Black Skater Chick Cruising Playlist #1 (September 2017)
Tunes for Cruising
Music is a vital attribute to creating an enjoyable skating experience. Whether you're listening to music through your earphones or wireless speakers, it sets the atmosphere for a chilled out coast or a vigorous skating session in the streets or at the park. At BLACK SKATER CHICK, we like cruising to any genre with rhythmic drums, ambient loops and experimental instrumentals - afrobeats, soul, soca, hip hop, trap and reggae- to enhance the momentum.
We decided to create the first official BSC Cruising Playlist for this month. Enjoy the eclectic musical vibes and hear full mixes from DJ BLACKSK8ER CHICK on SoundCloud.
Web Series Highlight: Snowboarder Gabby Maiden Gets Black & Sexy TV Mini-Movie
A few years ago we introduced you to "Afropunk Royalty" Gabrielle 'Gabby' Maiden. Gabby is dubbed the first African American Woman of Competitive Snowboarding (Black History Month Fact #1 of 2017). When Gabby isn't shredding down mountains, she is actively modeling and acting. Over the past two years, she's shown off her talent by playing the character Farrah on the Black & Sexy TV produced webseries "Sexless." In "Sexless," Farrah and her friends explore complicated dating, trails of love, celibacy and sexuality (no spoilers, watch the first season here). In the season 2 finale, Farrah succumbs to online dating via the platform "Hello Cupid" ( based on another B&S TV webseries). Hence, Farrah is getting her own self-titled Hello Cupid mini-movie and it is premiering just in time for Valentines Day.
According to the synopsis, "FarrahBear in these Hello Cupid streets looking for love in all the wrong places." In the trailer, Farrah is seen skateboarding down the streets of L.A. and interacting with potential love interests.
Check out the first 15 minutes of the mini-movie below!
Support Gabby and check out the full mini movie here (it's only $3)!
Skate Away Post-Election Woes with BSC's Monthly Cruising Pick (November)
Dear BSC Family, In March I moved to Nairobi, Kenya and it was a life changing experience. Upon returning to the USA, I was faced with the reality of a potentially dismal four years- though I am hopeful. Skate to clear your mind and organize to take control of your future. - Peace, BSC
Skateboarding enhances your overall physical, mental and social health. The addition of music makes skating even more enjoyable. We're introducing the "BSC Monthly Cruising Picks," songs from artists incorporating elements of skateboarding in their music videos. Skate away the stress of post-election woes with the ethereal and tranquil vibes of "Taboo (Taabu)" by Phy.
Reppin the 254 (Kenya), Phy's music is a mixture of Afropop, RnB, Soul and Hip-hop. In an interview with HapaKenya, Phy explained the story behind "Taboo" off her debut album "Phylosophy,"
"I wrote taboo two years ago as an assignment is a music class. I was dating someone at the time but i was a bit of confused. I think everyone goes through it sometime, even married people. You might be in a loving committed relationship but still find other people interesting."
(HapaKenya, Phy on Life, Music and the Story Behind Taboo, October 2016)
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| Phy's Facebook Page (2016) |
Listen to Phy sing about the "taabu" ( meaning "trouble" in Kiswahili) of love, plus see some clips of skaters at the Aga Khan Walk in Nairobi.
Check out more of Phy's music at here
South African Skateboarding Short 'Dropping In' Premieres at Sundance Film Festival
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| Dropping In, 2015 |
The skateboarding oriented short Dropping In was selected among five winners for the coveted title of 2015 Sundance Film Challenge Winner, out of over 1,000 submissions. Inspired by true events, Dropping In follows the coming-of-age journey of Sam (Sam Masuku), an informal settlement dwelling youth in South Africa who is taken under the wing of a skateboard park owner, Marcus (Damiane van Reenen). Marcus soon becomes Sam’s skating coach and mentor.
The film was inspired by the story of a Jeffreys Bay (the heart of South Africa surfing) surfer who conquered the vices of drugs through finding his calling in surfing. Following this unorthodox path, the surfer changed the lives of locals and helped pave the careers of current South African surfers. In Between 10and5, Willem van den Heever (Dropping In writer, producer, editor and director) said this man, “didn’t only teach tourists and holiday goers how to surf, but also some of the kids on the street. His aim was to help them invest their energy into something positive. And this is how some of the street kids have winded up as professional surfers, surfing for South Africa today”(Between 10and5, 2015). the film, Sam too goes through the process of overcoming his troubles through skateboarding.
In a RYOT Interview, van den Heever said, “as a young South African coming out of school, you only have a few choices because I think South Africa is a bit conservative when it comes to your job and what you’re going to study..so things like studying art, or film or anything alternative except for the norm like science or economics, is really way out” (RYOT, 2015).
How many of you chose/are choosing to go against the norm in your studies or careers? How was it influences by action sports? Or the arts...etc?
Let’s weigh in BSC readers!
Follow @Willemdafilm on Twitter to let him know your thoughts on Dropping In
Remember to Follow @BLACKSK8ERCHICK on Twitter.
Check Out the 2015 Sundance Film Challenge Winners Here