Skinnie Magazine Issue 119 - March 2012

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CONTENT$|Issue #119 FEATURES p.010

BLOCKBUSTER SEASON IS HERE Get A Look Inside The Hunger Games

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BULLETS IN THE CHAMBER Mickey Avalon is Back and Fully Loaded

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A REAL GANGSTA EMERGES Freddie Gibbs Has Come To Save Rap Music

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WE YOU GOT IT,YOU GOT IT Greg Lutzka Goes Hard Everyday

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DESTINY DOWN UNDER

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A DOUBLE DOSE

Australia Is A Surf Mecca - It’s About Time ASP Called It Home

Skinnie Girl Does A Double Take

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SKINNIE SCENE The Skinny On The What, Where, and When

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A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR| The ‘Tattoo on the titty Sayin’

‘B.I.G.’ Edition

MARCH 2012 J ISSUE NUmber 119 10184 Sixth St. Suite A Rancho Cucamonga, Ca. 91730 Ph. 909-476-0270 Fax 909-476-5931 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PUBLISHERS Jimmy Clinton and George Giordano ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDITORIAL Editor-In-Chief Ramon Gonzales Jasen T. Davis, Alex Mendoza, Eric Bonholtzer, Katie Evans, Kristie Bertucci, Patrick Douglas, Lacy Ottenson, Elysia McMahan, Ben Marazzi, MM Zonoozy, James Gobee Contributing Writers

For editorial submissions, email editorial@skinniemagazine.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ART & DESIGN Art department

Mel D

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PHOTOGRAPHY Michael Vincent, Alan Rivera, Sean Myers, Joanna Miriam, Wil Marques, Damian Tsutsumida, Genevieve Davis, Spencer Amonwatvoukal, Kyler Locke, Leanna Flecky, Karen Curley, Harmony Gerber, Edison Graff, Amanda Davies, Angela Jugon, Timothy Sheppard, Erik Faiivae, Christian Sosa, Tammy Rapp, Todd Scheuerell Contributing Photographers

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Sales & Marketing Advertising

Marketing Director Jason Zahler Matt Lee, Jose Lanza and Julius Lopez

For all sales inquiries email sales@skinniemagazine.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Administrative House Of Designs Morgan Desmond Angela Jugon Raquel Lopez, Cynthia De Los Santos and Ryan Mercer Webmaster

online editor

Contributing Staff

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FASHION Michelle Ngo Heather Choi and Christina Pham

Fashion Director Fashion Coordinators

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBERS If the post office alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within two years.

Pretty hard to believe it’s been 15 years. I was listening to Ready To Die the other day and I thought, ‘how is this still good.’ I mean, think about most of the tunes that are in rotation now. Can anyone imagine that any of it will stand the text of time and still be regarded the same way Biggie is to this day?

LEGAL DISCLAIMER The content in this magazine is for entertainment and intended for mature audiences only. Advertisers are responsible for their ads placed in the magazine. Skinnie Magazine is not responsible for any actions taken by their readers. We may occasionally use images placed in public domain. Sometimes, it is not possible to identify and/or contact the copyright holder, if you claim ownership of something we’ve published, we will gladly make a proper acknowledgement. Skinnie Magazine does not share opinions and/ or views stated by the writers and or photographers. Some of the content published may be of a mature nature; we do not, in any way, condone underage drinking or any other illegal activity. All submissions become property of Skinnie Magazine, be it text, photos, art, etc. Skinnie Entertainment Magazine All Rights Reserved. 2011

15 years ago Chris Wallace died over some bulshit beef. He remains revered by artists and fans alike and deservedly so. This is the definition of classic. He isn’t revered because he passed on, he was a legend when he was alive. A definite hero to some, a champion of good music to all. Now At Least We Know What Beef Is –

Ramon Gonzales

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Cover Photo by Michael Vincent


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foreplay

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An inside look at:

