Burning in paradise

Yuta Akaishi: The Mystery Mechanic

January 4th, 2025

I was watching a vlog from The Chronicle YouTube series, a channel I came across a few years ago when I really started getting into Honda. They had a few vlogs on some time they spent in Osaka, Japan with member of the No Good Racing team. They’re insane and pretty raw.

While watching I came across this guy, Yuta Akaishi, and for years I didn’t know what his name was or much about him really. All I knew was that he was a solid mechanic, smoked cigarettes and seem to know what the hell he was talking about when it came to cars. At the time I really didn’t know much about cars, you think you know about cars but when you open the hood and start pulling bolts and covers off, you quickly find out you really don’t know shit. But for whatever reason I liked dude. He seem genuine and he had taste for the way he was doing things. I guess you can say I liked his style.

I kept watching the YouTube series here and there. And then all the sudden I stopped for whatever reason. But when I came back to the series Yuta wasn’t in front of the camera anymore. I wonder what had happened but I didn’t even know how to ask the question in the comments cause I didn’t even know bro’s name.

Fast forward to today I saw The Chronicles release a new video blog and Joey (the cameraman and face of the brand) mentioned some guy name Yuta and how they don’t really talk or whatever. Instantly I thought, “Is that the name of dude from the earlier videos I watched years back?” Scrolled down to the comments and read what the people were saying. There were some theories as to what had happened between Joey and the mystery man Yuta. but at the end of my comments dive I got a full name, Yuta Akaishi. So googled the name and there he was. The mystery mechanic I had seen years ago in the vlogs of Osaka.

There wasn’t much on the guy but some articles about an 240z he had built years ago, some old vlogs of course and an old article on a 97 civic that he was doing time attack in. From what the comments under the vlog said Yuta didn’t want to be in front of the camera anymore or that he wanted more privacy, which as a viewer sucks but I understand that. Not everything is meant to be shared or for public consumption.

The Chronicles Vlog #2: Yuta Akaishi and Super Lap Battle…(Part 1 of 2)

After years of curiosity, I can finally put a name to the face

I’ll add the links to some of the article written on him and some of the vlog that he was apart of during his time at the chronicles. I don’t know maybe you’ll see what I see, maybe you’ll like his work as well.

I know I posted a bunch of video in this post but definitely check out the one below. It’s Yuta racing his 97 civic, same one from the speedhunters article above. He rips!
Classic: Pete Eldridge Bootleg 3000

January 4th, 2025

Pete Eldridge’s Bootleg 3000 part is one of them. Super underrated, I never hear anyone bring up his name. He does everything hella proper and the way it should be. A couple baker makers but its on brand. If you don’t know how your tricks should look, here’s the perfect example on how to do them.
What’s going on with Elliott Wilson

January 3rd, 2025

A few days ago Elliott Wilson went on the New Rory and Mal Podcast and had thing to say about Media and Journalism in the hip-hop space, specifically naming Cam’ron, Mase and Summer Walker. Saying that they aren’t Journalist and what they do isn’t good. I’m paraphrasing but I’ma be honest, it came off as hate. It comes off as Elliott wanting to gatekeep but not have to the power to do so. Elliott says he wants to compete, almost as if he asking for someone one to bring him off the bench and let him play the game. But Elliott’s thought process is one of the olden days. “It’s a direct to consumer market” as Wayno says on his show I’ll Do It Myself

Now a broken clock is right twice a day. I do like that Elliott says about Artist needing to talk about their music. I like when artist explain what their album’s about, what stay of mind they were in, what influenced them to make the new music. I love that type of content and it always make the listening experience better for me. As a consumer I do still get these moments where an artist speak on their music when the times right. But I understand if the artist doesn’t want to speak on the music too.

Frank Ocean is an artist that comes to mind that doesn’t have much interview speaking on his music but in this day in age. Artist don’t have to speak when they don’t want to and the artist now a multitude of platforms to go and speak with someone they want to have a conversation with if they want. Not just thee guy to speak to that Elliott once was. The media landscape has definitely changed and as one that didn’t know about The Source magazine or about XXL, I find the landscape more accessible.

