Author: Crossfire

Before Its Official dropped, the Kayo Corp was stirring up quite a frenzy over their first video and quite rightly so! This DVD ‘officialises’ the Kayo Corp as a premier company for street skating, incorporating various styles through it’s network of DGK, Expedition One, Organika and Gold.

The DVD kicks off with Kenny Hoyle who is the newest Kayo recruit. Kenny is your typical contemporary street skater, but Kenny can handle his business like the grown-ups, perhaps better..? I had never heard of Kenny before watching Its Official, but now I know why street patriarch, Stevie Williams is backing him.

Next is Kelly Hart who I had heard about and was anticipating quite greatly. You see, Kelly has a very laid back and controlled style on board, plus one of the best 360 flips in the business. When you couple this kid’s skating with a very well edited Common track, the results can only be astonishing.

Things only get better when Enrique Lorenzo pops up. Finally ridding himself of the cartoon characters, Enrique is all smiles and styles for miles. Like a Spanish version of JB Gillet, this street veteran can switch things up at a drop of a hat.

Time for a change of tune as catch up with Chany Jeanguenin and Richard Angelides. Now we all now Richard is an underground king who has repped the Adidas Shelltoe far too long to not get a proper hook-up, but Chany was killing everything since day dot! Not to be funny, but all I can here is Chany saying “Is it ‘cos I’ze Swiss???”. Bring on more Chany – and I don’t care if it’s on vert!

Organika gets some heavy repping next with King Dread Head Adelmo Junior. I have a new found respect for Adelmo since I watched this new part of his. The guy has pop, power, and a few unseen tricks hidden in that forest of hair of his, and he isn’t afraid to show it.

The last Organika rider to get eerie on the silver screen is Karl Watson who teams up with fellow brother, Robbie Holmes, to cruise the bay area and San Fransisco hills. Jamming to the beats of Damian Marley and Nas, this section is right up there in the ones to watch.

Always a pleasure to watch is Quim Cardona. I know some people criticise Quim for his weird style, but before your Brents and Co. there was Quim. An OG East Coast ripper who flows over every surface; if you still don’t like the visual music he plays, stick a tweaker in it!

Back to the Dirty Ghetto Kids with Lenny Rivas – a pocket sized gangsta that lots of you will hate, but trust me you wouldn’t step to the mouthy kid. Lenny reminds me of a young Steven Cales, but with the contemporary pop that amateurs seem to pack nowadays.

Next up to bat is Marcus McBride who doesn’t need to break a sweat to make you understand this brother knows how to ride. Please check out any old FTC video is you doubt this Bay Area boss.

Things get a whole lot heavier when Wade Desamo scrolls and rolls across the screen. Wade has raw power tucked into his XXXL clothes, and he isn’t worried about unleashing it on ledges, rails or gaps. I’ll put good money on Wade blowing up everywhere as of now.

Surprise surprise, DGK Mastermind, Stevie Williams doesn’t get last part! But, that doesn’t mean Stevie isn’t going to serve out some unique magic. Stevie has swagger and demeanor that some people misunderstand for arrogance, but when you catch the Keenan Milton dedication at the beginning of his part, you’ll understand that he is just carrying the torch for street skaters everywhere.

Finally, it’s the curtains with last part going to Jackson Curtin (*Tophat snare!*). Jack has spent a lot of time travelling and homing his skills so sharp that nothing is left unscathed by his skate tricks. There are some serious nollie and switch hammers going down in this section powered along by the beats of Kanye West’s Diamonds are from Sierra Leone track.

I take my hat off to everyone involved with this DVD because this is set for instant success in the streets. Powerful skating and great music edited very smoothly with fun graphics and atmosphere- something a lot of recent productions lack. Could this be a modern day 20 shot sequence? I think so- It’s official!

Ralph Lloyd-Davis
04/05/2006

I think a lot of people got confused when 411VM stopped the ever-increasing issue numbers in favour for the new volume versions. I was one of the confused viewers, but now I’ve understood the concept and actually prefer it. Instead of pumping out issue after issue with tight deadlines, Studio 411 takes a breath between each new release and invites people to conceptualise each issue, thus making the product stand out clearer than the next. Volume 14 Issue No.2 has been moulded by the gurus of finesse, Stereo, and that is in no way a bad thing at all!

So, let’s a have a quick run down of this DVD’s main points:

The issue kicks off with a homage to fallen soldiers, Harold Hunter and Trevor Prescott. Rest in Peace guys! Then the fun begins with some serious skating going down in the Chaos section. Keep your eyes peeled for one of the biggest kickflips ever! David Bachinsky drops jaws with his take on El Toro 20 stair. Check the catch!

Life isn’t all about hammers though, and hot amateur, Daryl Angel is here to remind us. After a near death experience, Daryl has learnt to make the most of life and push his skills for your viewing pleasure.

Next up, and I’ll try not to be biased, is fellow Brit Olly Todd. Recently picked up by Stereo, this guy fits the mould perfectly with cruising lines and smooth tricks. I’m not sure if everyone has picked of Mr.Todd’s skills, but this section should definitely have a few heads turning.

Someone else who has never got the recognition they deserve is Miami homeboy Abdias Rivera. I have always seen this kid at contests, in tour footage and various other areas of the media, but 411VM took the time to let Abdias shine, and trust me it’s pretty bright.

I’ll take this interval to talk about the adverts. Well not all of them, but just the Krux ones. Please say thank you to the weird creativity of this truck company who manage to keep your attention instead of pressing the skip button.

Next up is Paul ‘The Machine’ Machnau. Paul can handle any gap, rail, gap to rail or other generally gnarly spot like it was a stroll in the park. Even if this kind of skating might not be flavour of the month for everyone, you have to admire the cojones on this Canadian.

Jason Lee talks us through his take on the new Stereo team and even gets a few tricks in too. I’m not entirely sure if this second version is comparable to the first of the early 90’s, but the parallel is there. Just the general style and happy vibe will have you amped to go skate, I think.

Finally, we get to Tony Silva, the Stereo Sound Agency’s better than good amateur – not to be confused with a pissdrunk am they had riding for them some years a go, Tony Da Silva. Isn’t there a Tony Da Silva in the UK right now? Someone must me making these kids in a factory… In any case, Tony Silva dropped the ‘Da’ and has you going ‘Ah!’ at his sick skating. Oh, and listen to Benny Fairfax’s intro- ‘Knob jockey’ Ha!

And that just about wraps it up. Well, almost because then you get the inner note interviews and two bonus features which are this year’s Tampa Am contest. Please note the winner’s last run(!!!), and the best trick contest. The other feature is the final of 411VM’s Versus contest which places skaters head to head for best trick and a $25000 purse. Will it be Chris Haslam’s double flip footplant over the Barcelona bumps to bar? Or, Greg Lutzka’s frontside boardslide through a long double kink? Log onto the website www.411vm.com to place your vote.

I think this is one of the cleaner and more coherent versions of the infamour video magazine that I have seen I quite a while. Good stuff definitely worth checking out.

Ralph Lloyd-Davis
04/05/2006