The hunger games 4

When Dayo Okeniyi auditioned for “The Hunger Games,” it was meant to simply get feedback on his ability to audition. He went through the motions on tape and sent it in for consideration and before he knew it, he was enduring a strenuous workout routine and bulking up like never before. The role was his. “I was going through what’s called a ‘testing period.’ They sent me on the audition just to get feedback from the casting director on how I would do,” recalled Okeniyi. “It wasn’t necessarily ‘You’re gonna book this thing.’ It was, ‘Just go in and have fun. We wanna know how you are in the room.’ They put me on tape and the day I was supposed to go in on my second audition, I got the call that I got the part. Needless to say, my managers were like, ‘Let’s go ahead and sign that contract.’” “The Hunger Games,” is the latest film adaptation of a popular book series. Based on the Suzanne Collins books of the same name, the first installment of the story revolves around a dystopian future where our country is divided into 12 districts,

Words Patrick Douglas

all oppressed in different ways, after the land has essentially been destroyed. Each year, two children, one boy and one girl, are randomly chosen from each district to represent their district in the Hunger Games. The catch is; they will battle to the death on national TV until only one remains alive. Okeniyi landed the role of Thresh, described in the novel as a very large teen from District 8. It was a role that required Okeniyi to bulk up and, ironically, his entrance into the film mirrored that of his character’s entrance into the games. By the time the cameras began rolling, he had gained 35 pounds. “A month and a half before we actually started principle photography, they set me up with a personal trainer. I was a lot smaller and I had to gain some weight and gain some muscle mass,” said Okeniyi who went from 165 pounds to 200 in his training. “I was eating chicken breasts like crazy and I was working out three hours a day and doing strength training for an hour and a half and combat training for an hour and a half. It was anything from hand-to-hand combat to blades, long blade, short blade,

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fighting staffs. They had me training with everything. It was like the route to the Hunger Games. I got cast, then there was a training period and then I was thrown into the lion’s den. I loved every moment of it.” Because no one is quite sure about Thresh’s personality until later in the story, it was a challenge for Okeniyi to add his own take on Thresh to the role. “I tried to bring the warmth of Thresh because he’s a character that, at first glance, he’s this colossal figure and is larger than life and the book describes him as being this giant,” said Okeniyi. “Immediately that sets him up to be a character to be feared. At the same time, he’s a kid. I wanted to get across that this is someone who is also scared. He also feels vulnerable. He wants to survive and make it back to his mother and sister and he tries his best to avoid conflict at all times possible. He’s a big character and if he’s pushed into a corner, he’ll kick some ass. He’ll fight back. As much as he’s favored to win, it’s not something he’s proud of. We just made him this gentle giant. This larger than life character that really has this heart of gold.” Starring Jennifer Lawrence as protagonist Katniss Everdeen; Woody Harrelson as the drunkard, Haymitch Abernathy; Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark and Elizabeth Banks as the loud Effie Trinket, “The Hunger Games,” boasts a cast that also includes Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz and Wes Bentley. Being surrounded by such veteran talent was a special treat for younger actors like Okeniyi, the actor explained. “There were a lot of us who are new and up-and-comers. The great actors like Woody Harrelson and Stanley Tucci and Jennifer Lawrence and those guys made us extremely comfortable and part of the whole filmmaking process,” he said. “There was no class system at all. It was incredible. They warned us. They were like ‘Guys, get used to this and enjoy it while it lasts because not all movie sets are like this. Not all movie sets are all fun and games.’ It felt like that. It felt awesome.” Okeniyi then went on to relive a moment that brought everyone together on set. “It was Woody Harrelson’s first day and none of us had seen what he was gonna do with the Haymitch character and he just came out and with the first two takes, everybody on set just had the biggest grins on their faces. He embodied that character a little too well. That was the first time I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this movie is real. I’m actually in this thing.’” Making teen/young adult novels into films is a hit and miss business. For every “Harry Potter,” explosion, there are a hundred “Eragon,” in which fans just don’t respond well enough to warrant a sequel. With three books in the “Hunger Games,” saga, there’s a lot of hope riding on the success of the first chapter. “The thing I loved most about this film that doesn’t get brought up a lot unlike all of these other quote-unquote ‘teen novels,’ is it’s set in a very real world. We don’t have the vampires or the werewolves or magic like the ‘Harry Potter,’ films. These are real people, real human beings put in real situations. It has its own twist on reality TV and where our society is headed with that. We did have gladiators back in the day. It was a real thing for people to watch other people kill each other for sport, for entertainment. The story of ‘The Hunger Games,’ is not too far off from reality. Of course I hope it stands out and leads to other movies and the other movies are just as successful as this one. ‘Catching Fire,’ and ‘Mockingjay,’ are great books. They’re great stories and Katniss is such a great lead. I’m happy she’s also female. You don’t get a lot of strong female leads in movies these days and to have that is such a great thing.” For now, Okeniyi is just happy soaking in his experience and looking forward to walking the red carpet at the premiere. Considering his original goal of simply getting feedback from producers, everything from here on out is gravy. “I’m excited about the whole thing,” he said. “Just seeing what we did actually come to fruition and hopefully it’s close to the book. Hopefully it gives fans that same feeling.”

