Afro Boy

aahh yeah!!!! hector lavoe

2012-03-09T13:01:00.006-05:00

listen 2 the player while visiting the page

new hot spot

2012-03-05T03:47:00.002-05:00

check out this new spot that my boy is promoting,,it looks pretty funky........imma drop through myself real real soon.......http://onepagerapp.com/SoulExcursion

CHILLIN' W/GOAPELE 10/24/11

2012-02-18T13:22:00.001-05:00

OMG!!!! You have no idea what it took to get here....This was an interview that just had to be...You see Alexie F had tried to meet Ms Goapele before...this time it was going to happen.

I contacted her management directly...here from FL.. communicating back in forth. "Yes we will have Alexie F's Press passes waiting for him @ will call @ BB Kings."

So my boy got up...SICK AS A DOG to trek down to get his passes.

I get an emergency call from his NYC assistant stating that he went to get his passes at the time they stated & there were no passes.

YOU KNOW I HIT THE ROOF

I called my contact & let her know I was not happy. That this is not the way I handle business. They made sure that Alexie was going to get his interview.

Sick as he was, he managed to get his day to day stuff done..nurture his cold & get there & handle his biz.

And the rest is...well you know

CHECK OUT THE THE PIX & VIDS & ENJOY

The Push that Almost Wasn't

2012-02-17T12:26:00.001-05:00

Back in the Myspace days...I was a known blogger on the net....I was managing a couple of forums on Delphi, created a blog on Blogspot, as well as a few blogs on Myspace. Some of the material I was posting were often known for being slightly edgy to almost controversial...In between I would periodically post these, what appeared to be random "phantom poems" that were sometimes dark; yet feeling.

Alexie F (my now partner in crime)& another writer friend of mine named Luis, would often bug me to find out who the writer was of the at times "drastic metaphors" that would flow across the screen.....Finally once I disclosed it was me, they both tagged teamed me w/the idea of getting the work published. Not feeling that as an option; all I just wanted to do is continue writing my former & present feelings in private...never disclosing the Phantom writer to the public.

Me a writer???...yeah right. It's still foreign to me as I write this.

Alexie F pushed the concept which forced me to search for an option that suited me if I were to consider it. Didn't tell many other people close to me. Only 2 people knew.... Why?..because if I chickened out..I didn't have any other people who would have held me accountable.

So still afraid to move forward.. I asked AF to add a piece to my first book... as excited as I was, when he actually obliged...my attitude was like "DAMN..NOW I REALLY HAVE TO DO THIS"...lol Now nothing is going to allow me to NOT do this project. His words in the piece he contributed were simple yet encouraging. Also it helped me put aside & forgive some our childhood differences from our past.

So now this artist is a self published author.

Since then.. I have published 3 more books.... two that Alexie has contributed great work in. One is a cookbook that you can find his recipe for ***mmmmm..... you need to get the book to find out...lol

The first book was about my life from the past into the present....the second was my point of view of situations as a Gemini. They both are the compliment of the other. Deep, feeling piece that make you think w/collaborations of artists, writers, friends, family & legacies.

Thank you to Alexie & Luis for both staying on me to get that first book done. Because honestly, that journey would never had happened without you both. The ideas would have just been verses that would have stayed in my word document program or even worse....in my journals for no one to experience.

PROMO TRI TRI'S SHHHH....

2012-02-12T10:01:00.000-05:00

2 SATURDAYS,,,,,IN THE SNOW,,,,DOING A PROMO,,,B/4 I GO 2 MY OFFICE,,LOL

MUCH LUV 2 ALL THE LADIES WHO SUPPORT ME ON MY FB PAGES,,,,MUUUAH!!

ENJOY THE VIDS

who???

2012-02-10T13:34:00.001-05:00

who do u know

who do u see

who do u luv

when all life's troubles,,,r 2 much

who do u call

who do u hug

who do u hold

when life beats u,,,down & ur feeling old

who do u text

who do u sex

who do u rub

when ur body just cant get enough,,,when ur body just says WTF

when ur really really really want 2,,,make luv

make luv

Alexie F Supports the Endangered Species of FL

2012-02-07T19:57:00.000-05:00

I am proud of this event. It was a very long process, But well worth it. My husband, Anthony Burks Sr. will be exhibiting as well as curating the show with me.

Alexie F will be in the house down here in South Florida showing his support for this cause.

Proceeds from art sales will be going to 3 charities. Busch Wildlife, The Marshall Foundation & the Loggerhead Marina.

For more information click HERE

If you wish to be a sponsor contact us HERE

ARE YOU HAVING AN IDENTITY CRISIS

2012-01-27T11:29:00.000-05:00

Alexie often wants his fans to be in tune with the art scene just like the music scene. One of his favorite pieces is by my husband artist, Anthony Burks. The images are all from a 5 part series called Identity Crisis. There are 3 of the 5 pieces available in affordable prints.

Check them out & BUY IT NOW on E-bay HERE.

ALEXIE'S FAVORITE

THANK U ALL

2012-01-15T11:40:00.006-05:00

4 ALL OF THOSE FRIENDS OF MINE WHO BECAME FOLLOWERS OF MY BLOG

I THANK U SO VERY MUCH.......I WILL MAKE IT MY BIZZNESS 2 POST SOME FUNKY

SHHHHHH SOON.

Off to do an interview

2012-01-06T11:30:00.003-05:00

Hi all..Alexie F wanted me to let you all know that he will be away on business

for a week....hint hint Heinekens will be on the regular....Amsterdam baby...so

I'll be keeping you all up to speed. He'll be back online next week....PEACE

Support the circle

2012-01-03T22:02:00.000-05:00

GET YOURS NOW

No, I am NOT running for any political office. This is my campaign for commerce to commerce support. The “You scratch my back I scratch your back rule.” Plain & simple.

In 2011 many of us suffered from the "ME Factor". The "Because of the economy I can't....blah blah blah" & many of us were left supporting causes & things that were never reciprocated.

I support Alexie F he supports me...Support this cause....you support the circle

NOW I'M IN A COOKBOOK

2011-12-06T06:31:00.002-05:00

ORDER HERE

BIG FIGHT ON SATURDAY NIGHT

2011-12-02T02:30:00.000-05:00

EVEN THOUGH I WANT MY BOY MIGUEL COTO TO BEAT THIS GUY ON DEC 3RD 2011,,,I WISHED HIM GOOD LUCK ON THE FIGHT....FOR THOSE OF U THAT DONT KNOW THE DETAILS AS TO WHY THIS FIGHT IS SO IMPORTANT,,,LET ME GIVE IT 2 YA STRAIGHT....ANTONIO MARGARITO FOUGHT AND BEAT MIGUEL COTO SEVERAL YEARS AGO,,IN A BLODDY BATTLE FOR A WIN....MIGUEL COTO WAS WINNING THE FIGHT IN THE EARLY ROUNDS,,BUT SOMETHING HAPPEN,,WHICH I FOUND STRANGE LOOKING AT THE FIGHT....ANTONIO MARGARITO STARTED GAINING MOMENTUM....THE POUNDING BLOWS TO MIGUEL COTOS FACE WERE LIKE HAMMER LIKE BLOWS.....I FOUND IT A BIT STRANGE BEING THAT MIGUEL WAS OBVIOUSLY WINNING IN THE EARLY ROUNDS....ANTONIO GOT THE VICTORY THAT NIGHT,BUT COTO GOT WAY MORE THAN HE DESERVED,,,AND THATS A BLOODY FACE,,,.. ......NOW ANTONIOS NEXT FIGHT WAS WITH SUGAR SHANE MOSELY,AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ANTONIA MARGARITOS HAND WRAPS WERE LINED WITH PLASTER....MMMMMMMMMMMMMM...WELL THIS LED MIGUEL COTO TO BELIEVE THAT ITS A POSSIBILITY THAT ANTONIO MARGARITO USED THE SAME BULLSHIT LIKE HAND WRAPS IN HIS FIGHT........WINNING IS WINNING ,,BUT WHEN U PLAY DIRTY,,THATS JUST PLAIN FUCKED UP....WHAT GOES AROUND COMES BACK AROUND,,AND IF U FUCK WITH MY HEALTH,,U FUCK WITH MY LIFE,,AND THATS NOT GOOD FOR ANYONE......I WISH BOTH FIGHTERS THE BEST OF LUCK.......OH AND JUST 2 KEEP THE RECORD STAIGHT,,,,IM NOT SAYING THAT ANTONIO IS GUILY OF ANYTHING,,,BUT IF U ARE WELL THAN THATS 4 U 2 DEAL WITH......

brief interview w/ GOAPELE

2011-11-23T05:58:00.012-05:00

thank u GOAPELE,,,4 takin the time & speakin w/ me

simply beautiful

MUUAAAAHH!!!

