ALEX BUGALOO
ART DIRECTOR / URBAN ARTIST
COJO SAYS:
"Buga, what can I say about Buga, other than, HE'S THE MAN. There are people I am sure in every hip town or neighborhood, who are like, the guy who can get things done, the guy who knows people, the guy who has the hook-up. Bugaloo is that guy for Miami. . . He knows EVERYBODY! " - COJO, ART JUGGERNAUT
MY RELATION TO: TO COJO
"When I first encountered Cojo 'Art Juggernaut' my first reaction in disbelief was 'His art is that of a distant Bugaloo clone from another galaxy! Cojo Rox!' While prowling the art hip and it's roots I had filtered his work through my eyes and ears from collected clippings in newstands, bookstores, and the buzzing buzz.
I cannot vividly recall how he and I came to but it had something to do with the world's grand networker, the internet, and through frequent visits to the Art Juggernaut's world & I guess the rest is history provided for by the Universe. I recall: Sketching, Lineart, and Vectors were words first spoken of. Besides sketching & inking, COJO and BUGA both spend countless insomniac tick-tocks in the digital vortex. Anyhow, we've been down with each other from the jump. We got to meet in person & in MY stomping grounds, Miami, Fla. on his tour down here. We hit the MIA SoBe Bar & Club-VIP hoppin scene, we were Heinee- brew-drinkin & Sexy-Monster (superflyfinechics) Scoutin side-by-side. Needless to say we had a trip. A Cojo & Buga collaboration is inevitable. Holla- at- chaBuga!"
MORE ABOUT ME:
The BUGALOO movement growing UP: His christened name is Alejandro Bugallo (pronounced Buga-yo in Cuban) but it was Alex Bugaloo that remained (What's in a name?). It was a nickname given to him by his friends & colleagues because of of his Americanization and the often mispronounciation of Bugallo. So Bugaloo it stayed and with no delay it quickly grew on him and soon evolved into BUGA. Breaking it down, The term Bugaloo is used as a dance movement in Latin (Salsa) & Urban Street Dancing (Breaking) pop cultures. It has been shouted & quoted in many song lyrics: e.g., The Sugar Hill Gangs 'Rappers Delight' & Salsas 'El Boogaloo'.
The alias BUGA is a shorter version he also is known by. He created meaning for it as a catchy acronym which stands for Before Under Ground After. It's a Marketing timeline based on the when, where, & how things come about. Before anything is pop, commercial or mainstream, chances are it was developed or came from an Under Ground movement, which basically is its roots. In youth it was: A sketch here, a doodle there, and then... BAM! He realized that drawing was how he communicated best. From Original Bugaloo toons to parody & clever art, guidelines were never an issue for him to follow when designing or creating a piece. Hungry for exposure, he didn't know where a journey into the art field would lead to but nonetheless his style persevered. The styles that translate in his art are Urban Pop meets Street art or Lowbrow Graffiti. However, when working on projects, each is represented in its own style.
He steadily sharpened up his skills at a local college for Visual Arts & Computer Graphics. Soon realizing that no crummy piece of paper can determine what one is capable of accomplishing or producing, he dropped out of school to pursue a career as a Designer for a Marketing Firm. During & after that stint he pursued careers as a Toy Designer, Graphic Artist, Fashion Runway Model (AY PAPI!), DJ, Club Promoter & Art Director (just to name a few), all the while never forgetting to make alliances, networking & spreading the BUGA-word!
Slapping Bugaloo stickers all over town was nothing out of the ordinary. Today, as a Creative Art Director & Designer for a whole different kinda firm, Bugaloo works with various artist & their labels basically in the biz of making cool stuff for famous people.
His future plans are to have his own toy, gear, & apparel line. In the future he hopes to manifest colorful collaborations with other artists.
Peace for your Mind, Body & Soul from Bugaloo.....ONE LOVE.
To Contact/Chat: bugawho@bellsouth.net
aim: bugawhoib
bugalooking coming soon: www.buga.us
-words by: rio
UPDATES I'VE APPEARED OR BEEN MENTIONED IN:
NEW YEARS ROCKIN' EVE- - - PUMP PHILM FESTIVAL- - - MIAMI BUGALOO- - - MIAMI ON THE ROOF- - - COJO IN MIAMI- - - BIENVENIDA A MIAMI- - -