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ACCOUTREMENTS

Something

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for everyone Even Your Old Uncle Eddie

1 Lucky 13 ‘Smoking Chimp’ Motorcycle Helmet From limited release belt buckles to leather jackets, Lucky 13 always cranks out small runs of amazingly collectable gear and for motorcycle enthusiasts, this one is a gem. Not many of these were made so if you can get your hands on one, don’t let go. One of a few handcrafted designs from the Southern California based counter culture clothiers, the ‘Smoking Chimp’ is a cool looking way to avoid a hefty ticket.

$$$ Lucky13Apparel.com

2 iPad 3 Alright, time to keep up with the Joneses. The third generation iPad does come in with some rad features. It operates at 4G speed standard. Pretty cool for a tablet that never went faster than 3G. Complete with a 5-megapixel camera that shoots in standard 1080dp, this upgrade is quite nice. Powered by the A5X chip, the resolution is the kiker here, with over 3.1 million pixels driving the image on the screen and every color of the rainbow.

$499 Apple.com 3 AERIAL 7 “Arcade” Now your kids can rock a pair of headphones that not only look the part, but have

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all the bells and whistles the youngins’ need. Complete with ultra plush ear pads, an adjustable headband tailored to fit kids’ sizes, and AVR Technology (Automatic Volume Reduction), these headphones automatically adjust the sound to meet appropriate levels for kids as per OSHA regulations. Perfect for any portable device, the Arcade gives kids the chance to look and feel like the grown ups.

$35 Aerial7.com 4 Local Celebrity ‘Hustle Mania’ C’mon – how can you not like these tees? Local Celebrity has become synonymous with incorporating a little sass into their style. Designing ultra lightweight, ultra comfortable tees for both ladies and gentlemen, almost all of them have a bit of attitude to go with the price tag. This one takes it’s cue from wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, of course with a small twist to fit Local Celebrity’s M.O.

$25 LocalCelebrity.com 5 Serato Control Vinyl Limited Pressings The folks over at Serato have collaborated with everyone from Def Jam to Nike, from Reb Bull to Fool’s Gold Records to churn out some of the

best looking control vinyl a DJ can carry in his bag. Recently, Serato opened the vault to reissue some of the rarest pressings. Some of these only saw 3000 made worldwide. Linking up with revolutionaries like A-Trak and honoring the late J Dilla, these are a DJs dream.

$$$ Serato.com

6 Eightyfour Sunglasses Blue Series Edition Fashioned and handcrafted by DoubleDown NYC, there is a special old school feel to these frames that remains timeless. Inspired by the Cazals you would find traditional b-boys wearing as they knocked out turtle spins and poplocked, the blue hue adds a

special delicate touch that is absolutely suitable for the ladies. Old school feel with modern flair, of course KidRobot is selling these – why wouldn’t they?

$18 KidRobot.com

7 Danny Elfman & Tim Burton 25th Anniversary Music Box Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985), to Edward Scissorhands (1990), from The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), to the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), the list of cinematic genius both Elfman and Burton have teamed to create is all in one place. Along with demo tapes, foreign language songs, exclusive footage and Dense

Macabre, a 260+ book that chronicles the life and work of this unparalleled duo.