NEW LONG SLEEVE TEES

2011-11-05T22:33:00.000-04:00

ORDER NOW

Almost 2 years

2011-10-07T12:27:00.001-04:00

On Father's Day of 2009, Alexie F, my husband & I had a discussion about the direction of where Alexie wanted to go. We brain stormed about many things. An online magazine about what Alexie knows about...MUSIC was the natural concept. October 26th that year I had my first book signing I talked about our long history...literally 3 days later. AFRO BOY was born.

In 22 more days, it will be 2 years since this was created.

We need to celebrate that!!!!!

Alexie F brought you many things in that time from interviews, music, art appreciation, poetry, merchandise *** & a whole lot of laughter.

In the meantime learn a little about the Birth of Afro Boy.

Part I

Part II

Part III

New Merch in our Second Store

2011-09-22T21:21:00.001-04:00

AND MORE

Official Afro Boy G-string

2011-08-20T14:54:00.004-04:00

Official Afro Boy G-string

Before you open your refrigerator

2011-08-20T14:28:00.002-04:00

Afro Boy Magnet

Thank you from your boy

2011-07-30T16:03:00.000-04:00

Sending you all a quick note to let you all know that Alexie F is doing fine. He had a great birthday...restful. He is thankful for all the birthday wishes from you all. He did see them all.

He has a lot of things coming up soon. Summer for him has always been chill time ... but most of you who know Alexie well, know that already....buuuuut he has been writing & being creative& extremely productive. We stay in constant contact. He had to be reclusive however to get creative work done. He will be back around soon.

New Afro Boy Tees in assorted colors

2011-07-24T21:47:00.000-04:00

See more on http://285992.spreadshirt.com/

Part of our team

2011-07-21T16:15:00.002-04:00

INTRODUCING..........

2011-07-20T21:05:00.002-04:00

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 5^th 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

brand new tees,,,more 2 come

2011-07-10T13:58:00.000-04:00

here r just some of the new tees in 4 the summer

http://285992.spreadshirt.com/

A.T.B.... not just another entity

2011-07-07T21:58:00.007-04:00

art is many different things,,,some happy,,,some sad,,,some f*#%’d up…but it is art

i know i cant live w/out it,,can u????

lets think about something,,,what does a lovely piece of art do 4u when it catches ur eye,,I know what it does 4me ,,,,& i know I can never ever ,,,,ever breathe w/out it

A.T.B. 4me,,has always been a luv hate relationship,,,luv 4 what they do but hate that I cannot always afford their stuff,,,,lolol. buuuut….i know when i see it i am glad that i did

thank u A.T.B,,,4embracing me & making me a part of what u do,,,i see ya when we make our 1^st million….lol

Alexie F.: what is ATB?

Trina SB.: Is a minority owned business. It use to be called A.T.B.; Burks Graphic Designers.. Obviously the initials stand for Anthony & Trina Burks…We dropped the Burks in 1996. Then we changed our company name again in 2005 because we felt we were more than a graphic design company. & in 2009 we became A.T.B. Fine Artists & Designers LLC. Technically we are an image building business for artists and companies. We connect missing links in businesses and artistically help bridge a gap. We also connect artists to clients & Mentor Young artists by offering training for the professional art world.

In 2006 we developed Collaboration. This is a showcase of artists' of many disciplines, presented in homes & businesses allowing artwork to be viewed by clients in a more realistic environment rather than a gallery or museum. It allows the artists to intermingle with buyers one on one and develop a personal relationship without a third party facilitator. We have since added poets, singers, musicians & dancers to our repertoire.

Alexie F.: how long have u been in existence?

Trina SB.: Since Spring of 1993

Alexie F: what r the artistic struggles of ATB

Trina SB.: There isn’t really an “artistic struggle” Our struggle is the lack of a sales team. Because of all the other things we do… we are in needs of someone who can be a selling lead for our company.

Alexie F: has ATB been well received in ur community?

Trina SB: It’s funny because.. We are kind of known as this "power couple" in our community. We are known for being art activists in our area. A.T.B., represents the quality of work that we put out. But we represent strength in the art community…a voice that many artists don’t have.

Alexie F: how many artists do you represent?

Trina SB: That is hard to say. Every artist that we have had in Collaboration, we represent them @ some capacity. We give them leads to projects & jobs, sell on their behalf… lead them to clients etc. I want to say over 30+ artists so far. Once you are a Collaboration artist, you are family. & we take care of family.

Alexie F: what was the thing that made u want to start ATB?

Trina SB: Anthony & I wanted to get design work, but people at the time were not taking individual artists seriously. So we developed a brand that demanded respect.

Alexie F: where do u see ATB in 5yrs?

Trina SB: Honestly, our goal is to tackle the apparel & textile industry….scarves, ties & believe it or not shoes…also other forms of merchandise.

Alexie F: do u see ATB staying in west palm beach, fl?

Trina SB: Hmm that really depends on a few things….Which way the economy turns, & whether Palm Beach County ever really develops a respect for artists in their own back yard like Dade & Broward do.

Alexie F: is there art appreciation for ATB in west palm beach

Trina SB: The lack of art appreciation would be here regardless if we were or not. We have been trying to develop an art appreciation in this community for years. I think we were ahead of our time honestly. We support other artists, we buy art, we bridge businesses & artists…..and that isn’t common here.

Alexie F: if u had a platform what would u say to ur community when it comes 2 art.

Trina SB: Stop alienating the artists in our community. Art is needed for so many reasons. If we leave, the little culture in this community that is left will be non-existent

Q&A interview w/Anthony Burks

2011-07-04T14:50:00.004-04:00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74164220/florida-panther?ref=pr_shop

http://www.anthonyburkscollection.com

i have always been an admirer of this man's art, 4 a long time

there is a luv hate thing goin’ w/me & anthony burks’ art,,,luv b/cuz of the admiration,,, hate cuz i can't buy it right now..lol

he blessed me w/mother nature VIII,,,,i luv that piece 4 so many reasons but 4most bcuz she is beautiful,,i see so much in her

Alexie F: what art sale made u want 2 pull the hairs out of ur head

Anthony Burks: A person literally offered ½ of the listed price of a piece. He offered cash to top it off. Because of my financial situation, I agreed to the representative that I would take the offer. When I met the couple later on that night, they came over to the gallery I was running at the time, totally inebriated.

They started talking about their financial wealth, all homes they had & the traveling they did. I felt like saying, “ Why did they need to throw change at me like I was some kind of amateur” They really made me feel worthless.

Alexie F: do u create outside of ur home or do u only create @ ur home studio?

Anthony Burks: My mind is always in creative mode. Bathrooms, restaurants, galleries; if I have a writing instrument, a piece of paper & I am sitting down, I will create something.

Alexie F: can u paint when ur pissed off?

Anthony Burks: Yes. Coming home frustrated everyday from my old job, that was my peace. My art is my life. Nothing stops me when I am in artistic mode. I am human, so that isn’t 110% of the time. Sometimes life does take over & I am not able to produce, but that isn’t often. I created a self portrait years ago called Mad as Hell . It showed all the frustration I was going through as an artist. Images from different drawings I did in the past were in the piece.

Alexie F: has any pieces of artwork been inspired by ur family?

Anthony Burks: Yes, Back to Basics , which was produced when Trina was pregnant with our first born Anthony Jr. & Hear Me which is a portrait of Trina for her first book What is My Priority?

Alexie F: do u feel u r well received in ur hometown?

Anthony Burks: NO. It’s kind of what I told someone who approached me to do a project I am working on (Endangered FL Species) Sometimes I feel like I am an endangered & overlooked specie. My work should provide solace in people’s lives & it is NOT appreciated.

Alexie F: do u see urself staying where u r ,,,or moving elsewhere ,,,,4 the good of ur art

Anthony Burks: MOVE, MOVE, MOVE….SOON, SOON, SOON

Alexie F: if u were in a room w/a group of art students about 2 graduate,,,wat would u say as a form of inspiration

Anthony Burks: The only way you will continue being a great fine artist is to stay true to yourself . Once you sell yourself out , you become commercial

Alexie F: has $$ ever inspired u to do any of ur art?

Anthony Burks: Yes, A number of times unfortunately. An example to what I would probably tell those kids about selling themselves short.

Alexie F: wat should a person who aren’t an artist think about when they r buying ur work,,,anything in particular??

Anthony Burks: I would hope they are buying the work because they like it & appreciate it & not because of who I am or they are waiting for me to pass on for the value to go up.

Alexie F: does it affect u when u set a price on something,,,& someone wants 2 negotiate a lower price?

Anthony Burks: Yes, because obviously that decision effects my financial growth.

Alexie F: wat is ur process when u go into developing a piece?

Anthony Burks: There really isn’t a process. I use to sketch ideas. Now things just pop in my head.

Alexie F: is there a certain time of the day that u work on ur art?

Anthony Burks: Not anymore. Now it’s anytime I am motivated. Now that is quite often.

Alexie F: wat feeling would u want people 2 walk away w/when they see or even buy ur art?

Anthony Burks: Honestly I don’t think about it. But when I see the work framed & hung in the person’s home or office. I get my high knowing that they truly appreciate my work.

