Darren Harper
Darren Harper
Skater: Darren Harper Photography: Mazur
Let's start with the basic stuff. How old are you?
Michael Jordan! You know what Im sayin'!
And where are you from?
Southeast Washington DC. Born and raised.
What was it like there?
It was your typical rap song. Basically, I had to hustle.
You mean, you had to hustle to make a living?
Yeah, it was tough. I sold crack and stuff. When you come from nothing you'll do whatever you have to do to get by.
Were there ever guns involved?
All the time. You can't be in the streets getting bread and think you're not going to need your hammer. Dudes will peep that and be like, "Oh, he's sweet".
Michael Jordan! You know what Im sayin'!
And where are you from?
Southeast Washington DC. Born and raised.
What was it like there?
It was your typical rap song. Basically, I had to hustle.
You mean, you had to hustle to make a living?
Yeah, it was tough. I sold crack and stuff. When you come from nothing you'll do whatever you have to do to get by.
Were there ever guns involved?
All the time. You can't be in the streets getting bread and think you're not going to need your hammer. Dudes will peep that and be like, "Oh, he's sweet".
So what got you into skating?
TV basically. We saw dudes jumping with the board still stuck to their feet and thought it was tight. So after seeing that, we thought we was Tony Hawk because that's the only dude we heard of.
Do you ever have a problem taking your board out of the hood?
Yeah, definitely. I had a couple friends that sort of stereotyped it as a white sport, but it never got too crazy.
But now you're just trying to skate and get out of that other scene?
Man... skating seems to be the only way out for me right now. I got a criminal record, so I'm all fucked up in the game. Hopefully, skateboarding can get me out of this situation. But on some real shit, I don't ever wanna leave the hood.
Trick: Switch Heel Photography: Mazur
How has the industry been helping you out so far?
Well, right now it has been all gravy. But for a second, I was having problems with the whole Zoo York thing. See, some people just be talking like they know what's up. I don't know where these hood imposters be coming from; acting like they been through something. But you dudes wouldn't survive in my streets. Stick to make-believe-land and holla at me if there is a problem. But on the other hand, what up Clyde, Igei, Welsh, Gorecki and Joey.
How did the transfer from Zoo to Element come about?
Well basically, we had been trying for a while. The first couple of times they turned me down, but I kept trying. Then finally when I touched down in LA, Chris Hall and I went over to the Element offices to see what we could get poppin'.
You just recently got back from California. How was it?
It was good, man. I definitely needed a vacation and it was time to show my face on the west coast again.
Well, right now it has been all gravy. But for a second, I was having problems with the whole Zoo York thing. See, some people just be talking like they know what's up. I don't know where these hood imposters be coming from; acting like they been through something. But you dudes wouldn't survive in my streets. Stick to make-believe-land and holla at me if there is a problem. But on the other hand, what up Clyde, Igei, Welsh, Gorecki and Joey.
How did the transfer from Zoo to Element come about?
Well basically, we had been trying for a while. The first couple of times they turned me down, but I kept trying. Then finally when I touched down in LA, Chris Hall and I went over to the Element offices to see what we could get poppin'.
You just recently got back from California. How was it?
It was good, man. I definitely needed a vacation and it was time to show my face on the west coast again.
Trick: Fakie Fs FlipPhotography: Mazur
But your roots are always going to be on the East Coast, right?
The Chocolate City for life!
When you were younger, did your parents support your skating?
Yeah. It was like, I didn't even have parents. My dad was never really around, so it was really just my mom holding it down and I had to sort of grow up fast. But she let me skate when and wherever I wanted. My mom just wanted me to get out of the hood and meet people. Back in the day, my crew and I used to go everywhere. New York, Philly... everywhere.
How did you start skating with all the Pit Crew dudes?
Well, they used to just come down to DC a lot, and I guess I was like the little up and comer. So they would hook me up with shit. Like, when that whole Capital thing was going on I was pimping Capital stuff.
