PAUL SHIER
What's it like living in the sticks?
It's cool. It's hard living in England though;
it's cold. Right now it's warm.
What about being hurt all the time-
how's that?
Frustrating, really. It's been like a year now
that I've been waiting for an operation on
my ankle. Frustrating's the only word to describe it.
How does the medical system work over here? You can just
go in and pay and get it done?
You can go in and pay, but it costs a lot of money, and I don't have
the money to pay it. You get a national health service where they say
they're going to operate on this day, and that day comes, and they
phone you up and say, "Oh, sorry we can't do it then." They've done
that twice now.
So you've been moved over to the Blueprint drinking
team now?
I don't know; we're filming for a new video, so I'm trying to do as
much as I can for that. I'm keeping things simple in a way, not jumping
down big stairs or anything. Otherwise, I'd just ruin my life.
What's your favorite spot to skate in London?
There's a local spot where I live.
What do you have there?
All types of different sorts of ledges, all different-sized steps, and
little launchers out the floor.
How much time have you spent skating in the States?
I've been over there a few times now. I go over for a couple of
months at a time; I went there for the last trade show, but I had to
come back for an operation, supposedly.
Where do you prefer to skate?
Weatherwise, America I suppose. In California anyway, you
can wake up and look out the window and it's sunny. And you
just think, "Well, I'll go skating." Over here you look out the
window and it's raining.
What are some differences between skating here and there,
besides weather?
Just the amount of skate spots. It seems like in America you've
got perfect marble blocks and perfect everything. Here, there's
always something wrong. There will be an amazing block but
then the run-up will suck.
What about trickwise, is there much difference?
Not really; there's more technical stuff done in America.
There are not that many super-technical skaters here. In the
States you've got people like Daewon and Koston taking it to
the next level, and here there isn't anyone who's really taking
it there.
BRITISH HIP-HOP
To the average American B-boy, the phrase
"British Hip-hop" is about as familiar as Black
Sheep's second album. The London music
scene conjures up images of trip-hop, jungle,
and any other variety of club music, but not
hardcore hip-hop. Some people might have
vague memories of songs by people like the
Stereo MCs or Monie Love, but for the most
part, if you're not Slick Rick or Dana Dane,
we're not trying to hear you rapping with an
English accent. In the '90s there were some
English rappers who tried to get over by perpe-
trating an American accent, but nobody was
fooled and they have been regulated to perma-
nent residence in the cut-out bin. Now, at the
dawn of a new millennium, there may be some
hope for smuggling the phrase "British Hip-hop"
into the American urban vernacular. Artists
like Roots Manuva are making noise without
compromising their Limey linguistics, and pro-
ducers like the Creators are taking a more
clandestine approach, employing American
MCs on their British beats. Hip-hop labels based
in the UK like Big Dada, Wordplay, Hombre,
Ronin, and Son Records are concentrating on
building up their home scene without worrying
too much about creating the next generation
British invasion, but game recognize game, so
don't be surprised if you start seeing your
friendly neighborhood thugged-out hustla'
hollerin' in an East-Ender's brogue.
O
96 THRASHER
Lloyds
Clockwise from top left: Paul Shier gives
the secret Blueprint hand signal. The sainted
Paul nosegrinds in front of his cathedral. This
guy was trying to get his bearings in front of
Slam City Skate Shop. St. Paul's Cathedral.
These buttery-smooth benches were described
to us as "London's version of the New Spot,"
but a new spot in London means that it was
built after the 16th century. Gustav Edén, nollie
noseslide shove-it.
97