ERIK ELLINGTON

DEATHWISH SKATEBOARDS was celebrating it's one year anniversary at their warehouse in North Hollywood a couple weeks back and Ellington was gracious enough to sit down with me. It doesn't sound like much, but to the all seeing eye, protector of many, dad, graphics consult etc. that is Erik, it's amazing he even had time to sit. Definitely a gracious host as well as an amazing skateboarder. Erik has been stretched far this year with filming, tending to his, now, 2 children and wife, andstarting Deathwish skateboards and Brigada Eyewear! Bring him in with a standing ovation, please, Mr. Alaska himself.

Who are you? How old are you? And why should I care?
Erik Ellington. 31. I don't know why you should care.
You run a company we're all fairly familiar with. Deathwish. What's in the name?
Skateboarders have a Deathwish
What role do you feel you play in this family?
Well I guess I just try and make things happen
What does that mean?
Its pretty simple. From the day to day operations, to getting graphics done. Pretty much everything ya know. I kinda just help run things. I guess.
Jack of all trades?
Master of none. Definitely not skateboarding. ::laughs::
I got a pretty good program. I come in here Monday through Friday, pretty much, and I make a time where I skate. And I skate every day. I try and stay on my game.
Favorite place to travel?
That's a tough one. Japan's always sick. Brazils sick. Australia's sick. I like to travel to downtown Los Angeles too.
What did you do today?
I woke up this morning and made my son breakfast. I went to get a bunch of shit done on my teeth. I had all these numbing medications and shit. Then I came up here and tried to figure out what we were doing. All I pretty much do is assist people at doing what they already know how to do.
Morale?
I'm a morale supporter.
If you could only do one trick for the rest of your life what would it be?
I'd 360 flip everything in my sight
Favorite food?
Gumbo
From anywhere in particular?
Louisiana. Louisiana gumbo.
You get to put on a concert. You have to select 3 bands, living or dead, to headline. What 3 bands do you choose?
Guns N Roses of course. AC/DC has to fall in there somewhere. And then, I'd like, TRex to play. And then throw Muddy Waters in there somewhere
Where do they play?
Obviously at my house
Any last words?
Good luck

come together

"skateboarding's done everything, and nothing for me at the same time."

ELLINGTON interview asap. most likely tonight. forreal.

on the way out the door

work work work work work has a tendency to impede art. it's cool. I'm making time for it as soon as I can. Thanks to all my friends. You all rule. That is all. 

ELLINGTON interview up as soon as I can. 

long day well spent

"Success is liking who you are, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." -Maya Angelou

currently: waiting for my rice to cook and listening to A.D.L.I.B. feat Mos Def- A.D.L.I.B.

School went really well today, I had good times in both classes. I'm learning a lot. It's pretty cool. Hung out with Joaquin, Desmond, and Kyle in the Botanic Gardens. Super chill. Finished Blakes board. I call it "Park Shark". (Blake calls it Pool Shark.) You can call it what you will. Just don't call it after you already smoked the blunt. I'm psyched on it.

ANTWUAN "Big Kandy" DIXON

words, photos and easter eggs c/o: THEREALDEAL

"Fuck the po-lice"

The first time I met Antwuan was at the tradeshow (ASR) in San Diego about 2 years ago. He was 2 years younger and had maybe 2 tattoos. He's almost of age now and has more tattoos than a tribesman. An, honestly, nice guy and an amazing skateboarder, I was lucky enough to have him sit down with me at the Deathwish 1 year anniversary, and answer a couple of questions. Everyone show love to the underground king of Deathwish skateboards, Dr. Fakie Double Flip himself, Antwuan Dixon.

Who are you and why the fuck should I care?