And then you got on Pit Crew?
Actually, I quit skateboarding for a long time. I'm just waking up to it again and would say I've only been serious for about the last two years. So when I came back, I just sort of skated around with some of the dudes that I had known from before and I would go to Pit Crew a lot to hang out. I'd read through magazines, just really trying to get back into it. Then one day I saw that Stevie Williams was coming up and that was what really got me going.
The Chocolate City for life!
When you were younger, did your parents support your skating?
Yeah. It was like, I didn't even have parents. My dad was never really around, so it was really just my mom holding it down and I had to sort of grow up fast. But she let me skate when and wherever I wanted. My mom just wanted me to get out of the hood and meet people. Back in the day, my crew and I used to go everywhere. New York, Philly... everywhere.
How did you start skating with all the Pit Crew dudes?
Well, they used to just come down to DC a lot, and I guess I was like the little up and comer. So they would hook me up with shit. Like, when that whole Capital thing was going on I was pimping Capital stuff.
And then you got on Pit Crew?
Actually, I quit skateboarding for a long time. I'm just waking up to it again and would say I've only been serious for about the last two years. So when I came back, I just sort of skated around with some of the dudes that I had known from before and I would go to Pit Crew a lot to hang out. I'd read through magazines, just really trying to get back into it. Then one day I saw that Stevie Williams was coming up and that was what really got me going.
Trick: Nollie Hardflip Photography: Mazur
So seeing Stevie Williams coming up in magazines was your inspiration?
Seeing Stevie Williams in magazines motivated me to come back to skating because I figured he'd be able to help me out. Unfortunately, that shit didn't work out. But it doesn't really matter 'cause I'm a hustler baby. I'm going to get it how I live.
Tell me about the chain you wear with a key on it. Does it mean anything?
This jewelry shit ain't nothing new to me. I've always had this stuff. I didn't just watch a rap video then decide to go cop me a chain. Where I come from you wore a chain because it symbolizes that you getting paper, most likely the illegal way too.
How has everything been since your SLAP interview and the Pit Crew Video?
Since the interview and my Pit Crew part, everything has been well, it's like people know who I am now. When I was in LA, Dawon Song approached me and was admiring my shit. I just thought it was crazy because I had never met Dawon before and he is like one of the kings.
Did younger kids recognize you too?
Yeah, it was weird. I had younger kids coming up to me... I also had ladies coming up to me. They didn't really know me but they were like, "Can I get your autograph?" It really got me thinking. I just don't want people to get me mixed up with someone else and think that I'm Stevie or someone because I'm me. And there is no one else like me out there. I want to make sure I hold my own title.
What was up with the gun in the SLAP checkout?
I just wanted to let industry know what the hood is really like, and that they ain't seen the real streets until the've seen me. It's okay to like the wankstas who think they have the image. But me, I don't have the hood "image". This is my life. It's real. Ask them wankstas to take you to the exact hood where they pumped crack at, where they were shot at, where they were doing all the things their claiming. Man, I'm a realist. I put my life on it. Live by the gun, die by the gun.
Seeing Stevie Williams in magazines motivated me to come back to skating because I figured he'd be able to help me out. Unfortunately, that shit didn't work out. But it doesn't really matter 'cause I'm a hustler baby. I'm going to get it how I live.
Tell me about the chain you wear with a key on it. Does it mean anything?
This jewelry shit ain't nothing new to me. I've always had this stuff. I didn't just watch a rap video then decide to go cop me a chain. Where I come from you wore a chain because it symbolizes that you getting paper, most likely the illegal way too.
How has everything been since your SLAP interview and the Pit Crew Video?
Since the interview and my Pit Crew part, everything has been well, it's like people know who I am now. When I was in LA, Dawon Song approached me and was admiring my shit. I just thought it was crazy because I had never met Dawon before and he is like one of the kings.
Did younger kids recognize you too?