Alexie F: wat is the message u r trying 2 convey w/ur work

Anthony Burks: The public doesn’t inspire me to do what I do. It is a gift from God & that is what I want to convey. I believe that God gives everyone gifts & who are we to question that. I happen to love mine. Wouldn’t give it up for anything

Mother Nature VIII-Beauty. The beauty of mother-nature with the bird pollinating the world. The Butterfly is the eyes of mother-nature, seeing on her behalf. I knew it was a slightly edgy piece of work, but solid. It is part of a 10 piece series.

Red Elephant- I always wanted to do an Elephant w/ the trunk up, but could not locate a realistic source. Many people who follow the folk lore of the trunk up, believe that it brings good luck. However, when the trunk is up for an elephant they are either, spraying dirt , water or are charging. It took quite a few years to find a reference that did not look that the animal was forced. Some sorority members from Delta Sigma Theta (the mascot symbol) asked me many times to produce one. So I finally located the right reference & created it.

Obsessed- My love for the female body is what inspired this. No real elaborate story behind it.

Gone too Soon- Was a tribute to Gerald Levert after his death. Billie Holiday always wore a gardenia in her hair. The petals from the gardenia at the bottom of the microphone represent all the musical artists who passed away too early in life. i.e Gerald, Billie, Luther Vandross, Phylis Hyman, Rick James & later Michael Jackson & Teena Marie

Lion (w/the Antelope) Was a 2 piece series that was suggested by the CEO of Suffolk Construction Company. He told the story to his employees about the Lion & the Antelope. In a nutshell, the lion gets up early with the goal to catch the antelope to survive. The antelope gets up early with the goal to not get caught by the lion. Work is the circle of life, survival of the fittest.

Universe- This is part of a 4 part series stemmed from Identity Crisis , which is about my point of view with the title “African American” and being torn between two culture. Universe is the man, Freedom is the eagle (which is in the permanent collection @ the Cornell Museum in Old School Square in Delray Beach, FL, & the lion.. well that is in work.

his work,,,when u look @ it,,,it just keeps on givin

,,,,it is obvious that he puts his heart in his work,,,,i wanted 2 share this artist's talent with all of u,,,$$ doesn’t make this gift flow,,,luv does

appreciate it,, luv it

Where did the music go?

2011-06-28T14:13:00.001-04:00

Back in February, I wrote article on Facebook about the loss of great music. It happened because I read a profile status of an old friend... and truly had me reminiscing of the good old days of great music. Alexie F read it , loved it & wanted to start true dialog about our love for great music. So let the memories begin.

Diz-E Image

One of the things I pride myself on is the fact that I have a diverse interest in music. I remember walking into every neighborhood in NYC & vibe on any music that was playing. I often talk w/my homeboy about being blessed to have grown when we did because we were surround by great music.... Yes we were....(BIG UPS TO ALEXIE)... My husband tells my son often that many of the music of today will not be memorable like the songs of the past.( Tell em ANT)

Take the trip w/me and just imagine.

§ Walking out my building in Marble Hill & hear Randy & crew blasting Hip hop out of their radios

§ Walking into Rivera's pizza on 231st off BWY & hearing what we term now as classic rock

§ Watching Soul Train on Sat. morning @ my cousin's house eating hard boiled egg & bacon sandwiches hearing the newest R&B song that were out.

§ Growing up going to St. John's Daycamp & listening to a variety of music thought the day.. from Rock & Roll to disco to contemporary R& B all in one day ( Big ups to Diana Coltenback & Cathy Hogan)

§ Going to my other homegirl's house & watching MTV to catch all the newest vids.

§ Then going to my other home girl's house & watching the taping of NY Hot Tracks from the previous week.

§ Hitting my favorite spot the old Calente Cab (since closed) w/ all my girls & homeboys & jamming to pop vids on the screen enjoying my long island ice teas (big ups to DAVID STOVALL)

§ Walking down the Harlem street to my hairdresser & vibing to the old dudes listening to jazz

§ Going to the beach & hearing all the radios in unison playing 98.7 KISS fm

§ Heading to my homegirl's house in Dykman & hearing merengue & Salsa blaring out the windows as I walk past the double parked cars

§ Being excited about a soundtrack to a movie about to come out

§ Walking from Parkchester passing Pusgley to go to my partner in crime's house hearing great Reggae

§ Throwing House parties in my Homegirl's basement

§ Hitting the record store w/ my allowance. touching the vinyl....looking at the graphics of the covers. REAL ART .. & don't let it be a double album.. You know you will get double the graphics w/ the "billfold effect" cover

§ Or simply...chilling in my bedroom playing old musical theatre albums & of course.. my favorite purple wonder's albums

So much music, I can never get enough of it. & now I find myself not really LOVING what is out now.....I mean don't get me wrong.. there are a few peoples I like.. But I can't say I LOVE what they are putting out now. I have to look forward to single release instead of an entire compilation of music.

So now I guess I will dig thru my old music.. & just enjoy my memories

gay pride,,,,baby

2011-06-26T12:57:00.001-04:00

im gonna keep this short & simple

no one should have the right 2 impose their beliefs on anybody else

i don’t care if u love a man,,, woman,,, dog,,, cat or fish,,,,,,just find somebody 2 luv,,,,cuz god is

luv

cuz i luv & respect anybody who stands up for freedom of choice

so a big hug & a kiss 2 my gay brothas & sista,,,,i luv u all

happy father day 2 the real mutha fukin fathers

2011-06-17T15:31:00.000-04:00

let me get right 2 the point,,, being a father has never been made easy for me,,,when i decided to bounce out of that crazy situation,,,my life was made a living hell,,,

court dates,,,,threatening phone calls,, & orders of protection,,,lawd know it wasn’t easy,,,, but I got thru it,,,,& im a stronger man 4 it

ladies let me explain something 2 u,,,,,,,if u & the father of ur children decide to go ur own separate ways,,,,,,,do not think 4 one second that it is hurting him,,,,,,,it’s hurting the children

please allow ur sons/daughters 2 have a relationship w/their fathers,,,,,if the $$$ aint right i still go thru drama

imagine what it is like not 2 see ur children 4 a month in a half,,,,,well i guess its true what they say,,,,$$$ talks & bullshit walks,,,,,,Happy father’s day 2 my ghetto mutha fukers

& 2 the ladies that keep their children from their fathers,,,,,BEWARE…because those children will not be children always,,,,they will grow up resenting u for the time that they lost

PIMP OUT

EMANCIPATION.....

2011-06-14T19:40:00.002-04:00

Well. A lot is going on in the world of Afro Boy…. So I managed to get Alexie F to slow down for a few minutes & give a little info as to what to expect from him soon.

Diz-E Image: When things get hectic in your day to day life, do you find that it pushes you even harder to get professional stuff handled even more….or is it all the same to you.

Alexie F: that’s an excellent question…..yes,,, it definitely does,,,,it awakens me,,,it stirs my creative juices that were kind of dormant 4 whatever reason,,,sleep isn’t my friend during that time,,,my mind is constantly going on the time.

Diz-E Image: Do you find that some fans get a little too comfortable? Like they know you, but they really don’t? Or get to personal.

Alexie F: ehh,,, no. but understand, a large percentage of my fan base r women,,,i have had instances where women have cat fight on my page (FACEBOOK) ,,2 the point where it has gotten competitive,,,that’s not cool because now i feel like some fans have lost interests be cuz they notice the competitive edge that has been created. ….some have mistaken my kindness 4 personal,,,& when they see that i am neutral,,,,hmm they have gotten kinda retarded ,,,haha so maybe yes they do get 2 comfortable,,, when i was w/zro the fan base knew me more on audio,,,now since i have been doin my own thing,,,there is a different interaction ,,, maybe be cuz of the sexual content ,,,, ….some may not like,,,but it works,,,,cant pleez everybody

Diz-E Image: You do have a male fan base as well…..do you find that you have alienated that group and that you cater more to the female fan base?

Alexie F: (large sigh) u know,,,i never thought about that,,,but that was never my intention 2 alienate the fellas,,,i guess it has been that my female fans r a lil more vocal,,,the fellas just don’t get vocal like that on the regular

Diz-E Image: What is your next goal?

Alexie F: my main thing when the hip hop documentary (Lost Tapes) is out,,,it 2 do major promotion 4 that,,,canadian film festival,,, poconos film festival,,,all that,,,,,also got the lounge thing happening in the bronx soon,,, the spot is basically 2 service the artists i luv & respect.

Diz-E Image: And the books?

Alexie F : sex rules book will be out by xmas,,,(lingerie is already out),,,the rest of the books will cum out @ some point,,,they r in work tho,,gotta feel em out,,,but after sex rules,,,,,im definitely writing a book about baby momma drama,,,2 help young cats who got those issues,,,dedicated 2 those dudes who don’t get there respect,,,,those fellas who hold it down,,,fathers day is often they day of the condemned,,,these cats need to be respects,,,lets realize that,,,it aint about whether we got the pussy,,,its about the seeds yo!

