| Boy Wonder | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Manuel Alejandro Ruiz |
| Also known as | Boy Wonder Chosen Few |
| Born | May 17, Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Origin | USA/Dominican Republic |
| Genres | Reggaeton, Latin Urbano/Tropical, Merengue, Latin pop, Musica Urbana, R&B |
| Occupations | Executive Producer, Film maker, Manager, & Philanthropist |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Chosen Few Emerald Entertainment, Inc. |
| Associated acts | Fuego, Jenny "La Sexy Voz", Reychesta "Secret Weapon", LDA, Chiko Swagg, Omega "El Fuerte", Wisin & Yandel, Jowell y Randy, Tito "El Bambino, Don Omar, Cosculluela, etc. |
| Website | www.chosenfewurbano.com |
Manuel Alejandro Ruiz (Born May 17)[1] better known by his stage name Boy Wonder "Chosen Few"[2] is a Dominican American multi-platinum award winning executive producer, filmmaker, and CEO of his record label Chosen Few Emerald Entertainment, Inc. Born to a single Dominican mother in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Long Island City, Queens where he became interested in music at a young age.
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Boy Wonder Chosen Few has made documentaries, compilation albums, soundtracks, and individual Chosen Few artists albums; mostly in the reggaeton and Latin/Urbano Tropical musical genres.
In 2003 Boy Wonder's first project, Chosen Few: El Documental,[3] highlighted the underground Reggaeton movement showcasing the overall sense of the culture with footage of packed concert halls, interviews with top artists of the genre, and much more. Chosen Few El Documental (CD / DVD) Won the 2004 Latin Billboard Award for BEST LATIN COMPILATION OF THE YEAR and went multi-platinum certified by the RIAA, which included the hit "Reggaeton Latino" by Don Omar which been documented as the 2nd biggest crossover track in reggaeton history (2nd to Daddy Yankee "Gasolina"). "Reggaeton Latino" spent 44 weeks on the Billboard charts.[4]
In 2005 together with Chencho from reggaeton duo Plan B they both came up with the idea for a underground compilation album (El Draft 2005) created for a competition to find the next reggaeton star. The winner of the talent search was reggaeton duo RKM y KenY but the compilation album also launched the careers of Jowell y Randy and the unknown Fuego with his song "Me Gustan Todas."[5] Boy Wonder signed Fuego to his Chosen Few label upon seeing his underlying talent. Adding Fuego to Chosen Few's lineup of artists including LDA[6] who appeared on the "Reggaeton Latino" Remix and were the first reggaeton male/female duo, Reychesta "Secret Weapon" formerly of the group Tres Coronas, and Puerto Rican reggaetonero Getto.
In 2006, Boy Wonder released Chosen Few II: El Documental, which captured the rise of reggaeton's second generation. According to Billboard magazine Chosen Few II: El Documental went double platinum and spent months in the Top 5 of Billboard charts[7] Latin sales chart.
In 2008 Boy Wonder released another documental Chosen Few III: The Movie.
Boy Wonder is one of the most in demand producers of remixes in the Latin Urban market today. One of his first successful projects was the remix of Shakira's "Mi Vida". Initially most could not understand his vision or the direction he wanted to take the song in and he was met with great resistance when he approached the label and management with his idea. Despite this, he remixed the single and brought it to radio and club DJs, who without hesitation put the song into rotation. It immediately became an underground smash hit. Boy Wonder's hip-hop infused remix to the reggaeton anthem "Reggaeton Latino"[8] was a worldwide hit and featured Don Omar, Fat Joe, N.O.R.E., and LDA. Boy Wonder was responsible for the 2007 remix of the reggaeton hip-hop "Frikitona" featuring Plan B, Trick Daddy, Trina, and LDA. In 2008 Boy Wonder's artist Fuego scored his first big hit "Mi Alma Se Muere" which was the lead single to Chosen Few III: The Movie[9] "Mi Alma Se Muere" remix featuring Pitbull & Omega "El Fuerte" was released later that year, The remix peaked at No. 22 for over 24 weeks on the Top 100 Billboards Tropical.[10]
In August 2010, Boy Wonder executive produced with creative direction Fuego's debut album La Musica Del Futuro. In the summer of 2009 "Super Estrella" featuring Omega "El Fuerte" was released and was the first single off La Musica Del Futuro. A video for "Super Estrella was shot in the Dominican Republic and garnered over 4 million views on youtube. In Dec. 2009 Fuego's second single was released "Que Buena Tu Ta" featuring Deevani which combines Indian rhythms and Latin Mambo beats which peaked at No.2 on the Top 100 Billboard Tropical charts for 12 weeks[11] and in 2010 two Remixes were creatively & executive produced by Boy Wonder, one, Featuring Serani & a Dominican version featuring Mozart La Para, BlackPoint, Sensato, Los Pepes, Monkey Black & Villanosam.
