Kick, Push: Rappers and Skateboarding

Hip hop embraces skate culture like never before.

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Kick, Push: Rappers and Skateboarding - Skateboarders have loved and been influenced by rap for decades now, but it was mostly a one-way relationship — until now. The hip hop community is unabashedly embracing skateboarding like never before. On Wednesday, September 26, Lil Wayne, who last year needed stitches after a skating slip-and-fall, cut the ribbon on his new Trukstop skate park, located in the Lower 9th Ward of his native New Orleans. The grand opening came just a few weeks after Weezy announced he was launching a new shoe line with skate-shoemaker Supra. He also premiered his Trukfit skating apparel line earlier this year. But Weezy's moves are just the latest sign of the convergence between hip hop and skating. Click on for a look at rappers on wheels. —Alex Gale(Photo: Joe Gall/INFevents.com)

Pharrell Williams - They don't call him Skateboard P for nothing. Neptunes/N.E.R.D. front man Pharrell has been skating since he was a teenager, built a half-pipe in his home and launched a skate team sponsored by his Ice Cream clothing brand in 2005.(Photo: Lawrence Lucier/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

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Pharrell Williams - They don't call him Skateboard P for nothing. Neptunes/N.E.R.D. front man Pharrell has been skating since he was a teenager, built a half-pipe in his home and launched a skate team sponsored by his Ice Cream clothing brand in 2005.(Photo: Lawrence Lucier/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Odd Future - Odd Future is bringing their favorite finger food, as revealed in their 2010 fan favorite "Sandwiches." It's definitely a weird second course, but you can't expect much when you invite a group of rowdy skaters fresh out of their teens. Also, Tyler the Creator has assured us that cockroach paninis will not be on the menu.    (Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

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Odd Future - Odd Future was skating in the streets of L.A. long before they gained any traction in the music world. Last year they released a line of limited edition skateboard decks at their local pop-up store.(Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

Yelawolf - Check YouTube — Yelawolf is nice on a board, though he's said in interviews that he doesn't like to "exploit" skating in his music.(Photo: Interscope Records)

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Yelawolf - Check YouTube — Yelawolf is nice on a board, though he's said in interviews that he doesn't like to "exploit" skating in his music.(Photo: Interscope Records)

Beastie Boys - Beastie Boys were probably the first rappers actively involved in skate culture. They've long incorporated skateboarding in their videos and have released limited-edition skate products over the years. MCA is even a secret character in the skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's Proving Ground. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Beastie Boys - Beastie Boys were probably the first rappers actively involved in skate culture. They've long incorporated skateboarding in their videos and have released limited-edition skate products over the years. MCA is even a secret character in the skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's Proving Ground. (Photo: Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Getty Images

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Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's debut single, "Kick, Push," used skateboarding as a metaphor for life, with dope, career-launching results.  (Photo: Atlantic Records)

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Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's debut single, "Kick, Push," used skateboarding as a metaphor for life, with dope, career-launching results.  (Photo: Atlantic Records)

Teyana Taylor - Teyana Taylor — who threw herself an over-the-top skateboard-themed birthday party on MTV's Sweet Sixteen reality show — has long expressed her love for skating.(Photo: Courtesy of MTV)

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Teyana Taylor - Teyana Taylor — who threw herself an over-the-top skateboard-themed birthday party on MTV's Sweet Sixteen reality show — has long expressed her love for skating.(Photo: Courtesy of MTV)

Photo By Photo: Courtesy of MTV

Murs - L.A. underground hero Murs, who's been boarding since 1986, flipped Tupac's "Ambitionz az a Ridah" into a dope 2005 skate anthem, "Transitions as a Rider," which was featured in the Tony Hawk's Underground video game.

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Murs - L.A. underground hero Murs, who's been boarding since 1986, flipped Tupac's "Ambitionz az a Ridah" into a dope 2005 skate anthem, "Transitions as a Rider," which was featured in the Tony Hawk's Underground video game.

Curren$y - Spitta has been heavy into skating and its culture for years. The Nawlins rapper even founded Fly Society, a streetwear brand turned music group, with pro skater Terry Kennedy before splitting off from the crew.  (Photo: Warner Bros. Records)

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Curren$y - Spitta has been heavy into skating and its culture for years. The Nawlins rapper even founded Fly Society, a streetwear brand turned music group, with pro skater Terry Kennedy before splitting off from the crew.  (Photo: Warner Bros. Records)

Lil B and the Pack - Before he ascended to Based God status, Lil B was a member of the Pack, a crew of deck-loving rappers who broke through with their album Skateboards 2 Scrapers, which featured the hit "Vans," an ode to skaters' favorite sneaker brand.  (Photo: Zomba Recording)

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Lil B and the Pack - Before he ascended to Based God status, Lil B was a member of the Pack, a crew of deck-loving rappers who broke through with their album Skateboards 2 Scrapers, which featured the hit "Vans," an ode to skaters' favorite sneaker brand.  (Photo: Zomba Recording)

Soulja Boy - SB's swag is apparently extending to skateboarding now. The "Crank Dat" rapper has frequently been seen with a deck over the past year or so, and last October released a mixtape called Skate Boy.(Photo: Patricia Schlein/WENN.com

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Soulja Boy - SB's swag is apparently extending to skateboarding now. The "Crank Dat" rapper has frequently been seen with a deck over the past year or so, and last October released a mixtape called Skate Boy.(Photo: Patricia Schlein/WENN.com