Big B of The Boodah Brothers: A Hampton Roads Radio Legend Remembered
Big B, known off the air as Chris Belcher, was a longtime Hampton Roads radio personality and one half of the influential Boodah Brothers morning show on WOWI-FM/103 JAMZ in Norfolk. During the 1990s, at the height of hip hop and R&B’s dominance on local airwaves, Big B and his on‑air partner DJ Law helped shape the sound and identity of the region. Their show became one of the most popular programs in the area, drawing major recording artists and entertainers, and serving as a cultural hub for listeners across multiple cities.
The Boodah Brothers are widely credited with helping popularize local nicknames such as “the 7-Cities” and “757” for the Hampton Roads area, terms that residents and artists continue to use as expressions of regional pride. For many listeners, the pair were more than radio hosts; they were familiar voices people tuned in to daily as part of their routines, offering music, commentary, and a sense of community connection.
Big B’s work extended beyond entertainment. He and DJ Law appeared on Andy Fox’s “Road Rebels” segment, where they used their public profiles to promote driver and passenger safety on local roads. After leaving full‑time broadcasting, Belcher operated a dump truck company that contributed to infrastructure projects, including work on the Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel, keeping his ties to the region strong in a different field.
DJ Law died suddenly in 2010, marking the end of the original Boodah Brothers partnership. In the years that followed, Big B continued to be recognized as an important figure in the local music and radio community, maintaining relationships with artists who had appeared on the show, including members of the R&B group Blackstreet. Singer Levi Little described a decades‑long personal and musical relationship with Big B and DJ Law, emphasizing the influence their opinions had on how new records were received in the market.
Less than a month before his death, Big B spoke publicly about his health challenges and his efforts to recover, reflecting on the role 103 JAMZ played in defining the sound of life in Hampton Roads during the 1990s. Following his passing, condolences have focused on both his professional legacy in radio and his impact on the broader community that grew up listening to him and his colleagues.