Diz-E Image: What is your present art connection?

Alexie F: 4 me right now it is all about art appreciation,,,im constantly learning,,,looking @ colors, shapes,,,,all that,,,constantly promoting a.t.b,,,,many people tell me i wear many hats,,,,,i have several interview coming out with artists i respect,,,i feel artists have a lot 2 say w/their creations of beauty,,,u r responsible 4 getting that,out,,,im responsible 4 getting that out,,,that’s our job trina.

Diz-E Image: I hear ya on that…..What is going on in the poetry world?

Alexie F: wow,,,,well i was suppose 2 host an event @ the end of the month but it was postpone due 2 conflicts w/schedules for he performers,,,,called “tavern of creativity” ,,,the portion i was hosting called calle luna.

Diz-E Image: Any final words?

Alexie F: spiritually,,,im more in tune,,,i need that balance & peace when things tend 2 get hectic,,,u know,,,,i appreciate the support,,,i luv what i do,,,,i luv my fans,,,,,,,,,,,,,i luv the growth

happy 53rd birthday

2011-06-06T23:09:00.000-04:00

happy birthday,,,check out one of my old posts

on this genius

http://alexief.blogspot.com/2010/04/when-doves-cry.html

see my home girl's playlist below

What the F#*% happened to Jodeci!!!!!

2011-06-03T12:30:00.000-04:00

The title says it all. Those are the words that Alexie F asked me on this early Friday morning. These brothas were the Shhhh back in the late 80's & 90's. As Alexie sings all the joints for this album over the phone...lol I talk about the business connection w/ the group.

Back in 1989 I worked a graphic design/image building company called , Rich, Butts & Gittens:The Solution. These talent guys created the corporate id, the iconic Uptown cat.

Uptown MGMT/Uptown Records was under the MCA Record label which Jodeci was under. I remember back then when PUFFY (Sean Combs was called then) use to ride the train in from Howard University to work with them and get these country boys into a more gritty look for their fans.

Yes.... haha Alexie F is still singing as I write this.

& though the DeGrate brothers (Swing Brothers) & Hailey brothers went on to create some great music separately, we cannot forget jams like Feenin, Freek' n You & Get on Up . Their songs were the anthem of our 20's...OMG....great times

As Alexie F goes on to sing something new from another group (something he often does) ...lolol. Click the titles of the songs and check out the vids.

The love of the feline

2011-05-31T13:12:00.001-04:00

Many of you may not know, but Alexie F has a true endearment for cats. All cats big & small. He came across a picture of one of my husband Anthony Burks' pieces Panther 2 and asked about the subject.

In explaining to him that we are hosting an Endangered Species of Florida art exhibition scheduled for March 2012, I explained to him that the Florida Panther is endangered. They only have two current natural predators, alligators and humans through poaching and wildlife control measures. Besides predation, the biggest threat to their survival is human encroachment. Historical persecution reduced this wide-ranging, large carnivore to a small area of south Florida.

Alexie F would like for you to help out by making a donation for Busch Wildlife Sanctuary to help with their development of the new panther habitat they are in desperate need of.

If you want to purchase this piece, you buy it on Etsy.com. Click link below the picture.

Thank you all for your support

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74164220/florida-panther?ref=pr_shop

The Phantom

2011-05-28T13:57:00.003-04:00

The Phantom ©2011 b/w pencil rendering. Alexie F was a contributor in two of my books. When the discussion was made that he would be doing a book of poetry, he asked me to do a drawing & a poem. Not necessarily to collaborate. The drawing is one of a series of masks drawings I am working on. The rendering is based on the person behind the mask, may not be the person on the mask..though it is the same person. The frenzied background represents the uncertainty of the emotions of an artist. It is purposely unfinished & chaotic.

Well to explain the gist of this drawing, one must first know some of the history.

Alexie (F) & I go as far back as when the devil was a baby….lol … Raised in the same projects literally not far from the birth place of Hip Hop. He was always a funny yet mysterious cat. Even as a 13 year old “Afro Boy” as my home girl & I referred to him as.

When we got to reconnect as adults I learned that we were almost one in the same….minus the obvious. Our love for rock n roll, visual art & theatre, was eerily the same. Our obsession for masks & music would probably make others gag… His goofy azz personality has me laughing literally on days that I don’t feel like laughing. The experiencing of as I quote a fellow poet …you know who you are girl, “the mental mist” that we artists go through is something that only few can comprehend.

I learned that this man sacrificed love to continue his passion of music. Something that many would not accept, but somehow I got it. Our backgrounds are very similar. I realized, if I were a dude… & I’d look in the mirror, I would probably see him looking back at me….lol …He has over-come a lot. Some things many don’t know & will never .

He turned a difficult business transition, into a portfolio a great artistic collaborations & interviews with some of the best talents in Hip Hop including pioneer Grammy award winner Easy Mo Bee (which will appear in the Hip Hop Documentary THE LOST TAPES by Just In Case It Rains Productions), hip hop artist & collaborator Randy Mason, & Rebel Diaz's own floetess & activist Lah Tere…just to name a few.

His love for music also is filtered another passion; art. In 2009 Alexie (F) joined my husband & my company A.T.B. Fine Artists & Designers LCC as a consultant. As a son of a musician/painter, his art appreciation is uncanny. He has collected art from my portfolio as well as one of my husband, Anthony’s works called Mother Nature VIII from the Mother Nature series. Thanks to his other passion, Alexie will be doing interviews (here on Afro Boy) of visual artists such as Anthony Burks & Dan Springer. Back in 2009 he did an interview on me as part of a 3 pt interview.

So to know the man, you have to respect the heart. Not many can, have or will. But that is the beauty of this guy. The mystery is what makes him who he is. Instead of trying to break down that wall, just appreciate the cat, & what he is giving you.

Peace to my brotha Al....mad luv 4 ya...But......YOU ALREADY KNOW

REFLECTIONS

2011-05-17T19:07:00.001-04:00

Photography by Alexie F/photo manipulation by Diz-E Image

"the only way u r going 2 get the best of me,,,,, is if i get the best of u "

Busy Busy Busy

2011-05-16T11:08:00.000-04:00

Well people. As always, our favorite guy is busy working on things...BOOK BOOK BOOK.... and finalizing some exciting projects.

I wanted to let you all know, he reinstated the Puerto Rican Pride Tees & 2 new Lingerie pieces. Those items are only available until the end of June. So get them while they are here...because soon they will be gone.

http://285992.spreadshirt.com/

A$T models

2011-04-27T12:59:00.001-04:00

thank u 4 peeping my merch on http://285992.spreadshirt.com/

when u get ur item send of pic of u in it 2 pregovonnegro@gmail.com,,,, we'll feature u on afro boy & my fb fan page

Time to vote again

2011-04-27T06:07:00.000-04:00

Well Afro Boy has been nominated again....this time we want him to win.

He is nominated in 2 categories

It really isn't hard to vote.....once you register...you confirm your account in your email...then you vote. Just like you any other web group you join

South Florida Fans check out the art!

2011-04-21T18:44:00.000-04:00

Alexie F will be in da house

2011-04-21T18:41:00.000-04:00

Wanna know where Alexie will be Tomorrow Night. See below!!!

R.I.P Paradise Marcus

2011-04-20T20:55:00.000-04:00

Alexie F is on hiatus working on new things for Afro Boy. Mike Swift shouted out the Zro Hour boys on Alexie F's fan page on the anniversary of the lost of one of their own....check out the dedication vid above.

radiohead rocks

2011-03-25T21:54:00.002-04:00

once again radiohead rocks another great album"the king of limbs"creep was the 1st song i heard from these guys ,and that was over 20 years ago.....they are still here,and they sound as good as ever....i must tell u a very very true story story about how much i love this group.....i had a jar of quarters lol,,it was a very big jar,,,with very little cash in my pocket,i went to the record store,and emptied out the entire jar,and bought each and every album that they had out at the time....you never ever get tired of the sound...I'm excited about music again.......oh u know i gotta see them live when they go on tour.........yessssssssssssssss

You're a Shining Starr

2011-03-09T06:40:00.002-05:00

I am doing a little write up while Alexie F. is on vacation, celebrating some great creative milestones in his life. I do know that he is deeply saddened by this loss. Alexie is a huge fan of Alice in Chains, and was devastated by the loss of Layne Staley. Read Alexie F’s beautiful tribute to AIC & Layne. http://alexief.blogspot.com/2009/12/w-ooooooooowi-have-loved-this-band-for.html

Michael Christopher "Mike" Starr, the original bassist in AIC……for me was the guy that I often noticed. Yes Layne had that haunting voice that we loved, but in songs like Rooster, that bass was the thing that pulled me in before I even hear the first vocal. His look to me was just too adorable. The long wavy brown hair that flowed over his Asian tats & bass was more of my tastes…lol And the way he played was no joke.

