Brett Nelson
Brett Nelson
Brett Nelson Photographry: Allen Ying
Words by Allen Ying
Whats your story? Who are you? Wherere you from? And what the hell are you doing with an interview in Focus Magazine?
[Laughs] Oh, youre an asshole. Im from West Ashley, Charleston, South Carolina. I moved to New York with this girl and started skating a whole lot. Id been skating in Charleston, but it really wasnt going anywhere, and when I came to New York things started to pick up a whole lot more. I started meeting everybody and skating with better crews, and getting photos, so we just used those photos in this magazine.
What would you say to the fact that you just came out of nowhere and into this magazine?
I mean, well, it doesnt seem like out of nowhere to me cause Im 23 man. [Laughs] Ive been skating as hard as Im skating now for a long time. The only difference is now I just know a lot more people, so its just like easier to get photos taken of the tricks Im doing. I mean it sucks, man. Theres a lot of people who should be getting interviews, like friends of mine in the south that are way better at skating than me. Dudes doing sick shit that are unable to get someone to come take a legit photo of them. They just dont know anybody and live in the wrong place.
Who is Devendra Banhart?
Ah, man. Hes this folk singer, and apparently we look exactly alike. I was walking home from getting groceries one day, and I guess I looked like a dirty hippy, cause I had a tie-dye shirt on, and the folk singer looks like a dirty hippy, too. Anyhow, this guy on the streets like, Hey, man, hey. I turned around and the guy says to me like real serious, Hey man... I really... really... LOVE, your music. And I just stared at him for like eight whole seconds thinking like, uhhhh, how would he have heard my music? Like what music have I ever made? What the fuck is going on? And then I realize, after just blankly staring at him for a while, that he thinks Im this folk singer Devendra. So, with just like a sigh of relief, Im like, Oh, thanks man. I probably made his day. He thought he saw a musical genius or something. It made my day fooling him, like Im just a poor mans Jesus or Manson look-alike usually.
Whats your story? Who are you? Wherere you from? And what the hell are you doing with an interview in Focus Magazine?
[Laughs] Oh, youre an asshole. Im from West Ashley, Charleston, South Carolina. I moved to New York with this girl and started skating a whole lot. Id been skating in Charleston, but it really wasnt going anywhere, and when I came to New York things started to pick up a whole lot more. I started meeting everybody and skating with better crews, and getting photos, so we just used those photos in this magazine.
What would you say to the fact that you just came out of nowhere and into this magazine?
I mean, well, it doesnt seem like out of nowhere to me cause Im 23 man. [Laughs] Ive been skating as hard as Im skating now for a long time. The only difference is now I just know a lot more people, so its just like easier to get photos taken of the tricks Im doing. I mean it sucks, man. Theres a lot of people who should be getting interviews, like friends of mine in the south that are way better at skating than me. Dudes doing sick shit that are unable to get someone to come take a legit photo of them. They just dont know anybody and live in the wrong place.
Who is Devendra Banhart?
Ah, man. Hes this folk singer, and apparently we look exactly alike. I was walking home from getting groceries one day, and I guess I looked like a dirty hippy, cause I had a tie-dye shirt on, and the folk singer looks like a dirty hippy, too. Anyhow, this guy on the streets like, Hey, man, hey. I turned around and the guy says to me like real serious, Hey man... I really... really... LOVE, your music. And I just stared at him for like eight whole seconds thinking like, uhhhh, how would he have heard my music? Like what music have I ever made? What the fuck is going on? And then I realize, after just blankly staring at him for a while, that he thinks Im this folk singer Devendra. So, with just like a sigh of relief, Im like, Oh, thanks man. I probably made his day. He thought he saw a musical genius or something. It made my day fooling him, like Im just a poor mans Jesus or Manson look-alike usually.
Trick: ollie Photography: Allen Ying
How does it make you feel that most peoples first impression of you is that youre a dirty hippy/drug addict/squatter-type dude, with a skateboard?