$499.99 Lacma.org

8 Sanuk ‘Standard Shine It’ Southern California’s premiere beach brand, Sanuk, has some of the freshest sidewalk surfers on the planet. For the ladies that just cannot let go of their Tom’s, Sanuk takes it one step further and sprinkles those tootsies with a little gold glamour. Perfect for a stroll down Main St. in Surf City or the ride home after a day in the water. Sanuk has got style and comfort down.

$56 Sanuk.com


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A MIllion and one

loaded stories Mickey Avalon’s Story Continues

By Rob LeDonne Photos by Michael Vincent

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Before Lady Gaga tried to shock audiences every time she took the stage, before Ke$ha played up her ‘I want to have fun and forget about everyone else’ image for her glossy pop productions, and even before LMFAO started rapping about highly-sexualized party themes, there was Mickey Avalon, a Los Angeles based rapper known just as much for his raw, catchy songs as his (truly) hardcore background. Avalon, unlike those other aforementioned names, is not the product of some media conglomerate or publicist that added equal parts bad boy and party monster which resulted in some manufactured musician designed specifically to rake in the cash and be as real as plastic tree. Avalon is, for better or for worse, legitimate: he’s been to the edge and back and has a million and one stories to go along with it, perhaps the most interesting is how a drug addicted prostitute turned into one of the music’s breakout artists whose tracks had to be on everyone’s iPods, then slowly disappeared, only to start to roar back to the forefront again in full force in support of his second album in six long years. Ardent and even passive fans of Avalon know his full background like the back of their hands, but for those looking for a refresher course, here is Mickey Avalon 101: born in 1975 to a mother who dealt marijuana and a heroin addict father, Avalon followed in his parent’s footsteps, both dealing and smoking, and before he knew it he was dabbling in heroin himself. What followed was a full blown addiction, as well as a deep exploration of his Jewish faith (Avalon’s real name is Yeshe Perl). A lot of material for songs were generated in these early days, but Avalon explains that now that it’s all slipping further into the past, he’s done exploring it. Noting that there aren’t any lines he won’t cross, “A lot of things I really don’t feel talking about anymore, especially if it feels distant. Most of the stuff from the first record, that was a long time ago and it’d be kind of irrelevant to rap about the same shit again. So I try to tell different stories.” Avalon’s father was finally loosening the grips of addiction when he was leaving an AA meeting and was hit by a drunk driver, later succumbing to his injuries. Avalon

in his late teens, and by now married, left Los Angeles and moved to Portland to figure out a new life and have a baby, but times got darker instead. Insert tales of part-time prostitution, extreme poverty and hardcore drug use here, as well as the classic scene of Avalon returning to his home of Los Angeles, determined to clean himself up once again. It was then he got very close with his mother, grandmother (a Holocaust survivor), and sister, the latter of who would tragically die of an overdose herself and truly kickstart Avalon cleaning himself up and diving headfirst into the music industry. “If I had to choose a favorite song from my first album, it’d be ‘Friends and Lovers,’” Avalon says now, perhaps because it’s also the most personal. The chorus goes: “All of my friends and lovers are dead; Some from cheap narcotics and others from lead.” It was during these bleak times that Avalon met former model, turned MTV VJ, turned actor Simon Rex; Rex started dipping his toes into the world of music and Avalon did as well and what followed was a quick ascension to the top of the scene, first getting featured on a variety of tracks and then being a part of the rap group the Dyslexic Speedreeders. Soon after, Avalon released tracks of his own; his signature tunes, “Jane Fonda,” (“One, two, three, four, Get your booty on the dance floor”), and “My Dick” (a hidden track which is basically a compilation of dick jokes), are decidedly fun fare that turned into instant club hits and had a brigade of young adults sharing them, just at the dawn of the powers of the Internet, as if his music was some closely guarded and dirty secret. That secret came out in November 2006 when his self-titled album was released by MySpace Records and Interscope/Shoot To Kill. The name Mickey Avalon was on the lips of every music aficionado, MySpacer, and music blogger, so why’d it take so long for a follow-up? Referring to his success at the time, Avalon explains: “at the beginning it all happened pretty quick, but then it kind of dragged on. I was ready for my next record right away and then label stuff and shit like that got in the way, so its taken a long time.” Since, Avalon has switched from MySpace to Suburban Noise Records, whose roster includes the likes of Unwritten Law (more on them later) and Saigon.

