From Homeless Kid to Skate Mogul - VICE Sports Meets: Stevie Williams
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- čas přidán 20. 06. 2024
- Stevie Williams isn't just one of the greatest skateboarders of all time, he's the successful entrepreneur behind Dirty Ghetto Kids and a host of other ventures - but it wasn't always that way. Stevie ran away from his home in Philly at age 15 and hitchhiked his way across to the west coast where he found himself homeless in San Francisco. In this episode of VICE Sports Meets, Stevie takes us through his old Frisco stomping grounds and talks about his full evolution from "degenerate to celebrity."
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I worked across the street from Pier 7 in the late 90s - used to watch this guy during smoke breaks. Didn't know who he was, but I remember thinking he should be famous. Glad he made it.
Matthew Graham are you yes theory
Dope finding comments like this
Andrew B weird flex but ok
@@TheCmb89 this entire thread is toxic
@@andrewb8235 reaching at it's finest
ALL DAY!
fosho
+DGK Originality, style and finesse .. Much respect Stevie, always been an authentic role model to street skateboarding an inspired us alike all across the globe. Cheers, Peace
+DGK FOR LIFE !!! GREETING FROM CHILE
That's what's up bro, I love these kinds of stories
+DGK Such a good story! Thanks for sharing this.. truly inspiring !!
"like she ain't comin to California, she can't even afford to get here"
lmao
Stevie is a legend. Period. There used to be a time when the other black kids gave me the most shit for riding a skateboard and "trying to be white." Naturally, me and my homies looked up to Stevie, Ray, Gershon, Keenan, Clyde, and others with the utmost respect because they made it doing what they "weren't supposed to be doing." I gotta say out of all the activities/hobbies I have been involved in, skateboarding has been the most welcoming in terms of diversity.
JaeOne3345 because in the skate world fuck your money fuck your race fuck your opinions. It all comes down to what can you do on your board. I had some of the best times I will ever have riding my skateboard with friends weather they were black white or Hispanic didint matter we all loved the same thing
Perfect example of how modern black American culture holds it's people back more than anything else. "The world is your oyster" is what black people should be telling each other instead of "quit trying to be white" just cuz you don't like all the same stereotypical shit.
Gus bus that's goes for pretty much every major sports in America bruh.
straight up.
Just like the whole 'why you talkin white?' thing. It pisses me off black kids talked down on for speaking properly. Striving to speak proper English and to use a broad vocabulary makes you sound intelligent, not white.
Respect he real he made it out the struggle
Sesh
+WatSupDehn man Stevie was such an inspiration to me and my friends growing up, so happy to see this and to see how against all odds If u dream hard and work hard enough anything is possible. mad respect
+WatSupDehn hell yea he really came out the trenches
Team Sesh
sesh till i rest
I know stevie probably may never come across my comment, but damn, I don't even know this guy and I'm proud of him. Your story is inspirational brother. Continue showing people, showing your community, showing everyone that things can change in your life, and you can always better yourself no matter what stage you are at in life. It's people like you, that keep me going and motivated. I love to see people succeed and I love when I see people going after what they want in life...Much success to you brother.
cheers
Great comment mate, couldn't have been said any better. CheerS
ahmen to that. Stevie Williams is a man.
mikey legend
That single mindedness,fierce determination and drive this young man has is inspirational. He would no doubt have been a success in any field he chose.
Good story VICE.
Stevie Williams should be someone all kids look up to ...everyone...black white red yellow or blue. But especially the black ones... And a percentage of blue. Ha
Your hero a racist
I used to always pick my nigga Stevie in Tony Hawk games.
+72vince27 gang gang
+72vince27 That was Kareem Campbell
Big 3ye It was either Stevie, Kareem or Nyjah Huston. And other than them i always picked Bob Burnquist for some reason.
Ohhhhhh I was thinking the older THPS. I used to love those games
+Big 3ye I was thinking the classic thps also. Sucks that Kareem Campbell screwed over his old Menace team. And didn't put on Stevie Williams. Maybe Kareem was jealous of Williams being more popular.
