Nigel Sylvester’s “Because I Grind”

In today’s modern information age, any boundaries between cultures are rapidly disintegrating. Rob Dyrdek is an MTV superstar, known to millions who will probably never pick up a skateboard. Louie Vito was recently ballroom dancing on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars”, exposing millions more to the concept of professional snowboarding. And Z Trip is now a character in a video game—household nerds everywhere will learn what real music that talented DJs like him can produce.

While much of this cross blending between subculture heroes and mainstream avenues is rooted in marketing, an element of genuine collaboration always exists. Such is the case with “Because I Grind”, the latest project from pro BMX rider Nigel Sylvester. This 21-year old Queens, NY native is not only one of the sport’s premier talents, but is also is also a business owner and a blogger, with his own BMX shop, Format, and a column on HighSnobiety.com.

“Because I Grind” is a four-stop tour and mixtape project that took Nigel and his posse across the country, stopping in Atlanta, Miami, Oceanside and Las Vegas to put on impromptu demos, film, shoot photos and interact with local riders. BMX filmer Glenn Milligan shot footage for the four episodes on MissionG.com, while the soundtrack was put together by renowned hip hop producer and artist The Alchemist, with an exclusive mixtape download by Mick Boogie. The entire idea for the tour came from Nigel’s love of BMX, and the soundtrack is a testament to the mutual inspiration between BMX and beats. Nigel and The Alchemist spent some time in the studio, working on the project together, with each taking influence from the other’s field of expertise. Frank151 recently sat down with The Alchemist, and he explained how it all came together.

Houston, We Have Liftoff…

It’s official like a referee with a whistle—The Launch is here and the brand new Frank151.com is up and running. To celebrate this historic event, Frank has teamed up with the Village Voice Media’s new social search site LikeMe.Net to giveaway 151 prizes, including 15 grand prizes in select cities. We kicked things off in Houston, Texas last weekend and awarded the first winner an all expenses paid girls’ night out with couturier/singer Shina Rae as she produced her weekly fashion show at Deans Credit Clothing and performed with Designer Drugs in The Backroom at The Mink.

Shina Rae has been Frank Fam and a major player in the FDL’s Houston Grills for a while now, so it was only fitting to have her host the first grand prize of The Launch. Shina Rae’s EP B.W.A. is available on iTunes and DJs have been dropping remixes of her single “Touch” on dance floors around the world. Opening up for artists like Katy Perry, The Ting Tings, Flosstradamus, The Rapture, and RJD2 (to name a few), it’s just a matter of time before she blows. On top of making music she also designs her own clothing lines—Bad Is The New Good, and Chopped and Sewn—clearly a girl on the grind. And it was new LikeMe user TajaMzBlaqueBarbie who won a night to party with Shina and Frank151 just by creating a profile on LikeMe.Net and recommending some of her favorite things.

Frank151 + LikeMe Present The Launch

Souls of Mischief on Montezuma’s Revenge Tour ’09

If you were a teenager in 1993, it seemed like there was nothing but good hip hop coming out from all over the country. New York had Tribe, De La Soul, Wu Tang, Nas and Biggie (among countless others); the South had Outkast; L.A. had Snoop, Dre, Cypress HIll and The Soul Assassins; and the Bay Area had Too Short, E-40, and Hieroglyphics. Hailing from Oakland, CA and led by Del the Funky Homosapien, the Hiero crew of Souls of Mischief, Domino, Casual, and Pep Love were at the forefront of the classic era of influencial rap music. Most were them were teenagers then too.

For those of us now all grown, looking back it’s easy to realize that it was a very special thing to be part of. Sure, hip hop has changed a lot over the years… but luckily some things remain the same. Like the raw talent of all the acts mentioned above. Souls of Mischief was a big part of that early nineties explosion of musical creativity, and it’s on their current nation wide tour that you can not only catch a glimpse of a time long since past, but realize that ’93 ’til Infinity was more than just a good song and album title.

Burton’s “The B” Tour hits Denver

Burton’s “The B” Tour rolled through Denver on Thursday, October 8th to a packed Ogden Theater, as shreds from far and wide showed up to check out the latest film and meet some of Burton’s best pro riders. Halfpipe heros like Kevin Pearce, Danny Davis and Mason Aguirre (above) were on hand to sign autographs and help celebrate the start of another snowboard season in style. Heads were hyped for not only the screening of “The B”, but also the regional video “Think Positive”, featuring many of Colorado’s young up-and-coming riders.

The Ogden is home to hundreds of good events throughout the year.