Respect Da’ Grind

From tricks to kicks, Terry Kennedy is doing it all
In an environment where gang activity and violence are the norm, Terry Kennedy found escape in an activity that was not typical for his neighborhood – skateboarding.  At the age of 23, Terry Kennedy and his crew have taken the sport by storm, reinventing the image of the skating world.

Skateboarding has gained an undeniable presence in hip-hop. How do you feel you’ve contributed to that success?

I think by just staying true to who I was.  I’m a big music fan.  I grew up in a household that was big on hip-hop.  So I just kept my same attitude, my same upbringing.  So I think it just went hand-in-hand, because I still looked like the normal, typical kid out the neighborhood, but I just skateboard, you know?

How does it feel to participate in a sport that is dominated by white skaters (in a commercial sense)?

What’s so crazy about that, dude, is like, that’s the first thing I ever did.  I always tell people when I interview like, that was the first community I ever went around and was actually accepted.  I played football and basketball and all that stuff in high school, but I was smaller then, so I wasn’t accepted.  It was like “Oh you ain’t fast enough” or “Oh you ain’t got enough weight.” I came into the situation with dirty shoes on, dirty threads and everybody was just like “Hey, let’s skate.”  It wasn’t nothin’ like, “Oh, this dude look outta the ordinary.” It was real cool.

How do you view African-Americans in skating?

Dude, they’re talented man.  It’s a lot of young dudes that’s under me that are African-American that are sponsored by a couple of companies that I’m on, and those dudes, the way they progressed, man, it’s amazing.  Like when I go back to my neighborhood in Long Beach, I see the kids in the neighborhood skating, and … it’s crazy.  Because, like, I’ll say, “Yo, let me see a kickflip,” and they kickflip and I’m like “Damn!”  It’s definitely growing at a rapid speed.  It’s amazing to go back and see stuff like that – kids going in the right direction and at the same time its cool. So many girls call me sexy now just off the simple fact that I skate, you know? [laughs] It’s crazy … kids love it because it makes you feel good about yourself.  You’re not, like, abandoned with the situation, like when I came through.  Now you can wear it like a badge of honor.  You got your little board, and you do what you do and people accept it.  That’s an overall blessing.

Do you think that Team Ice Cream had a major role in commercial skating?

Oh, heck yeah man, hands down. To this day, I always thank Pharrell. I just saw him just a few days ago, actually. And I appreciate that dude, because he was the one that helped us bring the situation we had to a bigger and better plateau.  It was only like respected in the white communities, like the commercial side of things – not the inner cities and the kids that really do it.  So he helped broadcast our talents in a way that would have our community accept it and be down for it.  Like, “Damn!  They travel, and they got chains and this and that.” It’s crazy because it appeals to our people and paints that picture.  That’s why, to this day, I always say I love that dude to death.  He’s like my big brother and I respect everything he’s done for us.  And he caught a lot of bullshit behind it and he kept with it.  And that shows his dedication to it.  A lot of people in the skate community were hating on him and hating on me throughout the situation because it was like “What’s going on?” We caught a lot of wrap behind it.  Like, when the video came out and people saw it, the press stuff and everything, and they accepted it, [I was] like “Whoa, I didn’t know it was that real.”  It was monumental.  It was fun … it was really fun.

Did your environment play a major role in your decision to skate?

Not for the better side of it. Long story short – growing up, I used to have to hide my board at my friend’s house and put my skate shoes in my backpack when I went through my neighborhood.  Because, like, all my brothers gangbanged and all that crazy stuff, so I guess the fact that I wanted to skate made our community look weak.  I don’t know what the fuck it was, but them niggas used to always be on me when they saw me with a board … It’s crazy though, man, because now when I go home, those same dudes that were going hard on me go out there and buy my board and my shoes and they skate, so it’s a blessing.  I’ve been shot behind it and all that crazy stuff.  But I’m here, and I’m blessed.  And everything’s smooth.

Do you have a moment that you consider to be the highlight of your career so far?

Yeah … [laughing]. I tripped out because I’m in the Vibe magazine with Obama.  That shit was like … I didn’t even know.  I was on the Baker Tour in Alabama.  I was at 7-11 and the Vibe cover had him on there, and I picked it up and I was flipping through it, and they had me in there talking about how I was one of the main supporters that helped push [Barack Obama].  I’m like “Damn!” because that’s crazy, just to even have your name next to Barack Obama’s.  I mean, that shit blew my grandma back!  My grandma, she’s a big fan of his, and she was like “Damn, boy!”  I mean, I don’t know … they asked me a quote and I spray painted his name on my board so when I skate I look down at it and I get more inspiration.  Anytime I feel like I can’t do something, I just look down at my board and see “Obama,” then I go hard. But it tripped me out because … to be in there and speak on that man’s behalf … that was crazy.

What’s your signature move?
Mostly “fakie” tricks … I like switching up the grinds, too.

Talk a little bit about [your rap group/brand] Fly Society and the upcoming projects.

Yeah! The Fly Society thing is going well; we’ve got a couple of offers on the table, so hopefully we seal one of these deals. We’re looking to push the album out like next year – summer. Around the same time as my shoe [release] because my shoe comes out on Supra in March of next year, so we’re trying to keep it around that.  We have the clothing line that we did – Fly Society Apparel through Kr3w Clothing – my other clothing line.  It’ll be out spring of ’09.  And that’s it. I mean, the music and all that has been good and we’ve been staying busy and focused.

Who are the other members of Fly Society?
Well, it’s actually like a whole big movement. It’s the skateboarding, the rapping, the fashion … it’s just ripped and mixed and it’s like all one world. There’s a lot of us.

What is your signature style of dress?
I only wear the stuff I’m endorsed by. But, like, I don’t wear my clothes big, I keep them slim.  Nice and neat, because I don’t like baggy clothes.  I hate looking down at my jeans and seeing them shits just drooping all over my shoes … when I’m skating. That shit is just not cool.  That’s not me.  I just keep it really basic, clean. That’s it.  But I see everybody dressing like skaters, rockin’ Supras and stuff, that’s crazy. That’s powerful.

What is one time in your career that you reinvented yourself?
Yeah, from my childhood to growing up and getting sponsored.  Like when I first got sponsored, I didn’t take it seriously.  I was still hanging around and being a knucklehead, because I got sponsored in like 9th grade.  I was just making a couple of dollars and I bought a few clothes and started acting a fool.  But then, you know I got shot, right?  So after that, it made me wise up a lot.  But before, I was so bad! I was bad … I was a terrible little-ass dude from Long Beach.  I was just a fuckin’ knucklehead.  A bad little peasy-head motherfucker man. But then I got around Pharrell and those guys, and they showed me how to straighten up my business and stuff in a dope manner.

Who are your picks for the top 5 greatest athletes of all time?
Michael Jordan, David Beckham … that dude is the boss. Kobe, Ken Griffey, Jr.  Growing up, I used to love the Ken Griffey shoes, man.  I never got a pair and I wanted them SO bad! My mom was not messing with it. Oh! Bruce Lee.  I know he ain’t no athlete, but Bruce Lee is a fucking G, too, man. That dude was … whoo!

Is there anything you’d like for the readers to know?
Yeah, don’t forget to check out Sk8site.com. Go there and check out the latest footage of us just kickin’ it, hanging out, doing everyday stuff and just skating.

Interviewed by: Jonnine Yarbrough – jyarbrough@goatmag.com