I'll never forget him at Vans Skatepark at the Bloc when I was 8 years old, like 1998/1999. signed my first deck and still skating now over ten years later
2008 2009 would b ten years later u wrote this shit in like 2016 and now it's 2018 almost 2019
That's 20 years later stupid
@@BeartheGhost11 he said over ten years later asshole. Go find something better to do than try and look better on CZcams comments. SMH
Bradley Mitchell He said he is still skating, not still skating on the deck lol
BeartheGhost11 I’m sorry, I didn’t realize this was math class Professor Kook.....I tend not think much about my comments cause I expect no one to see them or care 🤷🏽♂️
Vans Skatepark at the Bloc n OC?
Skateboarding accepted me more then my own family and so called normal everyday friends💯.I was never told I couldn't hang around cause I was black. As a kid I was more encourage to skate because it was a rare thing to see a black person skate so I was praised and to this day I can still call these same people and talk to them to this day like nothing ever happened I can't even call family like that lol smh I even went through the so called black people don't skate thats for white people ridicule period and survived. When the black community said your not one of us it was hurting as a young black teen growing up smh.I saw more racial barriers conquered in skateboarding then I have in normal society 💯. If anything I thank Stevie for doing this and showing some that you can think outside of the box and you don't have to play basketball and run track to make an honest living 🔥🔥💥💥💯💯👊👊
The people who used to clown black skaters for "trying to be white" were the same people who stay playing basketball, a sport invented by the white man lmao.
@@jamesblue5906 haha so true and they had more white girl friends then I ever had in my whole lifetime and these are supposed to be the most hood down for the cause came from nothing I stick to my roots leaders lol so hypocritical lol 🤣😂 😂
@Junior Sanchez thanks my dude I got nothing but love for you and the whole Latino community my friend I was practically raised and love by your culture fam much love to you and your family 👊👊 ❤️♥️🙏
👋👊
This what the world needs!!
the iverson of street skate
+Iván Acosta saucing saucing saucing saucing
I AG He's no Paul Alexander. That guy was king. He did things on a board nobody has done to this day. He would do anything anyone else could do but bigger. He did shit nobody had the balls to even try.
shut up dont kill the analogy
I didn't know he founded DGK
Instead he isn't broke
It's weird..... but the sounds of skateboard tricks is soothing in a way and I'm not even a skateboarder, if that makes any sense.
Makes total sense to me. 👌
let it corrupt you
lol word
Totally. Its like asmr lol plus the watching helps me focus.
as a 20+ year skate vet, i love the sound. never gets old. ill be in my house and hear "click clack click clack" ohhh the sound of skateboards and sidewalks
This goes to show that hard work and perseverance pays off in the end. It would of been easy for Stevie to do dirt to make ends meet, but he went the honorable route. He worked his ass off. He stayed true to himself and the people around him. He got what he deserves....success.
Skateboarding culture is awesome and promotes not following the rules. Just think if Stevie listened to everyone around him? He probably would've followed everyone into basketball and never touched a skateboard as he states in the video. Instead he contributed in a big way by creating something new and unique. Everyone should live their lives like that. Break the mold!
Fuck yeah!
Yeah it was so hard to get the neighborhood kids to play something else other than basketball, but once you did and they enjoyed boiiii
Mark Botelho yes dude. That's what I love about skateboarding. There aren't really any rules. Love that Shit
Until you wake up one day and realize you're not Stevie Williams. Follow the rules. You can still skate, but realize good decisions get you to where you want to be.
Agreed
DGK influenced the under develop[ed culture of black skating to a point where it became acceptable for black kids to skate and not be ridiculed by others for not playing a "regular sport" that black people are suppose to be good at. mostly form other black people. I know for me, i started skating before DGK made it back over to the east coast and once it did i know i felt like a validation almost for what i was doing at the time in skateboarding. hell still known around my town for being the first black kid on a board that could hang with the best. #goskateboardday #DGKALLDAY
Which is weird when you consider how many great black skaters there were before the rise of Stevie Williams on the scene. Guys like Kareem Campbell, Sal Barbier, Clyde Singleton, Harold Hunter, Ray Barbee, Shiloh Greathouse, LaVar McBride, Galiea Momolou and so on.
