(photo courtesy of Stanley Lumax)
Manhattan, NYC native DJ Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love is Bounce Magazine’s Editor In Chief, and the critically acclaimed author of Where’d You Get Those? NYC’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987 (Testify Books). He performs basketball tricks at NBA halftime shows with Project Playground. In recent years, he has reported for MSG-TV during NY Knicks broadcasts, voiced NBA 2K video games, and hosted ESPN’s It’s the Shoes series. In ’07, he designed seven signature Nike Air Force 1 25th Anniversary shoes. Currently, he co-anchors MSG’s Summerball weekly program, and is the Elite 24 HS All-American Game play-by-play commentator.You may wonder when Bobbito has time to breathe, but in the last 20 years he has been relentlessly pursuing his passions in music and basketball. After playing Puerto Rico pro ball 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 started their on-air program at WKCR 89.9 fm. By ’98, the Source Magazine voted them the “Best Hip Hop Radio Show of All Time,” introducing 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 the industry.
Although Bobbito a.k.a. Kool Bob Love is a bonafide Hip Hop legend, any former reader of his Vibe column would know that his musical passion goes way beyond just Rap. As a club DJ, crowds worldwide from China to South Africa have celebrated his unique blend of Rare Funk, Latin, Afro-Beat, Soul, Jazz, 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-Funk legend Roy Ayers, and Soul singer D'Angelo.
For more info visit:
www.bouncemag.com
www.myspace.com/bobbitogarcia
www.youtube.com/user/bobbitogarcia
Bobbito, bring us back a bit. When did you start playing ball and who influenced you (players, coaches or other) to keep after it over the years?
First and foremost, all praise to my pops, God bless the dead. He came yay close to going pro in Puerto Rico before he had to move with his moms to NYC. He was the first to put a ball in my hand when I was 7 in 1973. My brother Ray played for the Guachos around that time, and helped me with my game. I lived in the same building on 97th St. with brothers Mario and Clark Elie. Mario became All-City at Power Memorial HS and would go on to win three NBA championships. He’s always been an influence. All-time legend Earl “The Goat” Manigualt ran the tournament across the street on 99th in PS 163 playground. He was always there to watch us little dudes play, and is an eternal Yoda type character in my life, no doubt. Kelsey “Kidd” Stevens was the first summerball coach I ran with when he put me down with Douglass Project in Holcombe Rucker Memorial Juniors Division. Ray Diaz was the one who spotted me at the Goat and told me I was ready to play pro in Puerto Rico, fulfilling my own and my father’s dream of repping the homeland. I played one season, which was a crowning moment in my life. I had been cut from Wesleyan University, a small D3 school, three years in a row, and there I was being scouted on the street and signing a pro contract. Kind of insane and out of a dream, but I never let go of my passion. Still not to this day. That’s the early years. There are so many others to mention in that time frame and then a ba-jillion more for the last 20 years where I’ve been able to play in games throughout Puerto Rico, Japan, Spain, and most happily New York.
Bounce Magazine is blowing up, more and more so, each and every year. How did this concept begin and how do you foresee its continued growth?
Me, Jesse Washington and Sean Couch founded Bounce in my living room in 2003, Justin Leonard joined us shortly after. We came out with one issue that year, two the following, then in 2006 we partnered with Dime Magazine who have since really stepped up our distribution and circulation. We now come out five times a year as a print publication, with an online version www.bouncemag.com that gets updated daily. Slam was doing an annual Streetball issue, and EBC would do their annual mag, but no one was doing it year round and consistently, so we thought to fill that void and not just cover NYC or the US, but the world. Luckily for me, I’ve traveled extensively with DJ gigs, and have always kept contact with the various ballplayers I’ve encountered. So when I became Editor In Chief, the first thing I did was have a report from South Africa, Toronto, etc. The readers embraced it, and we do the same online with guestbloggers from Spain, London, etc.
As for growth, we only cover the playground, pick-up, tournaments, AAU, camps, entertainment ball, sneaker culture, etc. so I think there is a limit as to how far we can grow because we stay out the range of mass media topics like the NBA, college, and high school, which we’re completely fine with because there are enough outlets that pay those areas respect. When I come up with concepts for articles, I always think, “Who else would dare to cover this?” and when I answer is no one, then I know we got a green light. Look at our covers—Hook Mitchell in ‘04 before his documentary came out, Homicide, Lance and Brandon Jennings in ‘06 before they became nationally recognized, etc. etc. I do believe we can continue to reach a new audience as they realize how interesting our world is, but it is ultimately a defined community and not for everyone.
Who's the best ball player that you ever went head-to-head with, but that you got the best of? Describe the situation.
Wow. I don’t know, man. I don’t think I’ve ever got the “best” of anyone who I thought was stupid nice, but I can say that I’ve earned the respect of a lot of ballplayers worldwide. People confuse things and try calling me a legend, but I’m always real quick to correct them. At age 42 I’m a veteran who is still playing daily. I have had some nice moves or little highlights here and there, but I am and never been no where near the level of a Dancing Doogie, Speedy Williams, Term, on and on. I’ve played with all of them and feel honored to say that. In my entire career, I’ve made 25 people fall with my handle. Only two, maybe three, were NBA level, and both outscored me plus their teams beat mine in the games that I caught the little moment of satisfaction. So what does it mean? Nothing really. I have beat a number of incredible shooters in 3 point contests, including Nike Battleground ‘02 Champion Mike Campbell, former Laker Randolph Keys, and ESPN City Slam Nat’l 3 point Champion Jack Ryan, although I’ve never beaten him when there has been a prize in the mix, only in our personal gym battles! When there is money on the line, Jack hits a different gear! Every time I’ve scored 30+, it’s been in lower level leagues that the top level comp don’t really play in. In ‘05-’06, I got voted to the Pelham Fritz 38 and Over League All-Star Game by my peers which included Kevin “Will Power” Williams, Rod Strickland, Mike Bantom, Gus Williams, “Disco” Fred Brown, “Dancing Doogie,” Wes Correa, “Master Rob,” Dedrick Erving, Wendell Alexis, Leroy Shaw . . . I mean I was looking at the lay up line in awe! These were some of the players I looked up to as a kid, and now I was on the same court with them. I sat on the ball during one possesion and gave this freak pass that the crowd gave me a big ‘ooh’ for, and I was good!
Everyone that knows you, knows you love sneakers. What's your favorite pair of kicks of all-time?
Read my book Where’d You Get Those? New York City’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987 on Testify Books for all the answers!
You have been featured in video games; you have DJ'd all over the world; you've written a book on sneaker culture; you've hosted a radio show on WKCR and have hosted ESPN's It's the Shoes, MSG's SummerBall and "Hot Minute at the Half"; You've consulted to sneaker companies and you've started your own magazine. What haven't you done yet that we can expect to see from Bobbito Garcia in the near future?
Man, at some point I’m hoping to have a kid! I’ve done everything in my professional life I could’ve hoped for, and a ton more I could have never dreamed to even touch or imagine. The thing that’s important to me and others is that I’ve always maintained a standard in whatever I do. There are club heads that have no idea that I play ball, but they come to hear me spin everytime I’m in there country. There are opponents of mine that have no idea I’ve been on TV, Radio, Films, video games, DVDs, and magazines that they’ve peeped inside and out, but they respect my game when I walk off the court, at least I hope. I always show respect to everyone. I think that’s what keeps my doors open for the future, cuz people always want to look out for me. I’ve done a lot for the community. The love goes ‘round.