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Since 2006, however, he now has to navigate through a loss of momentum and a changed music industry. Avalon thinks that “right now, pop music is more for like 12 year-old girls,” and taking a quick look at the chart there’s no debating that sentiment. Now, he and his team have been working in overdrive to put Avalon’s name back on the lips of every music aficionado once again, including kicking off a tour that will take him clear across the United States, Australia, and back, doing a ton of press, and engaging directly with his quarter million fans on Facebook (Myspace is so 2006). “You’re timeless and I will fuck you before I die” eloquently wrote one of his fans on his wall, which includes a variety of words of affection mixed with requests for tour stops.Another posted:“Get the fuck back the the Bay, you asshole. Last time I showed up for one of your shows, you didn’t. So as far as I’m concerned you owe me!,” to which Avalon lovingly responded: “Showed up for the last 3 three shows in the last year so don’t know where you were!” It’s this back and forth that makes Avalon endearing to his fans, a legion of people that love him for his “take me as I am attitude” as well as the belief that they (those with rough and tumble backgrounds), can get some glory someday like him. To say he’s like Oprah Winfrey would sound like a stretch, but when you realize it’s just a different demographic, it somehow makes sense. “I’m ready to keep going, first putting this record out, then another out next year and back to a regular schedule. Even though it’s taken a long time, this is pretty much a follow-up to my last record,” explains Avalon concerning Loaded, which is finally getting its release on April 24. “I think it’s a perfect record; it’s a second chapter. There’s really something for everyone on it. As there should be, since Avalon has been generating material for the past five years for it, writing whenever he can. “A lot of times songs will come to me when I’m driving around or something. Other times you have to be in the studio and you kind of just have to do it right then, you can’t wait for inspiration to come. It could really go either way.” Loaded also features some guest appearances, including Scott Russo from Suburban Noise labelmates Unwritten Law, whose track, “Girlfriend” has a reggae vibe. “I met Scott at Cisco Adler’s house, who does a lot of music with me. They were doing some stuff together, and we wound up working on a few things together as well. I’m glad the song came out good.” Another track, “On The Ave.”, sounds like a Velvet Underground song, which is no surprise considering “this album definitely had a Velvet Underground influence, along with Iggy Pop and the Rolling Stones.” Only time will tell if Avalon’s Loaded will be accepted with as much keen interest as his first album, and become an online smash; until then he’ll have his countless stories, numerous fans, and sheer passion for music to fall back on. As Avalon raps in “Friends and Lovers”: “What to do when your luck is through, Whether you come from the slums or live in Malibu, Seen runnin’ down the avenue, Mickey Avalon with an attitude.”

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bass & treble

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Speaking for the

streets

Freddie Gibbs Goes Hard For A Reason By Aaron Amaya Photos By Virgil Solis

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When you hear rappers these days speak on their past endeavors before signing a contract it almost sounds like a scripted movie. ‘I was doing this and that before I blew up’ is what most say, but when you hear Freddie Gibbs speak on his past – it sounds different. Approaching the music with more of a social outlook of what’s going on in the hood is what comes out. He not only speaks on the drug dealers and violence in the streets but the downfalls of taking that path will lead to as well. Currently on Tour with Raekwon, Gibbs is sure to have heads turning and ears ringing with his socially conscience Gangsta rap. Freddie Gibbs has been making a name for himself these days. The New Yorker dubbed Gibbs as the rapper you should put your money on to become the next big thing. Originally from Gary, Indiana, Gibbs moved to Los Angeles to pursue music. Originally signed to Interscope Records Gibbs was putting the finishing touches on his first major release until he got the news that he would be released. It didn’t seem to slow down Gibbs’ hustle because he later released the independent classic “The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs” in 2009. It was a compilation of his work to that date – a blend of unreleased studio material and new mix tape tracks. Fans quickly noticed that Gibbs had a different sound from what was out at the time, when asking Gibbs what separated his sound from everyone else he says – “Real Music - Point blank period,Authentic gangsta rap. There ain’t a lot of that floating around out there”. In the same year Gibbs continued to put out new material to stay hot in music. He was creating such a buzz that The New Yorker put out an article referring to how Hip Hop was no longer dead but coming back to life due to albums put out by Jay-Z and Freddie Gibbs in the same year.