@@GreenHornet553 it's crazy man. When I started to skate I really thought Stevie and Kareem were the only black pro skaters ever until I found out about Ray Barbee and other pioneers earlier on.
You know it was 2000's when you see this dudes pants and T-shirts
Every time I throw on baggy clothes now it's like "wtf were we thinking?"
Thats all 90s style
Most of that footy was mid to late 90s dumbdick
someone doesnt remember the 90s lol
Late 90s buddy lol mustve been before your time
he is crazy good even in the 90s he was killing it
met him the other day, he's cool as hell
hell is hot!!!lmao!
That's depends on which school of thought you come from. Hundreds of years ago, it was thought hell was a cold place due to being far in proximity to God, which is the source of life. Proof of this is from paintings actually depicting Satan as being blue in color.
Baggy jeans, Wu-Tang t-shirts... missing the 90s.
I still have a Wu-Tang shirt and I rock it all the time. It's literally just the classic black Wu-Tang tee and every time I wear it I get so many "nice shirt"s from people it's crazy.
i remember wearing tall-t's in the 2000s. i find fashion always recycles. i can see the baggy look come back sometime
You can see the growth in this dude..Happy for homie!!
Stevie shows mad class and veteran insight here. I wish more skaters elaborate on individual styles like he somewhat began to touch.
didnt like DGK for years, just because of the name. but now i have a whole new respect. dont judge a book by its cover
I got into DGK purely because of the name
yeah, Im the same. Coming from the Bahamas we wouldn't know shit about most of these brands (until).. but thats not what a bandwagoner is man. chill. its called a new fan. band wagoning is different
shit, especially for me. I didnt even know what DGK stood for until this.
im glad I know now.
if you were smart you wouldve seen the team skating for dgk and u wouldnt even think twice about the name
Bunch of hateful fucks replying
I first saw him in the chocolate vid growing up (I'm 30 now), and being black he inspired me to stake despite what people's said about being black and skateboarding. Much respect !
you mean stakeboarding hahahahaha
What are you talking about, black people where always skating.
Lumpen, that is not exactly accurate. For many years skateboarding was considered a “white thing” by black folks. Me and my brother used to get so much shit from other black kids for skateboarding in the mid 80s. There were only a few black pros then. Not like today where it’s cool to be black and a skater. Glad things changed because skateboarding is for anyone who wants to do it.
ERIC F same shit for being Mexican and skating but I’m even older then you. I’m 40 & Chicano skaters got all kind a shit from the older generation.
@@rcppop3090 I'm 22 years old first generation born mexican! 2 hours away from the Arizona/Mexico border. It's crazy getting critized by your peers and family for attempting to skate!! Fuck all the close minded people chasing the same daily routine. We trying to skate!!!
Im born and raised in SF. This some real city shit right here. The city is dying tho. All those spots have practically been made to be unskateable. They gentrifying the whole city. Fuck all these tech companies and politicians who allowing this to happen.
Wes Manoff times change man the scene will pass to a different area maybe
Same in Seattle. i HATE amazon and the tech companies/culture who ruin good cities
I remember getting laughed at for wearing his shoe cuz it looked like a basketball shoes and all my punk rock friends hated, till I started doing front side flips switch over stuff and all of them were like where u learn that. I said stevie period.