[Laughs] Ah man, I mean I dont really think Im a hippy, but thats a pretty correct representation, just being a kinda dirty guy all around. I tend to not shower as often as the usual human, and havent washed my hair in like nine months. One time, this girl cut my hair too short, and then told me the only way I could sleep in her bed was if I washed my hair with shampoo. So I had to, and it looked ah man, it looked so stupid, like some poofy type Mary Tyler Moore hair. I mean I got to sleep in her bed, so that was alright, but for the next four days I put all my hair up in a fitted hat, so bummed cause I thought it looked so stupid, short, poofy and clean. It smelled like flowers and I hated my life.
[Laughs] So, you dont care that you kinda look like a drug addict?
Well, Ive never done drugs my whole life. I figure I have so many things to worry about, just being involved with caffeine and girls and skateboarding. I really dont need anything else in my life to complicate anything. When I get bored and Im like 60 or 70, Ill definitely be a drug addict and thatll be awesome. Its funny cause drug dealers always walk by me and are like, Got that coke, got that weed, and I think thats amazing. Its cool looking a certain way and being the opposite of that. Its good knowing that the people who look at me think certain things are wrong.
It seems like youre always broke. How do you manage that in such an expensive city?
The only reason people think New York is expensive is because theyll smell the peanut stand on the corner and get a peanut, or a pretzel, or they eat out all the time. Its only expensive if you wanna live your life extravagantly, I think. I dont spend money on anything in life besides rent. I went to the social services office in New York, showed them how much money I had, and they gave me a food stamp card. So, whenever Im hungry I go to the grocery store. If a girl wants to go on a date, I tell her that we can go to the grocery store and that we can make food at my house, and they think like, Oh hes so romantic, he cooked me dinner. But its really just me not having a thing in the world. Yeah, I dont know. I just manage. My grandma sent me a Subway gift card for my birthday. It was like the best gift, man. I ate out all the time.
[Laughs] Ah man, I mean I dont really think Im a hippy, but thats a pretty correct representation, just being a kinda dirty guy all around. I tend to not shower as often as the usual human, and havent washed my hair in like nine months. One time, this girl cut my hair too short, and then told me the only way I could sleep in her bed was if I washed my hair with shampoo. So I had to, and it looked ah man, it looked so stupid, like some poofy type Mary Tyler Moore hair. I mean I got to sleep in her bed, so that was alright, but for the next four days I put all my hair up in a fitted hat, so bummed cause I thought it looked so stupid, short, poofy and clean. It smelled like flowers and I hated my life.
[Laughs] So, you dont care that you kinda look like a drug addict?
Well, Ive never done drugs my whole life. I figure I have so many things to worry about, just being involved with caffeine and girls and skateboarding. I really dont need anything else in my life to complicate anything. When I get bored and Im like 60 or 70, Ill definitely be a drug addict and thatll be awesome. Its funny cause drug dealers always walk by me and are like, Got that coke, got that weed, and I think thats amazing. Its cool looking a certain way and being the opposite of that. Its good knowing that the people who look at me think certain things are wrong.
It seems like youre always broke. How do you manage that in such an expensive city?
The only reason people think New York is expensive is because theyll smell the peanut stand on the corner and get a peanut, or a pretzel, or they eat out all the time. Its only expensive if you wanna live your life extravagantly, I think. I dont spend money on anything in life besides rent. I went to the social services office in New York, showed them how much money I had, and they gave me a food stamp card. So, whenever Im hungry I go to the grocery store. If a girl wants to go on a date, I tell her that we can go to the grocery store and that we can make food at my house, and they think like, Oh hes so romantic, he cooked me dinner. But its really just me not having a thing in the world. Yeah, I dont know. I just manage. My grandma sent me a Subway gift card for my birthday. It was like the best gift, man. I ate out all the time.
Trick: 360 Flip Photography: Allen Ying
I thought that was McDonalds?
No. Well, my parents got me a $50 McDonalds gift card for my birthday.
Oh, wow. So you were rich, huh?