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He was now being mentioning in the same sentences as heavy weights like Jay-Z and Kanye West. It was the biggest moment in his career at the time, he didn’t even have a record deal when it was published. It just showed me that it was bigger than gangster rap, that I could relay a message touch a lot of people from all different walks of life, says Gibbs regarding that moment. Gibbs name was creating such a buzz at the time that not only were the New Yorker referencing him as someone to watch but he also caught the attention of Hip Hop superstar Young Jeezy. What made it even bigger is that Jeezy who originally was discovered by Jay-Z and P-Diddy knows a thing or two about grabbing the attention of an established Hip Hop artist as well. Jeezy was so impressed that he signed Gibbs as his flagship artist to his Atlanta based CTE record label. “It’s definitely an honor to be down with that, it was just you know, me grinding and him you know

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taking notice of it that’s it just being a part of this shit trying to make some more bread that’s it” Gibbs says when asked on how it felt to sign with Jeezy. Gibbs has not shown any signs of slowing down. Currently on a nationwide tour with artists like Kid Daytona, Phonte and 9 Wonder, Gibbs has been making new fans at every stop. “Everybody here has a different sound you know what I mean everyone’s in their own lane – it’s all good music man, I come out with the gangsta shit at the end of the show and rock it and it’s all love says Gibbs about the tour. Influenced by artists like Scarface, Bub B and Tupac, Gibbs is on his way to be the next big thing, he’s getting ready to release “A cold day in hell” and he promises that it will be a hood classic. When asked what we can expect he says - The streets, real stories. Struggles that I been through, me and my friends been through. You never run out it.You never run out of knowledge to give.


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full contact

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nothing else

matters Greg Lutzka Reminds Us To Just Enjoy The Ride

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Among the ranks of the self-proclaimed, the talkers, the doers and the followers, are several individuals that stand out. There are those who can turn a concrete playground into a canvas. Skateboarding is an art form; constantly changing and progressing and it takes consistent innovation and dedication to make it through the highs and lows of this – sometimes – volatile industry. But if there is one motivating factor that keeps a vision moving in the proper direction, it’s a positive outlook on life. The most successful people are those who do what they love, whether or not they get paid for it. Skateboarding is indulging in the freedom to express yourself;

By Elysia McMahan All Photos by Joanna Miriam //JoJoFoto.com

to escape from the “real world.” It means it’s time to have fun and make the best of what’s around you. There’s no “perfect swing” to master; everybody does things their own way. The thought of injury is of no consequence; in fact it fuels the desire to push the boundaries of skateboarding. There’s nothing like the feeling of rolling away from some banger trick you have been trying over and over...success. Greg Lutzka didn’t grow up a dirty skate rat. He grew up playing ice hockey in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but it wasn’t long before he exited the ice and moved on

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to switchbacks and rail slides. At the age of 12, Lutzka told his father that once he turned 18 he was going to pack up and move to California. “I never thought that taking a chance on skateboarding was a risk. Moving to California and making it happen was in the cards for me. Since I wasn’t doing much in Wisconsin, I thought ‘Why shouldn’t I go out to California?’ If I didn’t end up becoming the skateboarder I set out to be, I could just come back and be right where I am sitting now,” says Lutzka. His aspirations to pursue a career as a professional skateboarder came from more than just a quick push to the corner store or to get his adrenaline going; riding has always been there for him. Despite being bruised, battered and having bloody palms and elbows after throwing himself over a big gap, his dedication to landing a trick has always paid off. He is neither a contest skater nor a street skater and is laid back; both on and off the board. Growing up admiring skaters such as Jaime Thomas, Chad Muska and Andrew Reynolds helped form his mentality; one that could best be summarized with all-or-nothing.