Yoooo those dcs were mad 🔥🔥🔥
i had his shoes when i was in highschool(34 now lol) ..i miss those shoes and want to buy them again...i learned my 1st kickflips and started progressing alot at the time when i had/was skating those shoes...somewhere in the back of my mind and heart i still subconciously attribute all that progression at 1time/short time to those shoes...wether it was or wasnt but either way YESTHOSE SHOES WERE AND STILL ARE FIREEEEEEE ASF....MAKING ME WANNA ORDER THE UPDATED VERSION OF THEM(ALL BLACK) RITE DAMN NOW LOL ....im just curious if the updated versions have the same feel &, longevity
I remember watching Stevie Williams in the DC video when I was 9, his style was so original and inspiring. Can’t forget the prolonged FS pop-shuv to catching mid-air with a late FS 180. Truly didn’t understand how that was possible as a little kid lol
Str8 up inspirational, from the soul... One love
Swag.
if anyone ever has the pleasure of watching stevie skate in person , thank god for it. He invented the lazy/effortless style along with more pop than you could ever imagine
Stevie has one of the best styles of skating ever. Living legend.
Eww wtf are you talking about? He was good af don't get me wrong but wtf Stevie's style was sloppy af.
this is the truth
I remember cutting school to hit love park in the early 90's. We'd go to the Roy Rogers under city hall, and sometimes a very young Stevie would show up with rasoul, 40 etc, and we'd end up sharing our food with them. They were always cool with us, even though love could be sketchy back then. Big up for living your dream man. Pride of philly!
[Back2Basics] Philly represent!
damn being fifteen getting dropped off in the tenderloin..and it turns out dope..this guy must be the most successful ex tenderloin resident ever
Only folks from SF understand this but it's so true!
@@gregevans3542 the tenderloin is suburban..all the richy rich people live there HAHAH YOU SCARED OF NOTHING MY FAIR SIR. I WILL WALK THROUGH THE TENDERLOIN AT NIGHT AND CUSS EVERYONE OUT AND NOTHING WILL HAPPEN MUAHAHHAHAHA
TwitchtvTrigun52 you good?
@@kandresp NAH NUCCA I AINT GOOD ...NIGGA IM BROKE...I AINT EATIN..EVERYBODY POSE TO EAT, B!! HELL U TALKN BOUT RUN MY FADE NUCCA!
@@jesus4lyfe00 aight
DGK All Day! Respect to Stevie Williams!
OTKP nuch respect
I remember seeing Stevie skatin at Love Park in '93-'94. Haven't rode on a board in years but man, I sure miss do those days 😄
Stevie Williams is my favorite skater of all times as well as daweon song and Rodney Mullen and his past is so unique I think that's what makes him such a cool skater
So good!! I met Stevie back in the late 90's SF days. Super friendly, always killing it ... Wish we could get a new part from Stevie.
I remember watching Stevie WIlliams' skate tapes growing up when I was younger. He was always my favorite skater because he stood out amongst the rest, he had that originality he was talking about. I would say what made him so original was his rawness. He was the type of skater that completed insane tricks/combination of tricks so cleanly, in a fearless confident manner like no other. I always wondered what it was that made him so good. Very glad to hear some of his upbringing in this great share, good job Vice!
he is the reason I attempted to skate lol. I'm a big fan even though I don't skate bc that is a tough thing to do.
A.P. X Dont give up bro
I grew up with the stuggles he is talkin bout homelessness, jail, felony charges drugs all that, I'm considered an OG skater around my town. I looked up to STEVIE WILLIAMS and saw his struggle and used his influence to get through all these struggles. I was going places but the stuggle kept up but I never laid my board down and i'm still out here crusin. DIRTY GHETTO KIDS..DGKallDAY #HAGGARDSKATEKREW/Facebook
Craig smith
Yeah no lie
@@andrewb8235 your comment is stupid and ignorant.
@@andrewb8235 damn, u just hatin all up in this videos thresd. Just looking for a fight. Hope u change ur ways one day. Get a life
Man this is like my favorite video right now! Every time it plays I cant change it. That hustle. So inspiring.
Met this brother in ATL. He is one of the warmest, sincere and solid cats you could ever meet. Salutes to you Stevie Williams; Peace*Love*Power. DGK All Day!
been a fan since the original 411 spotlight with lord of the underground. big ups from D.C. health and prosperity!