Yeah, it was weird. I had younger kids coming up to me... I also had ladies coming up to me. They didn't really know me but they were like, "Can I get your autograph?" It really got me thinking. I just don't want people to get me mixed up with someone else and think that I'm Stevie or someone because I'm me. And there is no one else like me out there. I want to make sure I hold my own title.
What was up with the gun in the SLAP checkout?
I just wanted to let industry know what the hood is really like, and that they ain't seen the real streets until the've seen me. It's okay to like the wankstas who think they have the image. But me, I don't have the hood "image". This is my life. It's real. Ask them wankstas to take you to the exact hood where they pumped crack at, where they were shot at, where they were doing all the things their claiming. Man, I'm a realist. I put my life on it. Live by the gun, die by the gun.
Trick: Switch Fs 180 Nosegrind Photography: Mazur
So, you're like the 50cent of skateboarding?
Not really, man. I'm just me. I've been through a lot of the same shit 50 has, except for being shot. I mean, I've been shot at numerous times and have done the shooting back. But that shooting shit is blown out of proportion. It's all about being at the right place at the right time. Bullets don't got names. All I want to say is that shooting stuff doesn't mean shit to me.
I remember you told me about how one of your friends turned on you before, what was that like?
Yeah, my boy and I exchanged shots one time. He shot up my car and I shot back. It was stupid shit because we both could have been killed. But at the same time I still forgive him because when you grow up in the hood that is just how it is. Growing up, you think that shit is cool. Like you want to get locked up cause it's cool. I've been through that shit, but looking back it was stupid. I'm all about thinking positively now. I want to show the streets that I can come up and get out of all that. I'm like a ghetto messenger. (Laughs)
Do you think in the future you might want to give speeches to schools and stuff about your life?
Yeah, I definitely want to do that. I'm really hoping it works out so I can go back and do that. I got some offers right now, but I just don't feel like I have made it to the point I want to be at yet. But definitely, when I am successful I want to go back and talk to the kids about it.
Ok, well you want to thank anyone?
I want to say come home Jim Gordy, he was the first one to really get things going for me besides Pit Crew. Chris Hall because he is my main man. If you got a problem with him, you got a problem with me. DC Shoes, everyone at Pit Crew, Diamond Supply Co., Royal Trucks, Tim and Malcolm, my mom and the rest of my family, my unborn son, I would definitely like to thank you (Mazur) for fucking with me and shit, and anyone else I forgot, thanks.
Not really, man. I'm just me. I've been through a lot of the same shit 50 has, except for being shot. I mean, I've been shot at numerous times and have done the shooting back. But that shooting shit is blown out of proportion. It's all about being at the right place at the right time. Bullets don't got names. All I want to say is that shooting stuff doesn't mean shit to me.
I remember you told me about how one of your friends turned on you before, what was that like?
Yeah, my boy and I exchanged shots one time. He shot up my car and I shot back. It was stupid shit because we both could have been killed. But at the same time I still forgive him because when you grow up in the hood that is just how it is. Growing up, you think that shit is cool. Like you want to get locked up cause it's cool. I've been through that shit, but looking back it was stupid. I'm all about thinking positively now. I want to show the streets that I can come up and get out of all that. I'm like a ghetto messenger. (Laughs)
Do you think in the future you might want to give speeches to schools and stuff about your life?
Yeah, I definitely want to do that. I'm really hoping it works out so I can go back and do that. I got some offers right now, but I just don't feel like I have made it to the point I want to be at yet. But definitely, when I am successful I want to go back and talk to the kids about it.
Ok, well you want to thank anyone?
I want to say come home Jim Gordy, he was the first one to really get things going for me besides Pit Crew. Chris Hall because he is my main man. If you got a problem with him, you got a problem with me. DC Shoes, everyone at Pit Crew, Diamond Supply Co., Royal Trucks, Tim and Malcolm, my mom and the rest of my family, my unborn son, I would definitely like to thank you (Mazur) for fucking with me and shit, and anyone else I forgot, thanks.
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