SK8 NY OR DIE!

THE FACTS ABOUT THE NYC SKATEBOARD AND HIP HOP MERGE

There was once an era in time that today we refer to as, “the 90’s.” I’d like to start by saying, some of you youngsters probably will never fully understand what these years meant to the Tristate area unless you are 25 and over. That era is the time in my life that meant the most to me, and pretty much made me who I am today. Being a skater for 20 years, as well as a Hip-hop junkie, definitely brought forth my outgoing personality and made me look at the world through a creative lens.

First, let’s take it back to the Brooklyn banks, which are located under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side of NYC. For all those who don’t know, that was always the Mecca of skateboarding in the Tri-state area. I’m sure everyone and their little cousin might know the place nowadays, but before all the legal skate obstacles, there was just, “The Banks”. The smell of bum piss, the whiff of chocolate and skunk filled blunts, and the sound of the hungry youth pushing the limits of physical ability in order to express themselves on a piece of wood with urethane wheels. It all sounded like an empty stomach: churning, yearning for a scrap.

In those days I was sponsored by a local company called Brooklyn Boards, however, it went under quicker than a dirty gun tossed into the East River. Anyway, the 1992 to 1998 time frame is what some cats might call the illest era of NYC Hip-hop. Right around the time Rodney and Eli were bringing the company Zoo York to the forefront, amazing things were taking place in the city. Hip-hop was in its rawest form as far as lyrics and production. The dress code was grimy, and the beats were nervously fitting perfect with the attitude of the soon to be-Giuliani streets of New York. Around that time, skateboarding was going through a revolution as far as new tricks, and Hip-hop pretty much followed as far as a new stream of intense lyricism that made up most of the classics we all know today.

Graffiti art on the streets was also at its peak due to the decline of subway art in the late 80’s. I can clearly remember riding the 7 train to skate Flushing Meadow Park while listening to Mobb Deep’s song, “Temperature’s Rising” in my walkman. Something about being Phillie blunted off that skunk and seeing all the new tags and throw-ups on the rooftops clearly still puts me in a state of ecstasy without the fucking raves. I know most of you 90’s club heads never forgot about club Shelter where they had the NASA parties or the old church that gave birth to the Limelight. For heaven’s sake, do us a favor and please forget! Anyway, as far as marketing was concerned, Hip-hop was not integrated with skateboard culture at all. However, as far as the streets were concerned, the two were riding parallel on separate tracks, yet heading to the same destination.




I can clearly remember the Supreme store in its early years throwing a party where the group Artifacts performed one of their new singles. At that same party I saw Biggie Smalls in the crowd with Junior Mafia, as well as Rosie Perez, and members of Brooklyn’s own Boot Camp Click. I mean, to see Biggie in the crowd at a Supreme party while Artifacts performed almost seemed normal at that time, but now that I think back, those moments were priceless. I’m sure while most rappers at the time were recording their classic material at D&D studios they probably had no clue or could care less about Harold Hunters backside 180 heel flip over the Brooklyn banks wall. Another priceless moment I lived to witness. My point is, that at the same time skateboarding was going through its golden revolution, hip-hop was right by its side sending chills through the Tri-state.


The illest skateboard companies were the ones that came out of the World Industries camp and of course our home team, Zoo York, which at the time only had riders that were from the Tri-state, unlike the team today (no disrespect). The tricks were evolving into a lot more combinations, and that also brought the evolution of skating switch stance. On the other side of things we had Stretch Arm Strong on the radio, DJ Premier and RZA on the beats, and nothing but NYC artists blasting out the tapes in our walkman. That’s right, not an IPod, a fucking walkman! I know you older cats remember the cheap versions in which you had to flip the tape over and fast-forward in order to rewind.

So, let’s now jump back to today’s times where constant talk about “bringing it back” echoes throughout the city. Maybe now you understand why seeing an out of town rapper wearing a Supreme shirt and rocking a packed show in NYC is fucking crazy to me! Meanwhile, a lot of NYC rappers are now losing identity by working with producers that show no essence in the sound our home team created. Not to mention the new slew of underground rappers that set the bar for lyrics so low that we might as well let everyone get some. (And so I accept another MySpace friend request.) The last thing I want to sound like is another old grumpy hater because I love what the skateboard and Hip-hop culture has grown to. I mean, the banks now have a skate park, as well as organized events and activities for the youth. Skateboarding in the city has never been bigger, however, most of the so called good NYC skaters are transplants from other states, with the exception of some older NYC rippers such as Rodney Torres, Aaron Suski and Danny Supa, just to name a few.

As far as Hip-hop, well I guess it’s ok to be from any culture or creed, or from any part of the world, and still fit into the Mecca where Hip-hop was created. I’m sure the forefathers of the culture are happy to see the art form has grown worldwide. I mean, just being from Jersey I had to put up with a lot of shit, so to see a kid from fucking Colorado skate the banks while trying to hand out his multi-syllable underground rap CD still seems to amaze me! Welcome to the new era I guess. Hard rocks are now rocking skateboard apparel, while it’s considered ok to make Hip-hop songs talking about drinking kegs at a college party. How backwards can shit get? I definitely won’t hate, but from seeing what I’ve seen, I also sometimes can’t relate. It’s all good because I will always love skateboarding and Hip-hop, and I hope they both grow even bigger than they are now.

Peace,

Is still not the word to play.

Steady Nixin

P.S. Most rappers could care less about skateboarding, but yet they swagger jack us all day… you got to love it.

Check out the Track "Sk8 NYn or die!"
SK8 NY OR DIE by Steady Nixin & SUEWORKS