You may wonder when he has time to breathe, but in the last 15 years he has been relentlessly pursuing his passions in music and basketball. After playing pro ball in Puerto Rico in ’87 then graduating from Wesleyan University (CT) in ’88, he began working at Def Jam Records.He met DJ Stretch Armstrong there, and in ’90 the two of them started their Hip Hop radio show at WKCR 89.9 fm. By ’98, the Source Magazine voted them the “Best Hip Hop Radio Show of All Time”.The show’s popularity allowed for Bobbito to expand. He hosted seminal open mic showcases (Lyricist Lounge ’93, All That ‘93-’98) and concerts, ran critically acclaimed indie label Fondle’Em Records from ’95-‘01, and ran the historic Bobbito’s Footwork record/clothing/sneaker store from ‘96-’00.Bobbito was on a mission to carry the Underground Hip Hop scene of New York through the ‘90s.

There were rewards. The Stretch Armstrong/Bobbito Show introduced the world to unsigned acts like Nas, Jay Z, Big Pun, Wu-Tang, Mobb Deep, and many others that would go on to change the face of Hip Hop.And just as these talented artists couldn’t help get noticed, neither could Bobbito.The magazine world noticed his pure dedication quickly, and starting in ’90 he wrote freelance for the Source, then Rappages, Vibe, Fader and Slam. His first feature article in ‘91, “Confessions of A Sneaker Addict”, caught the eye of Nike. Over 30 television and radio spot appearances for Bobbito followed, including the award winning “Freestyle” spot in ’01.

Although Bobbito a.k.a. DJ Cucumberslice is a bonafide Hip Hop legend, any reader of his Vibe column would know that his musical passion goes way beyond just Rap. As a club DJ, crowds worldwide from Sweden to South Africa have celebrated his unique blend of Rare Funk, Latin, Afro-Beat, Soul, Classic Rock, House, and Ballads. He’s opened up concerts for Latin Music legend Eddie Palmieri (5 time Grammy Award Winner), Afro-Funk progenitor Tony Allen (formerly Fela Kuti's drummer), Jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, Jazz-Funk legend Roy Ayers, and Soul singer D'Angelo.

What’s next? Who knows, but who would’ve ever expected a kid who started out in the music industry as a messenger to have accomplished so much, or a kid who got cut from his college basketball team to one day get paid to play basketball? Bobbito is a true renaissance man, a walking example of how it is possible to love what you do and pursue it without compromise.

For more info visit:

• www.somosarte.com
• www.bouncenyc.com
• www.projectplayground.com

Written by Ben Fasman 2003

Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. DJ Cucumberslice (formerly Bobbito the Barber)

Publishing

*'03-present Bounce Magazine, editor in chief/staff photographer.

*’95-present Vibe Magazine “Bobbito’s Soundcheck”, monthly writer-at-large.

*’04 Dunk Shoot Magazine (Japan) “The Street Dunkers,” contributing writer.

*’03 “Where’d You Get Those? New York City’s Sneaker Culture 1960-1987” Testify Books, author/photographer.

*’03 Slam Magazine presents “Streetball,” contributing writer.

*’02 I’m Dying to Get Better Nike Japan/Gekkan Basketball Publishing, contributing writer

*’99 Egotrip’s Book of Rap Lists “Bobbito Recounts 11 Artists That Were Broken By The Stretch Armstrong Show.” St. Martin’s Griffin Press, contributing writer.

*’99 The Vibe History of Hip Hop “Hip Hop Radio” Three Rivers Press,contributing writer.

*’91 The Source Magazine “Confessions Of A Sneaker Addict”, contributing writer.

*’94-’96 Rappages Magazine “The Barber Shop”, op-ed monthly columnist.

Radio

*’03-’04 NBA on ABC “Can’t Get Enough” national spot, music re-editing.

*‘98-’02 “The C.M. Famalam Program featuring Lord Sear” WKCR-NY. Hip Hop/Rare Funk/Neo Soul radio producer, air personality, and DJ.

*‘90-’98 “The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show” WKCR-NY, Hip Hop radio producer, air personality, and DJ. (Voted best Hip Hop radio show of all time by the Source Magazine in ’98).

*‘96-’98 “Boogie and the Barber” WQHT-NY, Hip Hop radio producer, air personality, and DJ.

*‘95-’97 “On the Fence” WKCR-NY, playground basketball talk radio producer and air personality.

*Jan. 1, ’97 “The Morning Show” WQHT-NY, Hip Hop radio morning show air personality.

Film

*’02 “25^th Hour” 40 Acres And A Mule/Touchstone Pictures, club music consultant.

*’00 “Summer of Sam” 40 Acres And A Mule/Touchstone Pictures, Featured DJ cameo.

*’95 “Above The Rim” New Line Cinema, basketball player extra.

Television

*’05 ESPN2 “It’s the Shoes” weekly program, creative producer/host.

