Recently, Supreme launched a brand new collaboration with Zoo York, a skateboarding brand founded in 1993 that originates from New York, showcasing the area's unique skate culture. The emergence of Zoo York broke through the then-dominant Southern California skate scene, allowing us to witness the distinct style and spirit of the East Coast.
From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, mainstream skateboard brands primarily emerged from the West Coast, heavily influenced by the punk rock scene of Southern California. However, East Coast skateboard enthusiasts delved deeper into their local subcultures, such as graffiti and hip-hop, giving rise to brands like Zoo York. Their skateboard video The Zoo York Mixtape perfectly encapsulates this connection between interaction and culture.
Shot by RB Umali, this film premiered at the 1997 New York Underground Film Festival. It features thrilling segments from skateboarders like Harold Hunter, Jefferson Pang, Robbie Gangemi, and Peter Bici, alongside freestyle skateboard performances by Method Man, Ghost Killah, Busta Rhymes, and Fat Joe on the Stretch and Bobbito radio show. These segments showcase how skateboard enthusiasts tackle the harsh weather and intricate streets of New York with their unique courage and style.
This film has had a significant impact on skateboarding and its evolution over the next decade, becoming an important record in the history of New York skateboarding and hip-hop, embodying the golden age of that era.
