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Big Boy | |
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 Big Boy in 2010 | |
| Born | Kurt Alexander (1969-09-08)September 8, 1969 (age 56) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Other names | MC Scratch |
| Occupations | Radio host, actor, former bodyguard |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Spouse | Veronica Alexander |
| Website | radiobigboy.com real923la.com BigBoyOnDemand.com |
Kurt Alexander, better known asBig Boy is a nationally syndicated American radio host and actor. From 1997 he has hosted the morning show at Los AngelesRhythmic contemporary stationKPWR (Power 106) until his move in February 2015 toKRRL (Real 92.3). His stage name derives from his formerly large build, which he modified throughduodenal switch surgery in 2003, leading to a nearly fatal weight loss of over 250 pounds.[1] Big Boy is culturally recognized as a prominent figure in Urban radio.
Big Boy was born in Chicago'sWest Side and moved to Los Angeles at the age of two. After becoming acquainted with the music industry while DJingCulver City High School parties, Big Boy soon became a bodyguard for the music groupThe Pharcyde. Big Boy was friends with theBaka Boyz, the morning show hosts atPower 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 theGreater Los Angeles Area in the late 1990s. However his first big break onto the national spotlight was when he was hired as the announcer on theVibe TV talk show (named after thepopular magazine) in 1998 hosted by comedianSinbad. When the program ended, apparently Big Boy had media fans at the executive level because Big Boy, in the early 2000s, was offered a host position with Power 106 and was promoted by placing his 500-plus pound image onto billboards throughout the area.[2]
Big Boy has been namedPersonality of the Year four times by theRadio Music Awards[citation needed] and three times byRadio and Records magazine. TheNational Association of Broadcasters awarded him theMarconi Award in 2002 and 2004. In September 2015 he was voted as an inductee to the 2015 National Radio Hall of Fame.[3]
He has made cameo appearances in movies such asMalibu's Most Wanted,Soul Plane,The Longest Yard,The Players Club,Charlie's Angels 2, andDeuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.Fox television signed Big Boy to co-star in the police dramaFastlanein the fall of 2002.[citation needed] Also, Big Boy voiced himself in the 2005 Disney Channel Original Movie,The Proud Family Movie as a host of Wizard Kelly Radio. He has appeared numerous times on the hit HBOEntourage TV series.[citation needed] He was also featured on the second episode of theVH1 reality series,I Love New York, hosting the "I Love New York Management".[citation needed] 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 onMTV's reality game showYo Momma.[citation needed]
Big Boy voiced the character Big Bear in the 2004 video gameGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas and is also an announcer along with Set Free in the 2002 video gameStreet Hoops. He is a radio host in the 2013 video gameGrand Theft Auto V on the Radio Los Santos radio station.
On July 27, 2010, sidekick Tattoo left the show.[4]
In 2010, Big Boy and Power 106 were featured in the movie 'Project X.' During the end of the movie he talked about the party and made reference to Kanye West. 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 The Big Boy's Neighborhood Morning Show.[citation needed]
On November 24, 2010, Big Boy made a special guest performance inVicente 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 on 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. ComedianKevin Hart makes a cameo role.
On August 22, 2011, Luscious Liz Hernandez left Big Boy's Radio and became a reporter for E! News.[citation needed]
On February 3, 2015, Emmis Communications filed a breach-of-contract suit against Big Boy after he accepted a $3.5 million contract withiHeartMedia and quit the KPWR morning show. iHeart owns crosstown Urban Contemporary station Real 92.3KRRL. At KPWR, nighttime host J. Cruz was the morning show host until he left the station in 2019 prior to his move to KRRL as its afternoon host withNick Cannon taking his place as the new host in early June.[5]
In March 2016, a year after he joined KRRL and iHeartMedia, his nationally syndicated program was transferred to iHeart's syndication divisionPremiere Networks fromWestwood One.[6] Beginning July 30, 2018, the show is also carried in a two-hour edited video form on the American cable networkFM (Fuse Music).[7]
