Tomorrow we’re debuting another new tee: Nalu. It’s a salute to the world-acclaimed sport that our ancestors invented a couple of centuries ago, and the heart and soul that’s shown when one is looking at a twenty-foot face. The original culture of surfing is a spiritual one: looking for the perfect tree, digging up that tree placing a fish at the hole which was an offering to the Gods. Even the construction of the surfboards was extremely meticulous. The colorful graphic on the front is of the perfect wave in the perfect setting. Accompanying the shirt is a custom teal Kamehameha fitted with a purple brim and white Kamehameha logo.
Here we have a couple pics of my first Marlin and I have to say this fish lived up to the hype. Getting this fish in the boat was by far my most intense fishing experience and no easy task. It took three grown men and 45 minutes of tug-of-war to land this beast…. big mahalos to Uncle Jeff and Simi for the teamwork. You know it is a given that a big batch of Auntie Irene’s famous smoked marlin dip is in the works.!!
Way before Zoo York gravitated into the realm that EckÅ Ltd. stepped into in 2000, they were known for being deeply saturated in Hip-Hop culture. To the Hip-Hop purist, the name summons memories of graffiti splattered over subway cars in New York City. They were also profoundly submerged in core skateboarding culture as well, with greats like Harold Hunter (R.I.P.), Jeff Pang and Vinny Ponte representing the team / brand / culture. In 1998, they released their first video titled Zoo York Mixtape 1 on VHS, which married Hip-Hop music (and video footage from ’93 & ’94) with skate footage filmed in 1997. I bought my copy at Sera’s Surf ways back; unfortunately I cannot seem to find it amongst my mother’s pile of hoarded VHS tape recordings of the Geraldo Rivera Show and Full House. *sideways face*
The video starts off with a vignette of the late, great DJ Roc Raida (of the world famous X-Ecutioners) cutting it up like only he knows how, then segues into Jeff Pang’s Mix (part) accompanied with footage of a pre-Terror Squad Fat Joe freestyling with the hilarious & shocking Keith Nut. The freestyle footage was recorded by Eli Genser from the legendary Stretch & Bobbito show (back when Stretch Armstrong was known as DJ Skinny Bones). This man is to blame for the loss of lots of classic Hip-Hop video footage that many would beg to see these days, including the acclaimed Jay-Z & Big L freestyle and Large Professor writing a rhyme and freestyling it for the first time before it became his verse for Main Source’s Live At The BBQ. Shame on him!
Enjoy this nostalgic piece of skateboarding and Hip-Hop history, and you can read a behind-the-scenes interview by Jeff Pang & Eli Genser over at T.R.O.Y.. What up Big Sleep?!
This Saturday we’re unleashing our Pimper’s Paradise tee plus a brand new, custom Pride. The inspiration is pretty straightforward: although we live in a beautiful city that nearly the entire World considers paradise, beneath the surface there is a darker, grittier side, as with every city. It’s a great contrast of good and bad, yin and yang; we do sort of need both to have it balanced. Pride cap is all red upper with a white logo and tan brim / top button.
Quick update: We’ve released a new hat and tee combo which is available in stores now. All black tee titled Babylon Is A Vampire inspired from the late, great Robert Nesta Marley’s Babylon System (song can be found below).The term “Babylon Is A Vampire” refers to the blood thirsty politicians whom prey on those of us who are at the bottom of the capitalist totem pole. Our entire government is structured as a capitalist caste system: rich / wealth = power, and obviously it’s those with power who are at the top of this pyramid. This same “power” is carried by religious leaders whom force their religion on the unknowledgeable, other wise known as tricknology. Tricknology introduces ideals to the masses not based on scientific evidence; basically based on untruths. But Babylon will see it’s demise soon enough! Along with the tee is a custom San Francisco Giants MLB in matching rasta colors.
Stephen (who just picked up an Emmy over the weekend) discusses the latest political / religious trending topic: the building of a mosque near Ground Zero, satirically attacking these so called “news pundits” who are, as usual, on the offense against anything and anyone that falls into the category of non-Christian(ity). Typical typecasting, Islamaphobic, hackneyed ideals being practiced. We’re looking at you, FOX News / Rupert Murdoch!
These days, there seems to be a heavy influx of lunch wagons opening up all over the island. Sadly, the majority of them are unoriginal, uninspiring steak plate trucks. There’s so many popping up all over that it really is pretty overwhelming, to the point where one would grow tiresome of steaks at just the mere sight of one of these trucks. Luckily there are individuals out there that are more forward thinking with instant eateries. Enter Leroy’s T.A.S.T.E. (Tasty Asian Style Taco Eatery) lunch wagon located on the corner of McCully & Beretania. T.A.S.T.E. has been open for about a month now, serving up original taco recipes with original sauces (the wasabi dressing is a winner!). One of the highlights is the char siu avocado teri taco made with homemade char siu. Check out a photo of the menu for what they have to offer. Make sure your entire palate is clean and you have some time to spare; patience is a virtue, but the mouth-watering wait is well worth it! They’re open M – F and every other Saturday, between 11 AM – 2 PM.