Well, the only thing was I had to eat $50 worth of McDonalds food, which is pretty gnarly. But then my grandmother stepped it up and got me the Subway card, which was rad man, I dont know. At Burritoville the other day I got to fill out these questionnaires, and for every one I got $2 store credit. The guy let me fill 40, man. I was there for like two hours, in Burritoville, like filling em out like with different names and handwriting. But then I ate like a king... and its right down the street from Autumn and the TF, so I was psyched.
Do you have a job?
Usually I just do random shit. Like the last job I had I was working on this Will Smith movie like telling people they couldnt walk down the street I was on, and telling people that the M16 gunfire that was about to happen was fake and to not freak out. I worked at a jean store as a doorman, like a security guard or something. I worked at the aNYthing store for awhile, and that was tight. Ive helped people move for money, through Craigs List. Like this one rich dude paid me and Danny Falla to pack up all his stuff, like not even move it. All his personal items. It was funny man. Me and Danny for hours, just lurking with this rich guy putting his stuff in boxes.
You ever steal anything?
I dont know man, yeah. I mean candy bars and shit... nothing real. Ah man, the other day I was using my Burritoville gift certificates and the guy wouldnt give me change because he wasnt legit. So, when he went downstairs I took some cakes out of the glass case there. Man I got like $8 worth of cake, so we were even more than even, man. I got that motherfucker.
No. Well, my parents got me a $50 McDonalds gift card for my birthday.
Oh, wow. So you were rich, huh?
Well, the only thing was I had to eat $50 worth of McDonalds food, which is pretty gnarly. But then my grandmother stepped it up and got me the Subway card, which was rad man, I dont know. At Burritoville the other day I got to fill out these questionnaires, and for every one I got $2 store credit. The guy let me fill 40, man. I was there for like two hours, in Burritoville, like filling em out like with different names and handwriting. But then I ate like a king... and its right down the street from Autumn and the TF, so I was psyched.
Do you have a job?
Usually I just do random shit. Like the last job I had I was working on this Will Smith movie like telling people they couldnt walk down the street I was on, and telling people that the M16 gunfire that was about to happen was fake and to not freak out. I worked at a jean store as a doorman, like a security guard or something. I worked at the aNYthing store for awhile, and that was tight. Ive helped people move for money, through Craigs List. Like this one rich dude paid me and Danny Falla to pack up all his stuff, like not even move it. All his personal items. It was funny man. Me and Danny for hours, just lurking with this rich guy putting his stuff in boxes.
You ever steal anything?
I dont know man, yeah. I mean candy bars and shit... nothing real. Ah man, the other day I was using my Burritoville gift certificates and the guy wouldnt give me change because he wasnt legit. So, when he went downstairs I took some cakes out of the glass case there. Man I got like $8 worth of cake, so we were even more than even, man. I got that motherfucker.
Trick: Backside 180 Photography: Allen Ying
What about bikes? Didnt you and Dharam Khalsa steal a bike?
[Laughs] Ah man, yeah I guess so. Well, it wasnt really like that. See theres this flatbar that sits in front of Autumn. Its there so kids can take it and skate it, and some asshole locked his bike to it for three days, and on the third day Jeremy Corley was gonna cut it in half with a hacksaw or something. Or thats what he said at least. I needed a bike so I went and bought $20 bolt cutters from the polish hardware store, and came back to cutthe lock, but it didnt really work. Dharam was there like, Come on man, Ill just fuckin break this motherfucker off man, smoke a L, and just sat in the middle of the sidewalk hitting the lock with a hammer, like getting pissed for ten minutes straight, til it broke. I was psyched. Thanks, Dharam.
What do you do about health care? You need that shit dont you?
Umm. Well, I broke my elbow this summer and I went to Bellevue and my Emergency Room visit was like $1084. So, I just went to the office and showed the boss lady how much money I had, and they said that since I was in the lowest tax bracket that exists, I was considered almost homeless, even though I made like $13,000 a year. From then on, all my hospital visits were only $20, no matter what. Its rad man, like America will help you if you have low money like a struggling skater or artist usually has. You just have to go get it.