Sadly when I got to see him 2 years ago on a reality... He didn’t have that same Umph…you know he was a man who was still aching for his fallen brother… That loss must have been a huge part of his pains & demons he battled after Layne was gone.

I was rooting for him to get thru the pain… but sadly, sometimes prayer isn’t always enough…And in silence we need to listen a little closer….Pain isn’t always so black & white.

R.I.P. MIKE STARR

Busy man...but loves his fans

2011-03-04T13:37:00.001-05:00

Hi All,

Just letting you all know that the man of the hour has been mad busy with new up & coming stuff...he has not forgotten about any of you.

Thank you so much for being the supporting fans that you all are...You truly make him excited to do what he does.

We can't wait to meet you all @ Salud on March 18th.

Alexie F.....Making an appearance

2011-02-26T04:13:00.001-05:00

Alexie F who has been a contributor on both my by books…is making a special appearance for his fans @ a Meet & Greet & Informal Book signing for the book 2 Faced: The Devil’s Advocate (supporting Mustard Seed Guild). He will be available to sign books the while supplies last. Friday, March 18 · 8:00pm - 11:00pm

Salud Bar & Lounge

585 CENTRAL PARK AVE

Yonkers, NY

Mustard Seed Guild-mission to an orphanage in Nicaragua that serves abandoned and disabled children on this night. $5 donation @ the door 100% of the door goes to the charity. MUSTARD SEED GUILD is affiliated with Saint Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Church NYC.

Jeans OK. collared shirts.Uptowns OK with button shirt... UPSCALE CASUAL....NO SNEAKERS NO HATS!!!!for more information (914) 207-1679

My Partner in crime

2011-02-22T20:03:00.002-05:00

Well, 2011 is a busy year already...& Afro Boy is part of that hustle & bustle. Alexie has been so busy, that we literally have to make a schedule to speak.... lol

Don't you love knowing that your boy has so much going on....He preparing big things for his fans

And guess what.. you will have an opportunity to see him in the flesh.....Stay tuned

10 q&a's with marco polo

2011-02-11T18:39:00.001-05:00

hey marco whats up?

thank u so much 4 taking the time to do this interview..

the funny thing about it is, i was at the cutting room a few years back (small world) wrapping up an interview with the female mc eternia aka silk kaya,and she had invited me to the knitting factory to see a show,,,well on that bill was,,,master ace,emc,wordsworth,punchline... of course u were there lol..i tried to get in a few words with u before i left, but it was crazy that night.......great place to see a live show.......

alexie f: i know u never have that one person in mind when ur doing beats but, how does it feel when dudes like,master ace,torae,and ruste juxx bless 1 of ur joints???
Marco Polo: always a blessing to work with talented MC's over my production. I put a lot of time into my music so I'm always looking for the same passion when it comes to rappers.

alexie f: i know ur lab is in brooklyn lol, it must be a good feeling to be in a borough with so much hip hop history,was brooklyn the plan ,or it just worked out that way???
Marco Polo: New York in general was the plan. I just ended up in Brooklyn via 6 degrees of separation and good friends. I love where I live. The vibe is perfect.

alexief: i know brazil is a place u wanna rock at, have u locked down anything yet???
Marco Polo: No sir. I'm sure it will happen when it's suppose to. Fingers crossed! That's a place I've always wanted to visit for many reasons.

alexie f: i know u love diggin in those crates for ,beats,breaks,and baselines...lol...how long roughly would u say that process is from crate to finished track???
Marco Polo:Completely changes all the time. Sometimes the cards line up and I can knock out a finished beat in 30 minutes and other times it takes a few days to wrap something up. I prefer the 30 minute days haha.

alexie f: is the mpc 2000 still ur weapon of choice to catch samples,or have u moved on to another piece of equipment
Marco Polo: 2000 XL is still my sampler of choice. I've tried other samplers but I'm very impatient when it comes to stopping work flow to learn new gear. Plus, if it ain't broke don't fix it...

alexie f: regarding video making,do u like the process,bringing visual to ur music???
Marco Polo: I think a good video can elevate a song to another level. It happened with "Nostalgia". I just don't always love being the guy in the video. I think my talents are best hidden in a cave making music.

alexie f: what i like about them is that they are pretty straight forward with concept,mc in the front and u chillin in the background just enjoying the track...
Marco Polo: yeah only so many rap motions you can do before the director is like "okay Marco.....smoke a cigarette or something!!!".

alexie f: do u bring any ideas to the table for them,or do u just let the director do his thing
Marco Polo: I'm involved with everything to do with my music. mixing, mastering ,recording, visuals. I have delayed video releases before. Shit gotta be right or I ain't having it! I deeded a video for "Crashing Down" that will never see the light of day. Love that song, a bad video can also take away from it. Almost lessen the value.

alexie f: u have a joint on talib kweli's new album (gutter rainbows)which dropped jan 25, called(palookas) its talib featuring (sean price)
that track is crazy.....is he blessing the (port authority 2) album?
Marco Polo: Thank you. Talib Kweli did an incredible song for PA#2. And I have the best producer of all time doing scratches on it. Gonna be a special one for me and hopefully the fans.

alexie f: who would u like to work with that u havent worked with already????
Marco Polo: Styles P, Nas,Ghostface, Raekwon, Jay-Z, Slick Rick, Joell Ortiz, 50 Cent....

alexie f: any last words,plugs etc etc ?????
Marco Polo: thanks for talking to me. I'm working on 3 new albums. PA#2, Another MC collabo album with Hannibal Stax of the Gang Starr Foundation & a 3rd album I'm not at liberty to discuss yet haha. TBA. Follow me on twitter.com/marcopolobeats if you're into that crap. peace.

yo marco,,thank u so much dude,,,this interview was a blast 2 do

KISS MY ASS

2011-01-29T15:31:00.002-05:00

I THINK THAT WAS MY ATTITUDE WHEN MY BEAUTIFUL MOMMY TOLD ME TO THROW AWAY THE KISS DESTROYER ALBUM......OMG,,EARLY 70SSS AND I WAS UP LATE WATCHING THE TELE (LOL)I HAD IT ON CHANEL 4 IN NEWYORK CITY 1 NIGHT,AND DON KIRSHNERS ROCK CONCERT WAS ON(FOR U YOUNGINS)THAT WAS A KOOL ASS
ROCK SHOW THAT CAME ON RIGHT AFTER SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE....FUCKIN KISS COMES ON,AND STARTED SINGING(DESTROYER)WHICH IS THE INTRO TRACK TO THE DESTROYER ALBUM...........................BAM POOOF DONG....LIKE A LIGHTNING BOLT FROM THE SKY,,,THEY HAD ME AT THE 1ST SOUND THAT CAME FROM THE GUITAR,,,THE MAKEUP WAS A HUGE PUSH IN MAKING ME A KISS FAN......
I HOLD THEM COMPLETELY RESPONSIBLE 4 THE LOVE I HAVE 4 ROCK N ROLL TILL THIS DAY.....
IF THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 70SSSS,,,WELL THAT WOULD MAKE IT OVER 30 SOMETHING YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN ROCKIN.....PAUL AND GENE ARE THE FOUNDERS OF THE GROUP,,,BUT PETER AND ACE ARE JUST AS MUCH A PART OF THAT SOUND AS THE ORIGINAL TWO.............KISS ON MY CHILDREN,,,AND AS ALWAYS,,I GIVE U MY EXPERIENCE,,,GO AND LOOK UP THE MUSIC AND INFO IN DETAIL........

MUAHHHHHHHHHH 2 THE LADIES

POUND AND A HALF TO MY MENZ

FINALLY ....Mohammad Dangerfield

2011-01-17T20:56:00.000-05:00

When Alexie F. told me about Mo Danger back 2009, I was so curious to know what it was all about. I was already following Hasan Salaam before I became a partner with Alexie.

Hasan had spit fire @ the Zro Hour Anniversary show that AF was a host of. And I was amazed. Freestyle has always been my true love in the hip hop. & this cat has it nailed

Once Alexie F. decided to start Afro Boy, it made total sense for the very first interview on the blog was Rugged N Raw. The planning of the page was the perfect..The stock photo of RNR in a suit I found I thought was genius & ironic & perfect for the interview to kick off the blog. & Alexie did his thing

Alexie F. has been passionate about Mohammad Dangerfield from day one...He was part of two vid shoots ....did one of the first interviews in regards to the album...talked to the entire 5th Column camp...and now we can all be finally blessed after much waiting, for the release of Mohammad Dangerfield this month. Alexie will be celebrating @ S.O.B's Jan. 26th.

And though I will unfortunately not be @ the release party celebrating too...I will definitely be there in spirit.