In July 2010, Boy Wonder worked with cellular phone company Metropcs to sponsor Fuego's La Musica Del Futuro[12] album release tour. "Metropcs presents Chosen Few's Fuego: La Musica Del Futuro Album Release Tour."[13] The tour took Boy Wonder and Fuego on a 13-city tour around the United States promoting Metropcs's Mister Cartoon Samsung Messager limited edition phone. Boy Wonder worked with Metropcs to showcase the Mister Cartoon phone in Fuego's third single, "Ya Te Olvide" a merengue-infused beat. The video also features special appearances by actor Luis Guzmán and Chosen Few's CEO Boy Wonder, and co-stars video vixens Rosa Acosta and Tammy Torres.
In late August 2010 Boy Wonder and Fuego continued touring and performed at 1800 411 Pain[14] events throughout Florida and Massachusetts.
In February 2011 Fuego was Nominated for the Premio Lo Nuestro 2011 in the category Revelación del Año Urbano. Boy Wonder worked with Univision Television to have Fuego perform,[15] close the show and bring special guest Omega "El Fuerte". Boy Wonder performed on stage as the bartender during Fuego's performance.
That same year Boy Wonder's label, Chosen Few Emerald Entertainment, Inc. was nominated for a Latin Billboard Music Award for Best Latin Albums Rhythm Label of the Year.
After the success of Fuego, in April 2011 Boy Wonder set out to find the next Chosen Few Urbano Superstar in a Challenge called Chosen Few Urbano Challenge.[16] That Challenge cultivated the last Challenger standing, Chiko Swagg,[17] who is now guaranteed a spot on Boy Wonder's next concept album Chosen Few Urbano "El Journey"[18] that will be released in 2011/2012.
"Chosen Few Urbano - "El Journey" is a documentary project with accompanying soundtrack that will explore the U.S. and international Urbano movement. The documentary will use a mixture of urbano music including culture, rhythms, & beats that each artist shares in this documentary. Many very well-known artists will present their music, their country, and their overall Urbano culture. Artists from countries such as Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Panama, Cuba, USA, Argentina, Venezuela, Canada, & Colombia will be featured in the project.
"Chosen Few Urbano" features Urbano artists from around the world including Chosen Few's own Fuego, USA; Omega "El Fuerte", Dominican Republic; Cosculluela, Puerto Rico; Chino & Nacho, Venezuela; J Balvin, Colombia; Flex, Panama, Jowell y Randy, Puerto Rico; Dyland y Lenny, Puerto Rico; Alex Kayza, Puerto Rico; De La Ghetto, Puerto Rico; Arcangel, Puerto Rico; Farruko, Puerto Rico; La Gente de Zona, Cuba; NY Mets All star Baseball player Jose Reyes, Dominican Republic; Villano Sam, Dominican Republic; Fito Blanko, Canada; Black Point, Dominican Republic; and Sensato del Patio, Dominican Republic; just to name a few.
In August 2011 Boy Wonder signed a female artist named Jenny "La Sexy Voz" known for doing sexy voices, hooks, and ad-libs on songs for artists such as Wisin & Yandel "Rakata", Daddy Yankee and Wisin & Yandel "Paleta", Alexis & Fido "Eso Es" (This is it), and Javiah "Contacto", Wisin & Yandel "Pam Pam" and Hector "El Father" feat Yomo and Polaco "Tiburon", is featured in the "La Barria", Plan B feat LDA, Trick Daddy and Trina "Frikitona". Jenny "La Sexy Voz"[19] is featured on the lead single of Latin Girl Presented by Chosen Few Urbano also featuring Omega "El Fuerte" and Cosculluela. Jenny "La Sexy Voz"[20] is featured in the 2011 Jowell y Randy Chosen Few remix of "Perrame".
Chosen Few Emerald Entertainment Inc. is a multimedia & management company, independent record label that represents artists, producers and DJs. Chosen Few's music and film repertoire is represented within the reggaeton & Urban/Latin marketplace, both nationally in the USA and worldwide. Artists include Boy Wonder, Fuego, Jenny "La Sexy Voz", Reychesta "Secret Weapon", LDA, and Chosen Few Urbano's last Challenger standing Chiko Swagg. Chosen Few's headquarters are located in Long Island City, New York.
Chosen Few Emerald Entertainment, Inc.
Disc One: Classics
Disc Two: More Classics
| Region | Certification | Sales/shipments |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[21] | 2× Platinum (Latin) | 200,000^ |
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^shipments figures based on certification alone |
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