This was really inspiring! It makes me want to get my dreams out there and make it happen!
GREAT story. Love the hustle and the hard work... kudos DGK and the Philly-Frisco connection!
This is the true meaning of following your dreams. Much love n respect to Stevie! He always has been and will be that dude!
you can stay at my house.....cool....btw, I'm homeless....wtf
😂😜😂😜😂😜😂
😁
damn... switch heel fakie nose manny fakie hardflip out... damn
Stevie Williams always reminds me of the days when I first started skating back in the early 2000's.... Agh... Goodtimes man, goodtimes
The first pro board I ever got was a dgk Stevie Williams. Ill always love this man.
I knew about DGK, but I never knew what it stood for. Good story!
This made me very sad. The way he talked about not being interested in skateboarding anymore. He seems sad. Success is often bittersweet. Draws you away from the things you enjoy in the momment
It probably has something to do with the fact he's a 40 year old dad of like 3 kids now and smokes entirely too much weed....and no I don't think he's ever smoked as much weed as he does now. There's no way. If he smoked just as much back then, that'd imply he had the money to buy it but the dude was homeless with no job, no nothing. Now he's loaded so he can afford all the weed he wants. So obviously he's smoking more now than he was when he was a teen.
@@TheRickyp83 yeah blame it all on the sacred herb 🙄
TheRickyp83 he said for a time period
vertsk8er419 don’t abuse the plant because it will abuse you
Been a skater for 20yrs now.. always loved this man when he's on the board.
God Bless the people that gave these dudes a place to lay their heads. A lot of talent out there!
He left out the part that Josh Kalis basically gave him his shot.
+Tony Roberts actually he didn't give him his shot. he got him back in to it. stop trying to make shit up hating ass.
+Mob Lin I am not making shit up you know many times I heard the dam love park story rofl.
He covered it pretty extensively in his own & Kalis' Epicly Later'd
Gawd dayum those Manuel combos
Soo much love and respect big bro and for all the real ones that keep the spirit of skateboarding alive
Stevie! Always confident but filled with humility... got the chance to see him at a party on a Supra Manila Tour and was psyched to just be there. Respect to the man!
looks exactly like freddie gibbs
+Gladio Ammazzare he said Freddie Gibbs dummy
It's Gibbs bitch 187
Fucking exactly man.
1Manny93 I’m not the only one
Yo freddie got 100 dopple gangers
I miss my old life. I'm a life style specialist.
eonhand8 that’s all u pulled from this eh?
Really needed this inspiration
I love stevies humbleness. The guy truely is real. My fav skater
Freddie Gibbs can skate?
I miss Epicly Later'd :/
+Curry Boy They still make episodes sometimes.
Vice Sports and Epicly Later'd are different. Patrick O'dell still makes them here and there.
Stevie has always been my 2nd favorite skater, he is one of the best!
Love your story, Stevie. I've always had WICKED respect for you. You're a real inspiration, my brother. You sincerely deserve all that you have made for yourself. Big ups!!!
Everyone who experiences starvation and homelessness can be a powerful politician.
Some not all
"lifestyle specialist".
San Francisco lifestyle specialist.... Gotta really elaborate after those words exit your mouth
CARLOSi that was his best trick
Stevie was one of my faves back in the day. Such dope style.
He was my idol skater when I was growing up, congrats to you Stevie W
fuck yeah I love this
every street skater i knew that was trying to make it couch surfed and smoked weed in the mid 90s. living day to day looking for that trick that would bring them to the next level
I always love watching old school skate videos with the fisheye cameras.
When I skated during high school and college, I always love Steve Williams style and after watching this short video I remember why. That´s how everything should be, just have fun doing what you love. It´s nice to see success no matter what you do. I did not know about his career until today and I´m glad he succeed. Really cool!
i still remember his special trick from tony hawks project 8 haha
When did Andrew Mccutchen start skating?