So, whats your current living situation?
I live in this four story house called The Rascal Shack. Its in Bedstuy, Brooklyn. Its a punk house. I mean the Notorious B.I.G. is from Bedstuy, so that can tell you a little bit about my neighborhood, kind of gnarly, watching your back and shit. I always carry a knife or my skateboard.
You been jumped?
Nah man, not yet. Thank luck. I mean hopefully, if anything, someone will try and steal my wallet, cause man its got nothing in it, my SC drivers license, and like a dollar. Thatd be sick.
[Laughs] Ah man, yeah I guess so. Well, it wasnt really like that. See theres this flatbar that sits in front of Autumn. Its there so kids can take it and skate it, and some asshole locked his bike to it for three days, and on the third day Jeremy Corley was gonna cut it in half with a hacksaw or something. Or thats what he said at least. I needed a bike so I went and bought $20 bolt cutters from the polish hardware store, and came back to cutthe lock, but it didnt really work. Dharam was there like, Come on man, Ill just fuckin break this motherfucker off man, smoke a L, and just sat in the middle of the sidewalk hitting the lock with a hammer, like getting pissed for ten minutes straight, til it broke. I was psyched. Thanks, Dharam.
What do you do about health care? You need that shit dont you?
Umm. Well, I broke my elbow this summer and I went to Bellevue and my Emergency Room visit was like $1084. So, I just went to the office and showed the boss lady how much money I had, and they said that since I was in the lowest tax bracket that exists, I was considered almost homeless, even though I made like $13,000 a year. From then on, all my hospital visits were only $20, no matter what. Its rad man, like America will help you if you have low money like a struggling skater or artist usually has. You just have to go get it.
So, whats your current living situation?
I live in this four story house called The Rascal Shack. Its in Bedstuy, Brooklyn. Its a punk house. I mean the Notorious B.I.G. is from Bedstuy, so that can tell you a little bit about my neighborhood, kind of gnarly, watching your back and shit. I always carry a knife or my skateboard.
You been jumped?
Nah man, not yet. Thank luck. I mean hopefully, if anything, someone will try and steal my wallet, cause man its got nothing in it, my SC drivers license, and like a dollar. Thatd be sick.
Trick: backside Tailslide Photography: Allen Ying
Coming from Charleston, how does the skating compare from here to there?
I mean, Ive been in NY for three years now, so I cant really vouch for how it is now. But when I was there it was pretty negative, just like every skate crew trying to out do the other skate crews. And this one shit skate shop ruining everything, pretty much. It was just a lot of whos better than who, and thats something that I dont care about trying to keep up with. I skate how I do, and do what I do, and Im happy. Im not trying to be better than anyone.
But there are some good skaters in the south, huh?
Dude, oh my God.
Isnt Jack Sabback from Charleston?
Yeah, but hed been skating for longer than I had. Like hes only a year or two older than me, but I didnt start skating til I was fourteen, so he rolled with the generation of skaters ahead of me. I didnt really know him very well. Dudes super good though. There are a lot of skaters in the south killing it. I think a lot of kids would make it like Jack if they would just get out of there. Jack moved to Philly and blew up. It just goes to show you, man.
Like who?
Adam Meads, Jayson Jackling, Pat Bucci, CJ Ulm. I dont know man, the list is long Michael Wilson, JT Gleason, B. Todd, Peeler.
I mean, Ive been in NY for three years now, so I cant really vouch for how it is now. But when I was there it was pretty negative, just like every skate crew trying to out do the other skate crews. And this one shit skate shop ruining everything, pretty much. It was just a lot of whos better than who, and thats something that I dont care about trying to keep up with. I skate how I do, and do what I do, and Im happy. Im not trying to be better than anyone.
But there are some good skaters in the south, huh?
Dude, oh my God.
Isnt Jack Sabback from Charleston?