Hasan Salaam via Alexie Figueroa

2011-01-06T08:35:00.001-05:00

‎"1 of the 1st official Mo Danger interviews w/ my dude Alexie Figueroa while we were recording the album. Album is officially released on Jan. 25th 2011" per hasan salaam via personal homepage on facebook.com

hasan salaam and rugged n raw interview from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

behind the poems of trina slade-burks

2011-01-02T01:33:00.003-05:00

The idea of 2Faced was about me being able to understand how another individual is feeling, by going through the similar emotions. So many people have felt comfortable telling me their inner most feelings. In listening to them I was able to draw from their experiences and sometimes even seeing the opposing side to the situation.

Alone

I have a few friends who, like me suffer from depression. Many are artists such as myself. We who fight this illness are often asked why we feel this way & can’t we shake it off. Like this is a feeling we chose to live with. Many times we have to make a conscious decision, though sometime dangerous, to fight through the struggle alone. It is something we can’t always explain, and we at times are made to feel guilty for how we feel. But when one goes through it, it is the hardest & most painful thing to get through.

No More Excuses

How many times have we been promised that someone was going to do something for us, but never follow through? Go to a dance recital? Pay us money owed? Meet for lunch? This has happened to me all of my life, since I was very young. But I just blew it off & dismissed it like it wasn’t a big deal. It actually is a big deal, to the one that promises have been broken. One day I overheard a teenage girl say to someone on the other end of her cell phone … “do me a favor, stop apologizing, because you are just going to continue doing it anyway. Your apologies are just hollow now.“ WOW…HOLLOW…How many times are we going to tell someone that we promise we will do it next time. What if there is no next time?

What friends are for

A friend of mind asks me, have I ever cut a friend off before. I told her “If I cut them off they weren’t a friend in the first place.” I said that because anyone who knows me well knows that my friends are truly my family.
There was a person I knew for years. We were very close….Did everything together. She was also a friend to other close friends of mind. But she had a problem…she like connecting with her friends boyfriends. This happened for years. & I was always put in the middle. I would watch it all unfold. She would cry victim & I would sympathize, but yet she would continue to stab her friends in the back… She would apologize to me for the act….but continue to do it. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore… & I cut her loose. I mourned the friendship but celebrated the emancipation of the deceit.

Blessed

This is about the first time someone hears that the one they love, loves them back. When one, never thought in a million years, that those words from that individual would ever come true. It was a hope & a prayer…but never a reality. And then they say it and you’re like “Did I hear that? Did he mean that? Something so incredibly simple to some…is the world to others.

More to me

A home girl I know was making an attempt to reconnect with an old flame. The problem was…what broke them up in the first place. She was holding on to that past. & not giving him the opportunity to show her he is a changed man. I know this too well. When it happened to them, I thought about my severe lack of trust in people because of what they did to me in my past. I thought about how she felt because I have felt that way all the time. But for the first time, I thought about how he could be feeling. Maybe he felt bad about what he caused her, but was too macho to admit it. Maybe he knew he was wrong, but was too afraid of the rejection he may get from her for his actions. Maybe he really didn’t know how bad he hurt her to begin with. It didn’t work for them..& I thought to myself. With a little more communication, I wonder if it would have worked out.

I didn’t know I loved you

This is about a little girl who didn’t understand what all those weird feelings she was experiencing. Adults told her it was puppy love. Some told her it was growing pains. One even told her it was the flu. Years later when she actually fell in love and started life in an adult world…. She looked back on that & realized that all those weird feelings she was experiencing. Was love. But she was too young to understand. And it was too late.................................................

whats up my peeps.........i thought it would be a great idea 4 trina to give a brief explanation

about these great great poems........i hope u enjoyed the post..........

                                                                        muahhhhhhhhh

                                                                                     2

                                                                         the ladies

                                                                       what up 2 the fellas

SEX RULES!!!!!!! COMING 2012

2010-12-29T11:10:00.001-05:00

http://285992.spreadshirt.com/

THANK U TRINA

2010-12-26T13:18:00.001-05:00

THANK U TRINA from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

nick drake forever

2010-12-03T18:40:00.002-05:00

nick drake was incredible i think.......way before his time...its a shame that he could not appreciate his own talent...most people that had the pleasure of being around him,always experienced a certain sadness within him,,pitty pitty i think...his songs are more popular now than ever....i was lucky enough to catch a documentary about his life on the tele,and thought it was the right time to turn u on to mr nick drake...please take the time and discover his music as i did,,i will assure u ,u will not be disappointed,,,and u will thank me in the morning.......

muahhhhhhhhhhh

BEKAY PART 2

2010-11-25T15:43:00.000-05:00

BEKAY PART 2 from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

woooo,,,,tri tri did it again

2010-11-19T10:59:00.001-05:00

u have no idea how excited i am about this,,,2 emotional 2 get into

book 2 is finally done & now u can get a copy

i will be giving u my review soon

meantime,,,,,click below & get urs

remember i got the last poem in this 2

http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/1749792

if u want my girl's autograph,,,,order below

chillin w/my hiphop compadre, kid novice

2010-11-12T10:42:00.001-05:00

,,,,who is truly one of the most pleasurable conversations,,,about hip hop & more

BREAKING THE NITE WITH KID NOVICE from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

chasing mo

2010-11-08T08:01:00.001-05:00

woooow,,,everything in its time,,,,my homegirl would tell me,,,& in waiting it happened when it was meant 2 be,,,....ive chased it for so long,many thought it was just a tale that i told....for over 2 years i waited for it, & it finally happened,,,dont doubt a brotha,, & be patient,,,excellence is nutured not rushed

im happy to say that through it all i made a friend......thanx moe,for u are not just an interview i had to do,u are truly a friend....

Courtesy of Justin Thomas

meeting franc reyes

2010-11-03T06:49:00.001-04:00

Photo Courtesy of Justin Thomas

chillin with franc reyes...lol.....im on my way i think.....he let me see his latest film,and it is off the higgitty hook...lol

the justin thomas experience from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

the 2nd book

2010-11-01T09:10:00.001-04:00

some of u know,,,,but many of u dont,,,,,i have appeared in 2 of this womens books

this women holds it down when i got a lot goin on,,,,,but dont think she doesnt have a lot 2 do herself,,,,shes a wife,,,mother,,,artist,,ceo of her 18yr biz,,,an author,,a teacher,,,& cofounder of this craaaazy world of afro boy,,,she assists me in my day to day biz

well my home girl is about 2 release her second book,,,2faced:the devil's advocate,,,she is offering a pre-order special until nov 10th. preorder ur copy now

& of course,,,urs truly has the last page again...hahaha

the justin thomas experience

2010-10-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

wooooow,the pocono film festival was off the chain....thank u mr franc reyes for taking time to discuss filmaking with me,im sure with ur wisdom i will be that 2***thank u trina aka tri tri,for always making sure i get to where i need to go,and last but not least,thank u justin thomas for to many things to mention..i j......ourney has just begun...to my fans u rock a million times over..

the justin thomas experience from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AFRO BOY

2010-10-29T06:57:00.002-04:00

October 24, 2009....it was mention @ a book signing. October 29, 2009 it became a reality...a lot has happened since the release of the page...& there will be many more to come. Let's check out some of the interviews that were captured on vid.

CHILLIN W/BEKAY

2010-10-26T17:38:00.001-04:00

CHILLIN W/BEKAY PT I OF PT II

2010-10-22T08:15:00.001-04:00

Untitled from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

cum celebrate,,,,,on oct 29th,,,muuuuaah!!!

2010-10-19T08:23:00.001-04:00

http://www.facebook.com/dizeimage?cropsuccess#!/event.php?eid=148727035170921

One year coming SOON!!!

2010-10-12T19:50:00.001-04:00

Join Alexie for his one year of Anniversary AFRO BOY!!!!!!!! It couldn't have happened w/out you...RSVP here

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=148727035170921

YOU BETTER BE THERE TO CELEBRATE!!!!!!!

Get yours!!!!

2010-10-07T10:26:00.000-04:00

Alexie F & A.T.B. just launched their new lines of long sleeve tees for the fall. You need to pick up yours for the holiday season......don't miss out.

Men's Tee

Ladies Tee

http://285992.spreadshirt.com/

Men's Tee

Ladies' Tee

http://28730.spreadshirt.com/

Did you get his card yet?

2010-09-22T10:49:00.000-04:00

Yes it's official! Alexie F & Afro Boy has joined the A.T.B Family

Stand Up 2 Cancer w/ Us

2010-09-12T12:08:00.000-04:00

In 1999 my father was diagnosed with Liver cancer. He was a very proud man. Didn't complain...just did what he had to do & fought like a champ...He went into remission....But in Jan. of 2002 he was struck ill w/ what we thought was a stomach ailment. We were stunned to learned that he had stage 4 inoperable liver cancer. He fought hard and lived longer than doctors determined. My father Oxzel Slade transitioned on Nov. 18, 2002, 25 years & one day after my mother passed away of (ironically) different liver ailment.

I have been a advocate to fighting cancer since the loss of my grandmother in 1996 &my HS alumnus Jill Wilson- Halmett in 2005. Now I have another HS friend who is fighting as well Willma Diaz-O'Kelley.