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“When I’m on my board I don’t really think about anything else.” Since being featured in the Almost Round Three video, where he shreds to The Jimi Hendrix Experience – All Along the Watchtower beside Rodney Mullen, Daewon Song and William Patrick, Lutzka has been getting a significant amount of mainstream attention. With a laundry list of major sponsors and having competed in every major contest, Lutzka definitely isn’t apprehensive about his career. “Compared to skateboarding, everything else is secondary,” explains Lutzka. And that’s exactly how it should be. When you truly follow what you are passionate about in life, everything else becomes less of a priority. We found that this goofy stance rider isn’t typically the one to speak first, but if asked, he will tell you the truth. With countless gold medal wins under his belt, he definitely has something to show for his loyalty to the sport. Greg beat out Dennis Busenitz in a heated final to win the Maloof Money Cup in 2011 and this is what he had to say about that: “Honestly, what you do today means nothing tomorrow. I’ve won a lot of competitions, but there isn’t just a single moment that defines my career. Every day is a new day. You have to start over and always stay on your toes. It’s all about the present moment. The past is forgotten!” This Wisconsin native has come a long way from the one bedroom apartment he shared with two friends when he first found his way to the west coast. He did whatever it took to make the vision a reality. “It’s a non-stop kind of career. You get pulled in every direction. It’s far more than just simply riding,” explains Lutzka. “Things that I learned in school I’ve actually been able to experience in an everyday environment. Riding changed my life.” Darkstar will be releasing a promo in July, which will feature Greg showcasing his ability (most likely highlighting his 270 Kick flip nose blunt) and then he will be traveling to South Africa and Brazil for the Maloof Cup. “The Maloof Cup is always a blast and they have the best courses. By expanding the Cup to other countries, it’s great for skateboarding!” Skateboarding has taken him all over the world – Australia, Japan, China, Europe and Brazil and just like with everything in

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life, each place has more ups than downs. “I love being able to adapt to a culture while I’m abroad. Aside from the culture shock, traveling is a great experience that I have come to appreciate through boarding. I have learned so much about different cultures, currency exchanges, languages and the competition is great.” Every project he gets himself into, every opportunity he takes - he follows through. “I’m still like that 18 year old kid that came out here with a love for riding. It’s hard being away from family life but I’m still here trying to make it a happen. People have always believed in me and once I realized this dream of mine could actually come true I ran with it.” His story just goes to show that with passion and drive anything is possible. There are advantages when opportunities arise. They should be taken. As far as struggles go, there doesn’t seem to be anything hindering him from taking even bigger leaps of faith. “I don’t believe there’s ever really been a struggle getting to where I am at. I do what I love to do. With skateboarding being a passion of mine, I have been blessed to be able to do this for a living and to keep moving in a forward direction. There’s always a lot of pressure from fans and sponsors but at the end of the day, as long as you’re having fun and doing what you love, you’re going to perform well. It’s always good to keep the proper attitude and be stoked and enjoy what you’re doing.” As with any competitive sport, it typically goes one of two ways - the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat. For Lutzka, being able to skate for a living, victory or not, he continues to push his own boundaries of what he is capable of. He says it best when expressing his take on Lil’ Wayne. “It’s rad to see how much music this guy produces and how hard he works. He’s a workaholic, staying on the rise! And that’s the only way to get things done. If you have the drive and you have passion for something you’ll do it.” With new business ventures in the works and his desire to innovate you can expect to see him take on great heights. Rockstar, K Swiss, Oakley, Darkstar and Neff have all caught on and continue to support him on his path to living the good life (or at least trying to). Enjoy the ride. Push on. Legends never die.


