Paatiiteinntgly W this was where I needed to be. I conquered the toughest crowd in New York, and [I was] singing doo-wop.” Most artists earn their greatest degree of success by sharing compelling stories of their own experiences. Vocalist Boxie plans the achieve fame in the same manner. At just 18 years old, this rhythmic observer has earned a reputation for piercing people’s hearts with the chilling tales of heartache and tragedy he has witnessed growing up in South Jamaica, Queens. But unlike other contemporary talents, this crooner has an old-school vibe. “I’m a street soul singer,” he says. “I’m more like that person you heard on the corner doo-wopping in the ‘50s.” Boxie, known to some as Jason Dendy, developed his charismatic vocals as a choir member at Blanche Memorial Baptist Church in Jamaica, New York. But in 2002, the superstar-in-training took a step forward in his career by singing “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” in front of the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem. That led to a spot on Showtime At The Apollo, a syndicated television competition he would go on to win. “That was the biggest thing for me because I watched Apollo growing up,” the teenage sensation recalls. “When I won, it changed everything. I knew
For the next few years, Boxie recorded homemade audiotapes through a karaoke machine and hustled them throughout his neighborhood. Then, in 2005, he began polishing up his game with Irv Gotti, Ja Rule and the rest of the camp at Murder Inc. Although he courted offers from Def Jam and Motown, he ultimately signed with Polo Grounds Music in April 2007. “Polo Grounds is a hard working label and they showed love from the gate,” he explains. “It’s one thing to do business with somebody, but it’s another thing to have a friendship behind your business. That’s what Polo Grounds brings to their artists. They allow the artists to be friends other than just artists to the label. It’s a family.” Since then, Boxie collaborated with fellow family member Hurricane Chris for his single “Playas Rock.” But for now, the charismatic vocalist is concentrated on generating excitement with his radio-friendly ballad “Let Me Show You.” Much like his childhood influences Stevie Wonder and Frankie Lymon, Boxie is planning to achieve great success when he premieres his studio debut in late 2008. “Every few years, you get one of those timeless projects that speaks for itself,” he says. “This is one of those projects.” - Words by Bear Frazier // Photo by Julia Beverly
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