Yeah, but hed been skating for longer than I had. Like hes only a year or two older than me, but I didnt start skating til I was fourteen, so he rolled with the generation of skaters ahead of me. I didnt really know him very well. Dudes super good though. There are a lot of skaters in the south killing it. I think a lot of kids would make it like Jack if they would just get out of there. Jack moved to Philly and blew up. It just goes to show you, man.
Like who?
Adam Meads, Jayson Jackling, Pat Bucci, CJ Ulm. I dont know man, the list is long Michael Wilson, JT Gleason, B. Todd, Peeler.
Trick: Frontside Noseslide Photography: Allen Ying
What about Dan Plunkett?
Ah, thats just a whole other phenomenon. Ive been hearing rumors since I left. He moved there from Buffalo, NY after I left. I met him once before I moved away, and I couldnt believe this random dude was in Charleston, killing it and no one knew him.
Are you a white trash Confederate hick?
Nah, man. I dont even have a hard southern accent. Some families in the south just embrace southern culture too gnarly, and take their kids hunting, or teach em to fear this certain kind of person. Its fuckin crazy. My parents just always corrected me when I spoke, telling me not to say aint, and never took me hunting. But, I will say that sweet tea and boiled peanuts are better than anything you got.
So, whats your sponsorship situation?
Well, Im on Emerica shoe flow from my friend Jay Maldonado, who has helped me out so much for the last year. Im getting boards from this company, Riot, thats based out of Brooklyn. And Autumn NYC (skate shop) gives me grip tape and hardware from time to time.
Why are your teeth so fucked?
I dont know, man, Ive chipped my teeth so many times skating that I just dont care anymore. I dont really have the money to fix em, and when I meet girls they can see exactly what kind of situation theyre getting into just looking at me. Like, Im not taking them out to dinner, and I dont give a fuck about most normal things.
Ah, thats just a whole other phenomenon. Ive been hearing rumors since I left. He moved there from Buffalo, NY after I left. I met him once before I moved away, and I couldnt believe this random dude was in Charleston, killing it and no one knew him.
Are you a white trash Confederate hick?
Nah, man. I dont even have a hard southern accent. Some families in the south just embrace southern culture too gnarly, and take their kids hunting, or teach em to fear this certain kind of person. Its fuckin crazy. My parents just always corrected me when I spoke, telling me not to say aint, and never took me hunting. But, I will say that sweet tea and boiled peanuts are better than anything you got.
So, whats your sponsorship situation?
Well, Im on Emerica shoe flow from my friend Jay Maldonado, who has helped me out so much for the last year. Im getting boards from this company, Riot, thats based out of Brooklyn. And Autumn NYC (skate shop) gives me grip tape and hardware from time to time.
Why are your teeth so fucked?
I dont know, man, Ive chipped my teeth so many times skating that I just dont care anymore. I dont really have the money to fix em, and when I meet girls they can see exactly what kind of situation theyre getting into just looking at me. Like, Im not taking them out to dinner, and I dont give a fuck about most normal things.
Trick: Gap to Frontside Wallride Photography: Allen Ying
I heard you wanted your whole interview to be shout outs?
[Laughs] Yeah, I wish it could be man. Its weird cause I got two different skate scenes to shout out. Its a lot. I mean I got a lot of thank yous man because Im mostly sponsored or helped out by brosephs.
Okay, lets hear em.