When I approached Alexie F to get support, he did not hesitate. He knew my history and wanted to do whatever he could. He also requested that I reach out to his fans.

I have a piece of art that I am auctioning off on Ebay entitled Dancing Lady II which symbolizes strength.

If you want to help my cause. Please bid on Dancing Lady II on Ebay. If you win the bid on this piece, 30% of the proceeds goes to Stand Up 2 Cancer.

Thank you all for your Support. & Thank you Alexie for allowing me to use this forum to get my cause out there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110584732086

setting up for the best concert of my life...more to come...

2010-09-10T17:08:00.002-04:00

setting up for stone temple pilots from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

stone temple fanzzzzzzzzzzz hahahaha

2010-09-10T17:07:00.001-04:00

in the parking lot with my stone temple peeps... from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

2010-09-10T16:36:00.000-04:00

the concert that im glad i was in attendance...

2010-09-10T14:49:00.002-04:00

2508.... GOSH...GOLLY...GEE..WILLIKERS

2010-09-02T13:18:00.001-04:00

What does that # mean? Well yesterday I was checking numbers on the different vids for Afro Boy... The Randy Mason interview had 2508 hits on the launch date Aug. 27th.......after I picked my jaw up off the floor I told Alexie...who did something that sounded like hyperventilating....lolol you know us artists...we get a little mellow dramatic

All of this made me think about how all this got started...including my current involvement. When I located AF back in Aug 29, 2007 I had no idea that he was involved in music. Knew him in the Marble Hill days when we were 12, he was quite the conversationalist even then. So when he asked me to check out The Zro Hour, I wasn't surprised when I heard his interview w/Sandy La Loba & Mexicano 777 down in South Beach.

When the decision was made for changes to be made w/Zro....my husband said on Father's Day 2009 that Alexie F should be doing his own thing that embraces his identity.

Ant & my experience in image building different types of artists go back into 1992. So when Alexie asked me to assist him w/building his image...I was flattered. It made it easy because he was supporter of artists I represented. He had already acquired some of the art work that Anthony & I had produced and respected the craft.......It was a natural merger.

So Afro Boy (find the reference to the name in an archived post) was born. Oct. 29, 2010 will officially be one year of its release. The plan is to celebrate with a big celebration. Afro Boy became a partner w/A.T.B. Fine Artists Designers LLC http://bit.ly/bIaiZ1 July 2010. We designed the updated Muah T-shirt.

Besides working in music & production for Afro Boy, Alexie F. made a decision to also rep art on behalf of A.T.B. in the NYC/NJ area.

A lot has been accomplished for Afro Boy...but you know a lot more is yet to come.

Never knew it would be quite like this...But it has been a great ride so far.

Check out my fan page on Facebook http://bit.ly/cXejRr
What is My Priority? book (Alexie's Epilogue appears) www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/784633

randy mason,,,keeping it real

2010-08-30T06:48:00.001-04:00

THE RANDY MASON INTERVIEW from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

seriously,,,,,heading 2 the highline

2010-08-30T06:47:00.000-04:00

Alexie F....in rare form...heading to the Highline from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

justin thomas u fucking rock buddy

2010-08-30T06:36:00.004-04:00

The Man of the Hour....Hip Hop videographer; Justin Thomas from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

i apoligize for the weakness of the
audio,,lord knows i thought long and hard b4 putting it up...the smile on this young mans face is priceless,,and i wanted u to see how happy he is doing his thang and following his heart with his dreams..many people 4 whatever reason stop doing what they truy love,,and justin fuels my passions with his love 4 hip hop...lol....if chuck d coughed at a bodega on a Saturday night in the Summer of blah blah blah,,,justin would probably give u the details of it...its a joy to listen to him talk about hiphop...he is the future of hip hop,,he is a soldier of hip hop,he is hip hop.....wherever this journey takes us my friend,,I'm surely glad that u asked my to roll with.......

thanxxx juss juss........

This pretty much says it all

2010-08-29T20:36:00.002-04:00

Okay... so my hardheaded crazy friend is in the pouring rain!!!!! I'll yell at him later...but he does give props to all of the important peeps that are doing their thang in this crazy industry.

Crazy A#* Alexie F. in the Rain!!!!! from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

2 years & still hittin'.....

2010-08-26T10:40:00.000-04:00

Warpaint is a 2008 album by blues-rock band The Black Crowes. Released on March 3, 2008

In 2008 Alexie had been talking about the release of the Black Crowes new CD. He talked me to death about it to the point that I was now looking forward to it. As soon as if dropped I was on Amazon ordering my CD assuming that he being, in the big city would just go down town & pick up a copy. Well I didn't realize that like here in Florida, record stores (yes I said record, so yes I am dating myself) we closing left & right. So in July 2008 Alexie F got a copy of Warpaint via yours truly for his birthday.

Hot CD for those who are into Black Crowes or just Blues-Rock in general.

We're going back......BACK INTO TIME

2010-08-24T18:35:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the talented artists that Alexie F. & us with the Afro Boy Team support.
*5th Column
*Eternia
*Point Dot Period

Note: Alexie had the pleasure of being on the set during some of the filming of this vid.

Archives from The Zro Hour

On Hiatus...............Where you At

2010-08-24T18:12:00.002-04:00

Well although Afro Boy's Alexie F is on vacation, that doesn't mean he is not working. He has been busy working on several projects TBA....He is sorry that he has been offline. But he has not forgotten about you all. You know how he feels about his fans.

He just recently made a rare appearance @ the Highline Ballroom for the Black August Hip Hop concert a couple of weeks ago in support many underground hip hop artists including Hasan Salaam & Rugged n Raw of the 5th Column camp performing tracks from Mohammad Dangerfield. They also released their video BBQ Joint, that Alexie F. has a cameo in. This vid has already received over 2000+ hits on youtube since it's release a couple weeks ago. Check out what people have titled "the Summertime Jam for 2010"

chasing bobbito

2010-08-12T11:43:00.000-04:00

back in 2008 randy mason got to interview someone who he refers 2 as "a renaissance man",,,,, bobbito garcia

this was a cool interview that i want my fans to check out,,,,,

http://doperthanheroin.blogspot.com/2008/04/rock-steady-puerto-rock-style-bobbito.html

i unfortunately missed an opportunity 2 meet him when he was interviewed by the zro hour due 2 a family emergency,,,,but in time i will definitely meet up w/my fellow boricua

Randy Mason ROOOOOCKKKS!!!!!!!!

2010-08-09T14:27:00.004-04:00

yoooo,,,, randy mason in in the house,,,,got 2 see my boy & got 2 do an incredible interview with him

got 2 meet randy 4 the first time @ the taping the zro hour anniversary show
http://www.returntozro.com/

that will be coming up soon,,,,in the meantime get 2 know this brotha &; see some of the things he & his group the crowd r doing
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Crowd/56756757605?v=info

here is also a link of me given him a hard time about a recent musical act,,,,hahahahaha,,,funny shhhhhh...
http://alexief.blogspot.com/2009/11/giving-randy-mason-hard-time.html

& check out me shouting randy out @ last year's brooklyn hip hop festival,,,don't sleep on this cat

the godfather

2010-08-06T14:17:00.001-04:00

eric daye

u r so many things 2 me,,, u r responsible 4 bringing out the thing in me that was always there,,, but took the right person 2 bring it out

thru the good thru the bad thru the ugly,,,,we created an incredible show, that will always be remembered as one of the greatest, independent hip hop shows ever

when u came up w/the idea 2 start podcasting,,,,very few were doing it @ that time,,,lol,,,,I always knew that u had incredible vision,,,,but I had 2 make u realize that 2,,,& so I did,,,,,I remember the 1st conversation we had about doing something musically,,,,but we had 2 figure out what that was,,,, the idea of doing pirate radio seem to come from out of the sky,,,,that was something that u always wanted 2 do,,u tried do it in the past but it was the right time,,,,,had it not been for the village voice ,,,lol ,,, us crazy leos would have never formed like vultron,,,,,u opened up a world 2 me, that I use to dream about looking out of my project window,,,,edaye is not just about hip hop oh no,,,,he is a martial arts junkie that will challenge u fact 4 fact if u dare,,,,,,theres so many things I can say about this man,,,but we don’t have that much time,,, & I don’t have that many tears

the blog that u have been so gracious enough 2 come & check,,,,& I mean afro boy of coarse…lol would not have been possible if this brother would have not shown me the way

so on this joyous day,,,that is a leo’s birthday i say,,,,happy birthday eric daye,,,my brother,,,,my teacher,,,my compadre,,,happy birthday

Wish Alexie F.....Happy Birthday

2010-07-28T22:37:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday to one of my dearest friends.

We have truly come a long way.

Wish I can be the to celebrate with you.

But we will hang in due time.