Like Wayno says Elliott has got to adapt with the time. Elliot has to create his own platform instead of applying for jobs. Like a Wayno, like a New Rory and Mal, like an It Is What It Is. All these platforms invested in themselves, I think Elliot should do the same. You want to compete then take yourself off the bench and get in the game.
Tyler the Creators’ Favorite Songs of 2024

January 1st, 2025

2024 FAVORITE SONGS:
knowledge- uaintfrmhere
david miller- just in the way
kendrick – gnx
tanya blount -through the rain
lupe fiasco -dominican barber
az chike – 1up
sahbabii – viking
tyler -judge judy
glorilla -hollon
mkgee -alesis
tommy richman -green therapy
ill town family -…
— T (@tylerthecreator) December 31, 2024

I’m sure there’s a few song on here that’ll help bring in the new year.
Ben Kadow x. Epicly Later’d

January 1st, 2025

Ben Kadow has been an anomaly in skateboarding from my perspective. I don’t know where he came from, he doesn’t look like anybody else in skateboarding but one thing for sure is that he’s original. He is punk, and doesn’t have to try. And in a time where the majority of skaters are looking and dressing the same Ben Kadow is a breath of fresh air. Style is everything in skateboarding but it doesn’t always mean landing bolts, fresh clothes, and big shoe deals. It’s the person behind the board that brings an approach or a cadence that bleeds through their skating.

Ben hasn’t done much interviews or video interviews for that matter, I didn’t even know what he sounded like til today, which part of me likes. But what connects me to skateboarders nowadays is the person they are off the board. He’s anxious, he’s self conscious, and he rips. What more do I need to say.

I know Ben probably didn’t want to do this interview but I’m glad he did.
7PM in Brooklyn with Camelo x. Fat Joe

December 28th, 2024

Watching some of the elders of the culture has been an experience that I thought hip-hop was too cool for. In the early 2000s, the rapper’s mystique was everything, and the only time you got hear from an artist, outside of their music, was their interviews. With social media, that has expanded and the personality of few has stood the through the test of time. Fat Joe has got to be one of the best storytellers that no one saw coming. He’s honest, fly, and wise. In this Episode of 7PM in Brooklyn, Fat Joe can reflect on his earlier years in the hip-hop industry and talk about the highs and lows, laughing about it now, but also see the blessing that those highs and lows brought him. He touches on hunting down rare sneakers, performing at the world series, and talks about one of the greatest Rucker games that never happened.

Carmelo and his hosts have created a comfort place for his guest to come and bro down. And Fat Joe is more than a bro, he’s more like your cousin, always giving you shit while simultaneously building you up. Do yourself a favor and check it out when you get some time.
Late Night

December 20th, 2024

Time: 00:16

Location: Unknown

Destination: Unknown

Song: Frank Ocean – Higgs
“Burning Man”

December 20th, 2024
Christiana Means’ experience with the Chinese Olympic Team

December 18th, 2024

Christiana Means was a guest at Nine Club a few days ago where she spoke about her experience training the Chinese Olympic team for 3 months.

From her experience the Chinese Olympic skate team, “was a totally different approach then what I’d seen skateboarding evolve to.” Christiana says that the Chinese government had pulled 200 kids from all over the province of China from various sports that they thought would translate into “good” skaters. Sports like gymnastics and martial arts or soccer and then ran tests to see which kids were the most adaptable to skateboarding. That number of 200 kids was brought down to 30-50 kids and the remaining 30-50 kids were then put under contract to train for the upcoming Olympic games.

“This is crazy” utter Chris Roberts as he stumbles over his word in disbelief, “Because the parents are getting paid, the kids now… I just su.. because I discovered skateboarding, you discovered skateboarding, we did it because we loved it and we fell in love with it. Now listen, some of these kids may fall in love with it because they’re in that position… they may not.”

Jeron Wilson, to the left of Chris Roberts, put an emphasis on, “may”.

And just a moment later says, “We found skateboarding and it hit us, in a natural way”

Kelly Hart then asks, “So how do you teach them how to skate?” Christiana opens up about the discomfort in having to push or rather force kids to skate. She would have to half-heartedly encourage these kids to try an obstacle and watch a kid get hurt trying something that the new skaters weren’t ready for. As Christiana and the cast of the Nine Club say repeatedly, it was insane. It’s definitely an emotional rollercoaster.

Check out the video for the full story!
Clear Sky

December 17th, 2024