My name's Antwuan Dixon cuh and you should care because you know I'm the illest motherfucker around. You already know the business. You know I hold shit down. You already know.
Squad up. Squad who?
Sin squad nigga that's what's up. First and foremost nigga, that's me, Sinner, Flip, Jigga, my nigga Shane. All my niggas. We separate the weak from the obsolete.
If you weren't here where would you be?
Probably at my house man, smoking blunts on my porch cuh. Fuckin wit my mama, cuz watching Shottas. You already know.
Shottas is a hell of a movie.
Oh yeah that's a blood clot movie OOOOOOH. ::laughs::
Out of all the places around the world that you've been, where's your favorite place to travel?
My favorite place to travel is Madrid, Spain.
Why?
I don't know, I went there and all the ladies thought I was a cute guy. They wrote "muy bonito" on all my fucking starbucks shit.
What were the last two artists you listened to?
I listened to my nigga Young Jeezy and muthafuckin' T.I.
I heard you got into a little bit of trouble? You alright now? Everything cool?
Yeah man I got into a little bit of trouble fucking out there in Florida man.
What happened?
Man I was chillin cuz, and these bitches came at me like "'ey 'twuan you wanna smoke" I'm like yeah lets go. then all of a sudden you know.. These bitches had all these blunts rolled, you kn'a mean and we was smoking' and this lady rolled up and knocked on the window. And then she knocked on it and looked at me and I just kept smoking, cuh. And then all of a sudden that bitch pulled out the motherfuckin' badge cuh. And I'm like "Shit." You know? I had a big ass muthafuckin zip lock bag, cause my nigga motha fuckin Wizard had like a QP and I bought his last ounce. So I had the whole muthafuckin zip lock bag so the shit was pokin' out my pocket. Cuh You know. And then a nigga just cashed his check. Then lenny rivas gave me a little fucking sin squad real quick just to get buck, just to pack my beat. And then all of a sudden, a nigga got cuffed. Bitch pulled my shit out, talkin she gon' seize my money. And I'm like "what the fuck you mean you gon' seize my money" she talkin' bout, "we gon' take it" ya know? I'm all cuffed up, sitton on the shit. So I get up, cuh, fucking grab my wallet off the hood of the car. and I hold onto it real good. They kept trying to rip it out from me and then this walks back and I kicked her in the face cuh, then this other nigga come up and I elbow him. Then I get tased by two taser guns and shit.
How'd that feel?
The shit hurt man. The niggas took me to jail and shit. Whatever. Life goes on.
Which of your tattoos is your favourite?
My favorite tattoo is muthafuckin' Freddy Krueger cause muthafuckin Freddy is bad, bitch.
What was your first tatoo?
My fucking initials. A.D. That's what's up.
If you could only do one trick for the rest of your life what trick?
Only do nollie muthafuckin heelflips. You already know the business.
When's the next time I'm gonna see some shit comin' out from Big 'Twuan?
You already know. We got like 11 and a hakf months. Go harder than motherfuckers. In there like swimwear. You already know the business.
Okay. Finish this sentence. "I go hard in the paint, Big Kandy does..."
What the fuck he wants to do when the fuck he wants to do it.
That's what's up. Any last words?
Yeah nigga, fuck the police. Smoke weed every muthafuckin' day.

"Life, I wonder, will it take me under?"

currently listening to: DJ WALKS freestyle fridays

"Money, money, money, on my mind, on my mental"

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday came and went quick as fuck. I've been working a lot in an attempt to secure the luxury of my habits. (1 and 2) between that and juggling school I didn't have time to finish up both DEATHWISH interviews for Friday. With that being said, the ANTWUAN DIXON interview will be up by the end of today. Most likely, this afternoon. ERIK ELLINGTON's interview is going to be put up by the end of next week. Stay tuned they're both amazing and I'm sure you'll all digggg. YA DIG?

A couple months back I was invited, by a friend, to go to Tampa Pro and I reluctantly declined. Though I don't regret not going (because I'm broke like eggs into omelettes) I'm sure it would have been a good time. I've been reading some twitter feeds from a few people I know out there and I can't wait to see the foooty. In other news, check out PJ Ladd's granite madness over at his own mini DC site 

awesome fuckin' weekend

currently listening to : Leave me alone pt. 2 - Cam'ron

"electric chair? I don't deserve the fun"

I had one awesome weekend. Took a LONG trip to North Hollywood only to end up at the DEATHWISH warehouse for the 1 year anniversary of the company. (On Friday the 13th. haha) Beers, blunts, skating, pros, and much love. That was on and poppin'. Hung out with some REAL OG's. More like... REAL PDs. Sat in traffic for like 4 fuckin hours which was succeeded by hanging out with one of the coolest ladies I know. My lerve. My lady. Saw Watchmen at the Riverside Plaza today, not a bad flick at all. I'd definitely say check it out. Off to a couple parties for the evening. DJWALKS is playing a party at Spruce so I'm going to catch that for a bit. Should be a grand ball.

oh and see those polaroids? the next two interviews are from two DEATHWISH pros. guess who?

NEXT FRIDAY. 

ANTWUAN DIXON and ERIK ELLINGTON

YAH' EARD MEH.