken.

Written by: Trina Slade-Burks