Kareem Campbell
Encyclopedia
Kareem Campbell is a professional skateboarder
. He is known for his signature trick, the hardflip revert, or "Ghetto Bird".
and was raised in Los Angeles, California
. He first started skating when he was 16 years old at Venice Beach. He received his first signature skateboard in 1992 at the age of 19 for Blue Skateboards with his fellow professional skateboarders Jason Lee
and Chris “Dune” Pastras. After Blue folded Campbell's next sponsor was World Industries
, appearing in their video New World Order
in 1993. He continued on the World Industries team until he founded Menace Skateboards. Menace Skateboards was forced to change its name due to a trademark legal conflict with a brand of jeans also named Menace
. The team was then known as All City Skateboards. Then due to another trademark legal conflict with Russell Simmons
, they came to an agreement where Campbell still owned the name but he licensed it to Russell Simmons for his license agreement with champs, and then he started City Stars that he still owns and is sponsored by.
In addition, he founded Axion Footwear, a shoe line that grossed nearly $48 million in sales in three years after its launch. In 1994, Campbell was awarded first place in the first year debut of the Slam City Jam
street competition, held in Vancouver, BC. In 1999, Campbell began his first of a string of appearances as the only African American playable skater in one of the top-selling video game franchises ever, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
beginning with the debut game in the series until the 7th, Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
. Campbell has had cameos in music videos from N.E.R.D., Fantasia
, 2 Mex, Wu-Tang Clan
, SWV
, and Mase
. He had a cameo in the 2003 Warner Brothers film Grind
; the film also starred Bam Margera
, Tony Hawk
, Adam Brody
, Mike Vallely
along with various other skaters.
attempting to boardslide a rail. He missed the rail with the board and ended up hitting his crotch instead. He got sponsored in '92 to World Industries, he also made the video "New World Order" with them in '93.
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
. He is known for his signature trick, the hardflip revert, or "Ghetto Bird".
Life and career
Kareem Campbell was born in Harlem, NYCHarlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
and was raised in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He first started skating when he was 16 years old at Venice Beach. He received his first signature skateboard in 1992 at the age of 19 for Blue Skateboards with his fellow professional skateboarders Jason Lee
Jason Lee (actor)
Jason Michael Lee is an American actor and skateboarder known for his role as the title character on the NBC television series My Name is Earl, his portrayal of Syndrome in the film The Incredibles, his role as Dave Seville in the Alvin and the Chipmunks films, and his work with director Kevin...
and Chris “Dune” Pastras. After Blue folded Campbell's next sponsor was World Industries
World Industries
World Industries is a skateboarding company that offers skateboarding products, accessories and apparel. The company was founded by Steve Rocco in 1987. In 1988, Rocco was joined by skaters Rodney Mullen then Mike Vallely in 1989....
, appearing in their video New World Order
New World Order
New World Order, New world order or The New World Order may refer to:*New world order , any period of history evidencing a dramatic change in world political thought and the balance of power...
in 1993. He continued on the World Industries team until he founded Menace Skateboards. Menace Skateboards was forced to change its name due to a trademark legal conflict with a brand of jeans also named Menace
Menace
Menace or Maenace is an ancient Greek settlement lying to the southeast of Spain according to Strabo . The exact location is unknown to date....
. The team was then known as All City Skateboards. Then due to another trademark legal conflict with Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons
-External links:** * * * * * * from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum* *...
, they came to an agreement where Campbell still owned the name but he licensed it to Russell Simmons for his license agreement with champs, and then he started City Stars that he still owns and is sponsored by.
In addition, he founded Axion Footwear, a shoe line that grossed nearly $48 million in sales in three years after its launch. In 1994, Campbell was awarded first place in the first year debut of the Slam City Jam
Slam City Jam
Slam City Jam, the North American Skateboard Championships, was scheduled to return to Vancouver, BC in May 2008, but it has been postponed to May 2009 for unknown reasons. Debuted in Vancouver in 1994, Slam City Jam is the longest-running skateboarding event in North America and is among the best...
street competition, held in Vancouver, BC. In 1999, Campbell began his first of a string of appearances as the only African American playable skater in one of the top-selling video game franchises ever, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, often abbreviated as THPS2, is the second game in the Tony Hawk's series. It was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision in 2000...
beginning with the debut game in the series until the 7th, Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, abbreviated to THAW, is a video game that was released for the PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube and PC on October 18, 2005. Part of the Tony Hawk series, the game was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision.The PC version of the game was ported and...
. Campbell has had cameos in music videos from N.E.R.D., Fantasia
Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Monique Barrino commonly known as Fantasia, is an American R&B singer, Broadway and television actress who rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the reality television series American Idol in 2004. Following her victory, she released her debut single, "I Believe", which...
, 2 Mex, Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
, SWV
SWV
Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American female R&B trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You", and "You're the One"....
, and Mase
Mase
Mason Durell Betha , better known by stage name Mase who was previously known as Murda Ma$e, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor and inspirational speaker...
. He had a cameo in the 2003 Warner Brothers film Grind
Grind
The grind of a blade refers to the shape of the cross-section of the blade. It is distinct from the type of blade , though different tools and blades may have lent their name to a particular grind.Grinding involves removing significant portions of metal from the blade and is thus distinct from...
; the film also starred Bam Margera
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
, Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
, Adam Brody
Adam Brody
Adam Jared Brody is an American film and television actor and part time musician. He began his career in 1995, appearing on Gilmore Girls and other series, and subsequently came to fame for his role as Seth Cohen on The O.C. Brody later appeared in several film roles, including Mr. & Mrs...
, Mike Vallely
Mike Vallely
Mike Vallely , also known as Mike V, is a professional skateboarder. Mike is also a musician, actor, television personality, stuntman, professional wrestler and FHL hockey player.-Early life:...
along with various other skaters.
Personal life
As a teenager, Kareem was featured on an episode of America's Funniest Home VideosAmerica's Funniest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos is an American reality television program on ABC in which viewers are able to send in humorous homemade videotapes. The most common videos usually feature slapstick physical comedy arising from incidents, accidents and mishaps...
attempting to boardslide a rail. He missed the rail with the board and ended up hitting his crotch instead. He got sponsored in '92 to World Industries, he also made the video "New World Order" with them in '93.