Tri Tri

welcome to the jungle baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-21T16:56:00.004-04:00

woooooooow,,,guns n fucken roses,,,shhhhhhhhh,,when these guys came rollin onto the music biz,we were all looking 4 something wonderful to get us through the rest of the bullshit 80ss.....1 hit wonders and blunders is what it was,mtv was putting out any kind of vid at the time,,but when these guys came out,,,all that really rock ,really knew that we were gonna be saved...i am honored and proud to say that i got to see them live in jersey with matalika in the 90ss 4 my birthday of all days..............

guns will rock 4 ever...

thanxx 4 the great music......

peace to the dudes..

double muah 2 the ladies

love me 2 times

2010-07-10T11:14:00.001-04:00

Jim Morrison was one of the most haunting and gifted artist i ever had the pleasure of listening to......his voice matched the lyrics he was writing at the time,,and he was always doing some type of weird shit on stage.....their are so many unsolved mysteries about this man,,but this post ain't about how he lived his life,,,,this post is about the love of his music.....his music continues to inspire and amaze people till this day,,and will continue to do that......thank u Jim,,cuz when I'm feeling strange,,,i just put on one of ur songs....if u have the money and the time,,,a new DVD of him is out in stores,,,narrated by johnny depp....enjoy the the Jim Morrison experience....

peace to the fellas

muahhhhhhhh

        to

    the

       ladies

Muah 2 the Ladies Contest

2010-07-06T22:12:00.001-04:00

Well ladies, it's finally time. If you have been following Alexie F you will have no problems winning this. Here is your opportunity. The only thing is.......you have to be a fan of Alexie F.'s Facebook page. So click the link below, join the fan page & follow the contest rules......Good Luck

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=136809303004150&id=138483939542&ref=mf

rock out baby

2010-07-02T11:09:00.003-04:00

hey everybody,,,i apologize 4 last week if u were looking 4 a new post from me,,the interview that i did with a well known artist had to be redone,,but its all good,,i will bring that 2 ya soon,,,lol

this band has been one of my faves since they came out in the early 90ssss....front man Scott weiland is one of the premiere names in grunge music,,,if ur gonna be telling the tale that has to be told,,,but we wont get into a grunge match right now,,,,i want to focus on this great Cali band....their debut album core,,which was released at a time when,,Nirvana,pearl jam,and sound garden were on top of the game,stone temple pilots offered a bit more then u would imagine at the time..every track off the 1st album kicks ass......i want u to go out and search this 4 urself,,,so please don't expect much facts from me on them,,,everybody has their own pace in which they choose to research bands,,but stone temple rocks till this day....they have a new album out,,and u need to go and cop that.........I've put together a bunch of there stuff so u can hear what I'm typing,,,,rock out and rock on.....

peace to the fellas

muahhhhhhhhhhhhh to the ladies

Contest coming soon

2010-06-29T19:46:00.001-04:00

If you female Alexie F fans want to know about his summer contest, stay tuned.

You must be a fan of his Facebook Fan page to enter.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexie-F/138483939542?ref=ts

You don't want to miss it.

Alexie F fans, STAY UP!!!!!!

2010-06-24T18:11:00.001-04:00

Great things are happening for the summer.

If you love Afro Boy then you need to be watching for new stuff.

This includes a contest coming up in his birthday month of July. If you are on Facebook, join Alexie F's fan page http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Alexie-F/138483939542 & have an opportunity to win. The contest is exclusive to his FB fans ONLY, so join & find out more.

Great interviews coming soon....parties and so much more. But I gave away too much already. Just as Alexie would say....STAY UP!!!!

MUAH to the FELLAS

Sorry sweetie, gotta show my dudes some luv ;-)

PEACE!!!

my summer choice

2010-06-16T11:22:00.002-04:00

what up what up,,,,i listen to many different styles of music,,and many of those styles may not really blend with what u listen to,,,but if u have to make selective hip hop choices,,and u like my choices,,,then ur gonna like this
choice...this joint has many flavors,,,so look out 4 this release.....coming soon to u......
hasan salaam and rugged n raw interview from Alexie Figueroa on Vimeo.

Wisin & Yandel - Abusadora

2010-06-13T15:12:00.000-04:00

puerto rican weekend.....

2010-06-11T13:19:00.000-04:00

The Young Lords Party, also known as the Young Lords Organization, was a primarily stateside-based Puerto Rican organization dedicated to liberation, independence, and justice for Puerto Ricans both in the States and on the island and for all oppressed people. They were inspired by and worked parallel to organizations like the Black Panthers, the Brown Berets, and the American Indian Movement. Like those organizations, they were targeted by COINTELPRO and the other powers that be which, along with internal conflict and political shifts, lead to the organization’s disintegration in the mid-1970s. They continue to remain an important, revolutionary and inspirational movement for Puerto Ricans and other Latinos living in the United States.

puertorican pride 4 ever

2010-06-04T19:20:00.002-04:00

I'm proud to be puertorican, and one crazy night,,myself and my former zro hour com padre was on the phone chatting about future shows to do.....well it had occurred to me that the puertorican parade was coming soon to the city,,,,and it would be great to do a puertorican pride show,,lol,,,all i heard after that was a dial tone,,why u wonder,,hahahahahaha,,,,cuz he stayed up half the night picking songs for it.......I'm proud to say that this is truly without a doubt in my mind one of the best shows we have ever done.....i was super animated, and as my former partner stated a few years back,,,hahahahaha,,i spazzzzzzzed out on it..so please click on the links and enjoy...Que viva puerto ricooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

http://thezrohour.blogspot.com/2007/06/zro-hour-060807-roots-of-hip-hop.html

http://www.zrohourpodcast.com/audio/ZROHOUR060907.mp3

louder than love

2010-05-29T08:47:00.003-04:00

freestyle music was the hottest thing in new york back in the early 80s,,it made its way into most Latin clubs at the time,,,bringing something different away from hip hop...by the mid 90s its started losing its steam on the radio,,and hip hop took its rightful place soon after..even though freestyle is not blowing up the airwaves like it did back in the day,,it is still considered a very respectable style of music that dwells in our hearts to this day..the popularity of (Latin hip hop)another well known name for it,,will live 4 ever,,,cuz the memories left behind never die...i was lucky enough to do shows with most of the freestylers that were so popular then,,and still are now....if ur in Miami ,,new york,,and even California,,I'm sure u can find a club that will take u back to a time that will last 4 ever ...

the new flyer,,,, thanks 2 the left & the right hand

2010-05-27T13:36:00.000-04:00

this is gonna be my summer flyer,,so look out 4 me....

peace...

happy birthday to my left and right arm

2010-05-26T05:43:00.002-04:00

happy birthday to u

happy birthday to u
what would i do
if i didnt have u

happy birthday to u
as sure as the sky is blue
happy birthday
to u
i aint preachie
and no no no i wont give
u bad advice
all i got is my friendship to
give u oooooooooooooo
and sometimes we cry
lord knows it aint easy
but i dont go through this
shit alone
i know u reside so far now
but i know that i have u to
hold happy birthday 2 u
we grew up watching bugs bunny 2
happy birthday to u oooooooooo
what more can i do to say happy
birthday 2 ooooooooooooooooo
happy birthday 2 u.......

muahhhh

i love u janis

2010-05-22T14:49:00.001-04:00

i love u Janis,,,in so many freaking ways...the 1st time i heard Ur voice i was a little brat giving my mom the hardest of times....u lift me,,,u inspire me,,u rocked me and still do.....from port Arthur Texas,,,she was always considered an outcast,,,not really fitting in to any clicks in school,,,so so different,,but she is a role model to any artist that struggles with acceptance,,,but their will never be that,,know that u will now and 4 ever stand alone in Ur uniqueness,,but that's not a bad thing,,it is something to be celebrated.....hats off to all the artist who survive,,not in the world,but in Ur mind.....push 4 ward and don't stop,,sit back and let Janis prove to u that being different should be received not pushed away....

love u always Janis,,u fucking rocked the shit out of me...

peace to the fellas

muahhh to the ladies

oh and another thing,,her voice is unlike any other,,,you have been warned.................

The Great Race by Raymond Burks

2010-05-18T11:54:00.000-04:00

Alexie asked me to post this painting by my son, Raymond because he really likes it & he found it to be freeing. It is presently listed on e-bay & has a bid on it. He (Raymond) is very excited about the amount of hits on the site. Alexie(an avid art collector) has been very supportive of the Burks family & our art. So I am grateful he wanted his fans to take a look at this.

Inspired by Harlem Renassaince artist Jacob Lawrence's The Runner, Raymond Burks (offspring of artist Anthony Burks Sr & artist/author Trina Slade-Burks) created the Great Race. The image was created for sorority Delta Sigma Theta's Salute to the Harlem Renasaince in 2009.

Raymond has sold other art. He raised money for his school St. Juliana back in 2008 selling his first piece of art work. He has also exhibited art at the Norton Museum of Art in 2009.

Raymond will be attending Suncoast Community High School in the fall, which ranked #7 in the country & #1 in the State of Florida.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110534373919