*'05 EA Sports "NBA Street 3" national spot, principal voice over.

*’05 “Bobbito's Basics to Boogie: Dribbling” Bounce Films/Image Ent, national spot, producer and principal voice over.

*’05 Ross Prod/Image Ent. “1 Love” national spot, principal voice over.

*'04 G4techTV “Sweat” special program, principal host.

*'03 MTV "Battlegrounds" documentary promo, basketball performer.

*'03 EA Sports "NBA Street 2" national spot, principal street prophet performer.

*‘02-’03 TNT Network “NBA on TNT” weekly spot, principal basketball performer.

*’02 Nike “Rucker Park” national spot, principal basketball announcer.

*’01 Nike “Freestyle” international spot, principal basketball performer/dancer.

*’00 BET “Da Basement”, special guest.

*’99 MTV “Rock and Jock Celebrity Basketball Game”, game announcer.

*’97 BET “Rap City”, special guest.

*’95 MTV “Yo MTV Raps”, special guest.

*’95 Nike “Penny Hardaway” national spot, principal talk-show announcer.

*’95 Nike “Jason Kidd/Jim Jackson” national spot, principal talk-show announcer.

*’94 Nike “Helicopter” national spot, principal voice over.

*’94 Nike “N.Y. Terms” Japanese spot, principal basketball performer/host.

Video Games

*’05 EA Sports “NBA Street 3”, basketball game announcer.

*’03 EA Sports “NBA Street 2”, basketball game announcer and character voice-overs.

DJ Special Events

*’05 Lincoln Center Outdoor Concert Series

*’05 Joe Bataan concert at Crotona Park (BX) Summer Stage Series

*'03 Club Nuts Anniversary (Tokyo, Japan)

*’01-‘03 Giant Step Records Year End Party

*’99-present Keistar Productions “Wonder-full” Annual Tribute Party to Stevie Wonder with DJ Spinna

*’01 Roy Ayers concert at B.B. Kings (NY)

*’00 South Africa Tour in Johannesburg and Capetown (1^st U.S. Hip Hop personality to perform in post-apartheid South Africa).

*’00 Eddie Palmieri concert (Copenhagen, Denmark)

*’00 Common/Tony Allen concert at Central Park Summer Stage Series (NY)

*’00 Vieques (PR) Freedom Concert

*’00 Betsey Johnson/Playboy Bunny Supermodels Spring ’01 Fashion Show

*’00 D’Angelo/dead prez concert (Kristiansand, Norway)

*’00 “Coyote Ugly” movie release party

*’99 “Summer of Sam” movie release party

*’99 Daryl K. Spring ’00 Fashion Show

*’98-’00 Roskilde Festival (Denmark)

Video

*’05 “1 Love Vol. 2” Ross Prod/Image Ent., host/consultant.

*’05 “Brick and Mortar: NYC Volume 2” Mirrorball Productions/Mountain Dew, creative director/featured basketball performer.

*’03 “Bobbito's Basics to Boogie: Dribbling” Bounce Films/Image Ent, basketball instructional DVD producer/director/instructor.

*’00 Tony Touch “I Wonder Why” Music Video Tommy Boy Records, dancer cameo.

*’96 Roots “Clones” Music Video Geffen Records, dancer cameo.

*’89 3^rd Bass “Gas Face” Music Video Def Jam Records, principal character.

Fashion

*’05 adidas 35^th anniversary Superstar “Project Playground” shoe, designer.

*’04 K1X Chiefglider “Bounce Magazine” shoe, designer.

*’04 New Era Caps “Bounce Magazine” 5950 model, designer.

*’03 Barney’s Spring Catalog, celebrity model and basketball performer.

*’03 Nike Fall Fashion Show, basketball performer.

*’02 Triple 5 Soul print campaign, celebrity model.

*’98 Mecca print campaign, celebrity model.

*’96 Echo print campaign and runway show, celebrity model.

*’96 Zoo York print campaign, celebrity model.

Entrepreneur

*'03 Bounce Magazine, co-founder.

*’02-‘03 Martinez Gallery, musical director/monthly DJ/co-owner.

*’02-‘04 Fruitmeat Records, president and founder.

*’96-’00 Bobbito’s Footwork (NY/Philadelphia), storeowner.

*’04 NY Press Reader’s Poll “Best Local DJ of the Year-Bobbito”

*’02 Mugshot Magazine cover photo and feature

*’01 Educated Community Magazine (NY/Japan) cover photo and feature

*’01 Flyer Magazine “Best Hip Hop Party of the Year-Bobbito’s Monday Nights at Apartment (419 W 13 St)”

*’00 Blaze Magazine “(Hip Hop) Icons of the ‘90s-Stretch and Bobbito”

*’00 Village Voice Best of NYC 2000 “Best Independent Hip Hop Retail Store-Bobbito’s Footwork”

*’97 Urb Magazine Reader’s Poll “Best Independent Record Label of the Year-Fondle’Em Records”

*’97 Trace Magazine (London) “Best Independent Record Label of the Year-Fondle’Em Records”

*’96 Urban Latino Magazine cover photo and feature.