Great video...def going to support his brand... Great story
Kick ass vid! Used to love boarding when I was a kid. The way how he describes how each person's style is different. It reminds me of how figure skaters or gymnasts do their tricks differently. Different approach, transitions, grace, height, length, landing. All unique to each athlete.
everybody laughed at this nigga , URBAN SKATING lmao in the early 2000s no one fucked with it but now DGK bigger than any other skate company LONG LIVE STEVIE
His bottom lip looks like a succulent scallop.
+luke blovad hahahaha rad dude. Nothing like a super random comment. Bravo ya silly prawn.
nigga u gay
calm down
co122189 And most white people really aren’t racist, dumbfuck.
co122189 but m8 u r on ytUHAVEA B33n quikcopsped
amazing article and always a big up to stevie.
keep it up man, you mean a lot to skateboarding, you were as cool as you were here when i met you back in 2011.
greetings from the netherlands!!
MAD RESPECT! loved watching this
News Flash; So h'es the owner of DGK(Dirty Ghetto Kids). Now i'm going to support my black brother's fashion attire garment investment.
“News flash” ? Oldest news flash ever? Haha Lion Prince you’ve been in the jungle too long. Dummy
Dont support it just because he's black supported it because he's talented and ab inspiration.
Being a celebrity and being a degenerate aren't mutually exclusive.
+Chuck D There are plenty of famous scumbags
+J i think thats what he's trying to say.
Looks like I misread that. Thanks
DUDE IVE WATCHED THIS DOC LIKE 10 TIMES SUCH A GOOD STORY
Soo much respect for this man.
Huge fan in the 90's.
if he wasnt on tony hawk pro skater he isnt shiiiiii
+Rushi Patel He was in probably five of them...
+Rushi Patel
That's true, skaters come and go. if you're not a marketable brand, you're forgotten tomorrow.
Kyle Shade really you know fuck all
@@newbutthunt tell me more about skate culture weeby wonderbread
I had his first dc shoes people were on my d when I had them
what you said about "being the city" (4:40), was straight poetry. i don't normally comment on videos either but damn, that was for real moving
-Cole Harbour N.S. represent
Salute to the legend...i was watching his DGK and DC videos back in 2009.
I can remember being about 9 years old thumbing through my first ever skateboard mag. There was a photo of stevie kickflipping off a bump kicker in the sidewalk, at the time I knew nothing about skating and I STARED at that picture for an eternity, trying to figure it out, how did he get up that high...what's his board doing... it wasn't even touching his feet...whats a kickflip? That's the first time I can remember feeling infatuated with the sport. Still am, and still a skater at 31. You're a legend Stevie.
Much respect to a man that lives through adversity to become a better man.
37 now and was a great street skater, now my son's want me to come out and show the neighborhood kids! God damn feels great! 20+ years off the board but they think what I can do is amazing.
Love it 100% and feels good just like riding a bike
man I'm mad happy for the homie Stevie, he's a stellar example through and through, peace!
watched him since back in the day ...congrats bro.keep it going
I remember that Gold Wheels - Got Gold? Tape when i was a young skater dude.. loved it so much!! Pure inspiration back in the days. Much love
You earned it. Your an inspiration to many of the Younger Kids and that's something to be Proud of. You give allot of people Hope and it doesn't get much better than that. You'd be Welcome at My Dinner Table any time. God Bless You and Keep Your Mom and Dad up front for as long as You can. Be Well Young Man from Alaska.
A Senegalese friend told me when a person interests you it's always good to understand where they're coming from and more importantly their format. Usually by analyzing their youtube interview in depth presentation of their journey helps you to appreciate that person's music.Poetry In Motion!
stevie williams if u read this thank you for your contributions to skateboarding and not giving up man huge fan DGK all day
10:29 honestly thats so true. the tricks you do and combos you think of reflect personality. like if you doin bonelesses and primo flips that says so much about you
Incredible story. I envy his willingness to take such risks. Goes to show you with passion and dedication you can achieve your wildest dreams
thanks for your honesty.