Allen Ying, Jay Maldonado at Emerica, Chris Berntsen at Riot Skateboards, Davey Lee, Rob Harris, Grandpa Jeremy and Dave Mims at Autumn, David and Rita Nelson, Danny Devlin, Kelsey Schwarz, Will Rhodes, Brett Land, Charles Chatov, JT Money, Nobyl Skateboards, The Skatepark of Charleston, Justin White, Alec Holst, Steve Marino, James Buckman, Couch, Matt Bolt, CJ Ulm, Jeff and Billy, the whole King Street Skates Crew, all the Visitors Center bros, Pat Bucci, Jake Johnson, Brengar, Dave Caddo, Jason Jackling, Will Marks, Greg Grella, Chad Butler, Bill at Inland Skate Shop, Mike Johns, Dusty Yaiulla, Chris Jacobs, Nick Thompson, Morgan Hallman, Corey Dowds, Austin Peeler, Alex Porta, Gary Redsouckow, Colin at 2nd Avenue Zine, Zach Malfa-Kowalski, Dharam Khalsa, Lurker Louis Sarowski, Milk Raymond, Jeremiah Smith, Stella, Brett Land, BOSCO Picard, Sweet Waste at KCDC, Tombo, Steve Rodriguez, Ed Driscoll, Falla, Pensyl, RB Umali, Rodney Torres, Steve Marino, The Janitor, Daniel Weiss, Kyle Iles, everybody from Thompkins Square, Tam Slam, Emily Stebbins, Maggie Lee, Dinah Chen, West Ashley, the Brick Yard Kids, anyones couch Ive been on, Lil 50, Bryon Winfrey, Leo Gutman, Kevin Hayden, LC, Kenny Griffin, anyone whos given me leftovers. R.I.P. Manuel Garcia and Charlie Lovingood. Thanks everybody.
[Laughs] Yeah, I wish it could be man. Its weird cause I got two different skate scenes to shout out. Its a lot. I mean I got a lot of thank yous man because Im mostly sponsored or helped out by brosephs.
Okay, lets hear em.
Allen Ying, Jay Maldonado at Emerica, Chris Berntsen at Riot Skateboards, Davey Lee, Rob Harris, Grandpa Jeremy and Dave Mims at Autumn, David and Rita Nelson, Danny Devlin, Kelsey Schwarz, Will Rhodes, Brett Land, Charles Chatov, JT Money, Nobyl Skateboards, The Skatepark of Charleston, Justin White, Alec Holst, Steve Marino, James Buckman, Couch, Matt Bolt, CJ Ulm, Jeff and Billy, the whole King Street Skates Crew, all the Visitors Center bros, Pat Bucci, Jake Johnson, Brengar, Dave Caddo, Jason Jackling, Will Marks, Greg Grella, Chad Butler, Bill at Inland Skate Shop, Mike Johns, Dusty Yaiulla, Chris Jacobs, Nick Thompson, Morgan Hallman, Corey Dowds, Austin Peeler, Alex Porta, Gary Redsouckow, Colin at 2nd Avenue Zine, Zach Malfa-Kowalski, Dharam Khalsa, Lurker Louis Sarowski, Milk Raymond, Jeremiah Smith, Stella, Brett Land, BOSCO Picard, Sweet Waste at KCDC, Tombo, Steve Rodriguez, Ed Driscoll, Falla, Pensyl, RB Umali, Rodney Torres, Steve Marino, The Janitor, Daniel Weiss, Kyle Iles, everybody from Thompkins Square, Tam Slam, Emily Stebbins, Maggie Lee, Dinah Chen, West Ashley, the Brick Yard Kids, anyones couch Ive been on, Lil 50, Bryon Winfrey, Leo Gutman, Kevin Hayden, LC, Kenny Griffin, anyone whos given me leftovers. R.I.P. Manuel Garcia and Charlie Lovingood. Thanks everybody.
Trick: Switch Frontside Flip Photography: Allen Ying
10 Comments
fuck head says:
sic brah.
pp says:
you da best b'nels!
Mikie Killen says:
Hollatchaboy!!
sabrina timpanaro says:
Brett is my cousin and all I want to write is how proud I am of him. I love the fact that he's stayed true to his self no matter the situation. Brett keep up the good work
sabrina
RIJA says:
I believe Bret has access to more money than he admits to!
martin grooms says:
brett shreds. always has, always will.
matt says:
undercover rich kid
Daniel lopez says:
what about a shout out to cali? (daniel Lopez)
come on brett what about
"in the aeroplaine over the sea"?
you remember...
haha
Im proud of you....
Daniel Mintz says:
Sick man! I'm glad to see a shout out to Charley! He's missed everyday, and if it had been different, he would have been in this magazine too!
Dane says:
I still have photos of skating Charlie tuna at the VC. glad to see ur doin alright
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