*’93 Village Voice “Best Hip Hop Radio Show-Stretch and Bobbito”

*’92 N.Y. Press “Best Bizarre Late Night Radio Show-Stretch and Bobbito”

*’92-’93 Gavin Magazine/Convention “Best National College Rap Show-Stretch and Bobbito”

*’92-’93 Gavin Magazine/Convention “Best College Rap Promoter-Bobbito of Def Jam Records”

*’91 N.Y. Press “Best Hip Hop Radio Show-Stretch and Bobbito”

Basketball Performer

*’05 Quai 54 Tournament (Paris) Halftime Show with Project Playground

*’05 U. Tennessee Men’s and Women’s Halftime Show with Project Playground

*’05 Florida St. U. Halftime Show with Project Playground

*’04 NY Knicks Timeout Show with Project Playground

*’04 U. Conn Men’s and Women’s Halftime Show with Project Playground

*'03 New Orleans Hornets Halftime Show with Project Playground

*’03-‘05 Dallas Mavericks Halftime Show with Project Playground

*'03 Auburn U. Halftime Show with Project Playground

*’01 Puerto Rican Day Parade Nike Float with Nike Freestyle

*’01 Nike Hip Hoop Tour (Taipei, Taiwan) with Nike Freestyle

Basketball Player

*’05 Bounce Mag Playground Pros, Revenge Tour (Puerto Rico), professional player.

*’05 Harlem Magic Masters, professional player.

*’04-’05 Power 105fm, semi-pro player.

*'03 Rucker House Squad, Rucker Pro-Am (Rucker Park), player.

*’02-'03 G.C.D. Squad, Hoops In The Sun Tournament (Orchard Beach) Champions, player.

*’94-’97 United Brooklyn Squad, West 4^th St., East Orange Pro-Am (NJ).

*’95 WalkerWear Squad, Entertainers Basketball Classic (Rucker Park), player/coach.

*’87 Arecibo Capitanes, La Liga Superior de Baloncesto de Puerto Rico, professional player.

Basketball Coach

*'03 Tony Campbell's Basketball Camp (NJ), guest ballhandling instructor.

*’02-'03 John Jay College (NY), women’s varsity assistant coach.

*’01 Basketball City Youth Camp (NY), ballhandling instructor.

*’97-’98 El Puente H.S. (Brooklyn), boys varsity head coach.

*’95 Knicks Youth Basketball Camp, ballhandling instructor.

Photography

*’05 Reverse Magazine (France), licensed photos.

*'03 I-D Magazine (UK), licensed photo.

*'03 NY Times, licensed photo.

*'03 Vogue Magazine, licensed photo.

*'03 Vanity Fair Magazine, licensed photo.

*'03 "No Shape Ups in South Africa" CD 7heads Records, licensed photos.

*'03 "Urbanite Show" Stackhouse Gallery, featured photographer.

*’03 “Where’d You Get Those” Testify Books, photographer.

*'03 Bounce Magazine, staff photographer.

*’02 “The Sound of Art” Lifebeat Organization Auction, participating photographer.

*’02 Mass Appeal Magazine, contributing photographer. Selected Album Discography

*’04 "The Wonder of Stevie 2: Melody Man, compiled by DJ Spinna and Bobbito" Harmless Records (UK), Stevie Wonder compilation A & R and liner notes writer.

*'03 "The Wonder of Stevie, compiled by DJ Spinna and Bobbito" Harmless Records (UK), Stevie Wonder compilation A & R and liner notes writer.

*'03 "Earthtones, compiled by Bobbito" R2 Records (UK), Latin/Dance/Jazz compilation A & R.

*’01 Bobbito Presents “Farewell Fondle’Em” Fondle’Em/Definitive Jux Records, Executive A & R and liner notes contributing writer.

*’00 “Vinyl Exams featuring Bobbito a.k.a. DJ Cucumberslice” Epic Records, Old School Hip Hop compilation interlude host.

*’00 M.F. Doom “Operation: Doomsday” Fondle’Em Records, Executive Producer and featured vocalist.

*’99 “World of Fondle’Em” Fondle’Em/Guntez Records (Japan), Executive A & R.

*’98 Eargasms Volume 1 “The Cucumber” Ozone Music, featured poet.

*’95 Kool Keith and Godfather Don “The Cenobites” Fondle’Em Records, Executive Producer and featured vocalist.

*’94 Kurious “A Constipated Monkey” Hoppoh/Columbia/Sony Records, Executive Producer.

www.somosarte.com/Bobbito/