Big Boy (radio host)
Encyclopedia
Big Boy is a radio host currently heard on Los Angeles Rhythmic contemporary
station KPWR
(Power 106) in the mornings from 5 to 10, as well as numerous radio stations across the United States. His stage name derives from his formerly large build, which he modified through duodenal switch surgery in 2003, leading to a weight loss of over 250 pounds.
Big Boy was born in Chicago
, but moved to Los Angeles at age 2. After becoming acquainted with the music industry while DJ-ing Culver City High School
parties, Big Boy soon became a bodyguard for the music group The Pharcyde
. Big Boy was friends with the Baka Boyz, the morning show hosts at Power 106. Always being a funny personality, Big Boy was offered a hosting position with the station, soon proving successful in nighttime and afternoon hosting spots.
Big Boy's image became well known throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area
in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Power 106 placed his nearly-nude 500-plus pound image onto billboards throughout the area.
Big Boy has been named Personality of the Year
four times by the Radio Music Awards and three times by Radio and Records magazine. The National Association of Broadcasters
awarded him the Marconi Award in 2002 and 2004.
He has made cameo appearances in movies such as Malibu's Most Wanted
, The Players Club
, and Charlie's Angels 2, and co-starred in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo
. Fox television signed Big Boy to co-star in the police drama Fastlane
in the fall of 2002. He has appeared numerous times on the hit HBO Entourage
TV series. He was also featured on the second episode of the VH1
reality series, I Love New York
, hosting the "I Love New York Management". Big Boy is in the development process for his own network sitcom and hosts his syndicated weekend show formerly called "Big Boy's Hip Hop Spot." He has performed on-air voice-overs on MTV
's reality game show Yo Momma.
Big Boy voiced the character Big Bear in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
.
On August 6, 2007, Big Boy signed a multi-year deal with ABC Radio Networks to syndicate the show, and his weekend show Big Boy's Hip Hop Spot. The show launched nationally on August 20 and is also now called Big Boy's Neighborhood.
On November 24, 2010, Big Boy made a special guest performance in Vicente Fernández
's concert at the Gibson Amphitheatre performing "Aca Entre Nos".
In September 2010, Big Boy entered into film production via his production company, Ida's Son Productions. The first film, 'Exit Strategy', is a romantic comedy centering around James (Jameeel Saleem) who is evicted from his apartment and forced to move in with his girlfriend of three months, Kim (Kimelia Weathers) and quickly discovers she's not his type. When he enlists his friend Carville (Quincy 'QDeezy' Harris) and Leona (Noelle Balfour) to help him find an exit out of the relationship. Comedian Kevin Hart makes a cameo role.
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
station KPWR
KPWR
KPWR is a commercial radio station located in Los Angeles, California, broadcasting to the Greater Los Angeles area on an analog signal and in HD Radio...
(Power 106) in the mornings from 5 to 10, as well as numerous radio stations across the United States. His stage name derives from his formerly large build, which he modified through duodenal switch surgery in 2003, leading to a weight loss of over 250 pounds.
Big Boy was born in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, but moved to Los Angeles at age 2. After becoming acquainted with the music industry while DJ-ing Culver City High School
Culver City High School
Culver City High School is the main public high school of the Culver City Unified School District in Culver City, California. It was opened in 1951. The school's colors are primarily blue and silver, and the mascot is the centaur. As of 2008, the enrollment was 2,308...
parties, Big Boy soon became a bodyguard for the music group The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde are an alternative hip hop group based in South Central Los Angeles. The original four members of the group are Imani , Slimkid3 , Bootie Brown and Fatlip . DJ Mark Luv was the group's first DJ, followed by producer J-Swift and then J Dilla...
. Big Boy was friends with the Baka Boyz, the morning show hosts at Power 106. Always being a funny personality, Big Boy was offered a hosting position with the station, soon proving successful in nighttime and afternoon hosting spots.
Big Boy's image became well known throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Power 106 placed his nearly-nude 500-plus pound image onto billboards throughout the area.
Big Boy has been named Personality of the Year
Personality of the year
Personality of the year is a title awarded by a number of organisations or publications, such as:*BBC Sports Personality of the Year*RTÉ Sports Person of the Year*Radio Music Awards*Radio and Records...
four times by the Radio Music Awards and three times by Radio and Records magazine. The National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
awarded him the Marconi Award in 2002 and 2004.
He has made cameo appearances in movies such as Malibu's Most Wanted
Malibu's Most Wanted
Malibu's Most Wanted is a 2003 comedic feature film written by and starring Jamie Kennedy and co-starring Taye Diggs, Anthony Anderson, and Regina Hall....
, The Players Club
The Players Club
The Players Club is a 1998 comedy/drama thriller film from New Line Cinema starring Bernie Mac, LisaRaye, and Jamie Foxx. Ice Cube, who has a small role in the film, wrote and made his directorial debut. The movie made $5,894,607 in its opening week...
, and Charlie's Angels 2, and co-starred in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo is a 1999 comedy film starring Rob Schneider. Other cast members include Eddie Griffin, Amy Poehler, Oded Fehr, Arija Bareikis, and William Forsythe....
. Fox television signed Big Boy to co-star in the police drama Fastlane
Fastlane (TV series)
Fastlane is an American action/crime drama series that was broadcast on Fox from 2002 to 2003. On August 14, 2005 G4 began rebroadcasting the complete series. After finishing its initial run on the network, Fastlane stopped airing on G4...
in the fall of 2002. He has appeared numerous times on the hit HBO Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
TV series. He was also featured on the second episode of the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
reality series, I Love New York
I Love New York (TV series)
I Love New York is a reality television series, which first aired on VH1. It features Tiffany Pollard in a quest to find her true love. The series is a spin off of another relationship competition series, Flavor of Love, which featured Pollard as a finalist in two consecutive seasons...
, hosting the "I Love New York Management". Big Boy is in the development process for his own network sitcom and hosts his syndicated weekend show formerly called "Big Boy's Hip Hop Spot." He has performed on-air voice-overs on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's reality game show Yo Momma.
Big Boy voiced the character Big Bear in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
.
On August 6, 2007, Big Boy signed a multi-year deal with ABC Radio Networks to syndicate the show, and his weekend show Big Boy's Hip Hop Spot. The show launched nationally on August 20 and is also now called Big Boy's Neighborhood.
On November 24, 2010, Big Boy made a special guest performance in Vicente Fernández
Vicente Fernández
Vicente Fernández Gómez is a Mexican singer, producer and actor. Known as Chente or El rey de la canción ranchera throughout the Latin world, Vicente Fernández, who started his career singing for tips on the street, has become a cultural icon, recording more than 50 albums and contributing to...
's concert at the Gibson Amphitheatre performing "Aca Entre Nos".
In September 2010, Big Boy entered into film production via his production company, Ida's Son Productions. The first film, 'Exit Strategy', is a romantic comedy centering around James (Jameeel Saleem) who is evicted from his apartment and forced to move in with his girlfriend of three months, Kim (Kimelia Weathers) and quickly discovers she's not his type. When he enlists his friend Carville (Quincy 'QDeezy' Harris) and Leona (Noelle Balfour) to help him find an exit out of the relationship. Comedian Kevin Hart makes a cameo role.