As 12th & A’s stronghold on New York City skateboarding waned, it began to rise as an epicenter for New York City skateboard rap. With artists like ASAP Rocky, Odd Future, and Krayshawn getting deals off YouTube videos, the young skaters of 12th & A drew inspiration from their D.I.Y. attitude, and set out to make a name for themselves in perhaps the only professional world more overpopulated than pro skateboarding: rap. Slicky Boy remixed white people’s favorite Ice Cube song and has been promising a mixtape all year. The Stoned Rollers took Lex Luger out of the trap and the strip clubs, and brought his trademark thump to the skate spot. And Black Dave, perhaps 12th & A rap’s greatest success story, is one-for-two with making it onto WorldStar with his videos.
It sucks to end the year off on a sad note, but today will be the last day Autumn is open for business. They still have tees, beanies, and shop decks, so run over there and grab something as a keepsake. (No Bradley “Demon Child” tee re-issue, but there is talk of a Slicky Boy update of the same tee.) The shop will be open until 7:30.
There had been rumblings of the shop closing earlier in the month, even when we celebrated their ten years in business, but frankly, “Autumn is closing” rumors have been going on for years, so no one took it seriously until actually walking in yesterday and seeing this. Dave is deciding how he wants to proceed with the shop, and is still potentially re-opening in another East Village location come springtime. There is also the possibility of turning Autumn into something else down the line (e.g. more projects like the Autumn Bowl), but everything is still very much up in the air.
Like every other great thing in this city, it was easy to take the shop for granted. Much respect goes to Dave, Paul, Grandpa, Martin, and everyone else who has worked there throughout the years. None of us can imagine how tough it is to keep open a respectable skate shop in such a high-rent neighborhood without running some sort of gimmick along with it, especially when parents buy everything online, and outer-boroughs all have their own shops. Thanks to Dave and the crew for always being friendly, helpful, and down to talk nonsense or let us post up and watch a video whenever it was too cold or too dark to skate Tompkins. Thanks for all the T.F. boxes you built, all the discounts you gave, and all the lurk sessions you endured these past ten years. We’ll miss you guys, and hope to see you back in business soon.
Until then, the AUTUMNNYC.COM shop is open. You can buy tees, hats, etc. on there while the physical shop is still in a transitional stage. They’ll be adding more things to the shop in the coming weeks.
[as told through Twitter screenshots, YouTube videos, and mixtape covers]
Some of this has been covered extensively by the Rap Desk throughout the year, some of it has not. It’s easier to work 2 Chainz or an irrational love for “I’m On One” into the conversation on a skateboard website than Starlito and Don Trip, so that accounts for it.
We decided what the “Song of the Year” was back in June, and offered a few runners up two weeks ago. If you haven’t wrapped your mind around its brilliance yet, you’d be well advised to follow this guide, which deciphers it wonderfully:
Ricky Oyola: Pizza, the food of Gods. When I was battling Xerxes for domination of Greece, I met with many Italians. Earlier that century, I had figured out...
JJ: Watching the Spurs surgically dismantle all comers has been really fun here in Texas, almost as fun as watching other teams who will not be named try to...
mira conyo: that bitch is distracting i had to cover the top left of the screen.
honestly..: Rather watch this clip without that hair shit going on in the top corner, we get it bro, you went to art school.
3 hours agoConsidered it. Went with Grimaldi's b/c it usually has a longer line. RT @Ronniequest: @quartersnacks supreme would be lombardis if anything
3 hours agoSkate:Pizza Industry Equivalents - Dominoes:Deluxe, Pizza Hut:Girl, Little Caesars:NHS, Poppa John's:Kayo, Grimaldi's:Supreme, 2 Bros: Zoo