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full contact

Rob Machado and Manly Surf School founder Matt Grainger

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Storming the baches

of Manly Surf Mecca Australia Has Gone Legit By Ramon Gonzales Images By Cody Black – KROQ

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With a rooted history among the world’s elite surfers and culture enthusiasts, Manly Beach in Northern Sydney played host to the Inaugural Australian Open of Surf. Beating out wellknown destinations like Bondi, the call to make Manly ground zero was really due to the kind of fervor that has long been synonymous with the Northern Seaside sweet spot. The 6-Star ASP Tour event proved to be long overdue as the competition brought out unreal performances from the home team surfers. Matt Banting and Sally Fitzgibbons, both of Australia took home top honors along with 3,500 ASP World Tour rating points and a purse of $25,000. With massive sponsors including the likes of Billabong and Hurley, front page coverage from mainstream sport media outlets including ESPN and Fox Sports, and the captive attention of surfing purists everywhere, the real question isn’t what the results were, but rather what the fuck took so long. Vital to the makeup of global surfing destinations, Australia has long been top of the list for the best in the world to chase some waves – in fact, government officials announced that attendance numbers smashed expectations, with over 170,000 fans on the sand. The nine-day event was such a global event, our friends Cody Black and Stryker of The World Famous KROQ had the chance to capture some of the sights and sounds of the celebration police officials compared to the Olympics. A plethora of action sports culture, competition spilled into the streets as some of the world’s best skaters also went head to head. For Southern California, Huntington Beach is Surf City, USA. 2012 just may mark the year that Manly Beach becomes Surf City, AUS.

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Juniors Beach Bowl winner Lachlan Abbott catching some air

Mens 2nd Place Winner Evan Geiselman catching air during the Finals

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The Living End bassist Scott Owen standing on his stand-up bass at the Open

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Bucky Lasek backside grab in the Men’s bowl finals

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skinnie girls

the dynamic

DUO Skinnie Girl Doubles Up

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Photographer Michael Vincent michaelvincent.com twitter.com/#!/mvphotography Director / Producer of Operations Tal-B Photo & Shoot Assistants Matt Doge & Alex Capriola Hair Tokyo Crush Wigs by Ravi cosplaywigsusa.com Make Up Judith Alcaraz Wardrobe Tal-B for Michael Vincent Photography Location Michael Vincent Studios & Hot Tab Hollywood , CA

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Meet

JENNA BENTLEY Playboy, Maxim, FHM, of all the men’s magazines you have been in, which has been your favorite, or at least most memorable? I would definitely have to say when I shot my cover for FHM because it was my first cover shoot. A magazine cover is forever and when you are a cover model you are being compared to the most beautiful women in the world. It is very flattering. Most people would think I would say Playboy, but being nude isn’t a big deal to me. After all, that’s how we came into this world… naked. Lots of people know you from the magazines, but rapping? Ladies and gentlemen- the rumors are true, Jenna Bentley is a rapper. At a very young age I found comfort in expressing myself through writing, like in my diary and journals. I loved Dr. Suess and I also enjoyed poetry, which lead me to become interested in rapping. Putting my poetry to beats by some of the top producers in the music industry was a natural evolution for me and a great form of expression. I love pushing the limits. How many cover models do you know that can rap? I am also working with artists off Diddy’s label and Timbaland’s roster of amazing producers. My music video is scheduled to be out around the end of April so be on the lookout for that.

You tend to get a lot of attention from celebrity gossip sites and paparazzi. Does that ever get old? Obviously if people I don’t even know don’t like me I must be doing something right. You just have to realize that once you are in the public eye, positive and negative things will be said. To be honest with you I don’t pay much attention. I love what I do and am never going to stop so … You’ve made appearances in everything from Entourage to CSI. Acting, modeling, music, is it all one big blur? With modeling it brings out a side of me where I get to show my outward appearance and get dressed up and pretend, similar with acting. I am pretending to be something I am not.With my rap music I am not pretending this is me. I live, eat, and breath music and it will always be a part of who I am. Modeling and acting are expressions of my outside but music is the expression of my inside. Spill it, what is on deck for 2012… Music, music, music! Videos, modeling, acting, movies! Wow so much going on! go to my website to see all of what’s going on. I have already been on three billboards one on Santa Monica Boulevard - a huge accomplishment. Music is my number one priority and I will soon prove to who ever doubted me that I am not a model who likes to rap, but I am a rapper who likes to model. I will be hiring an assistant if anyone is interested apply on my web site. I love all my supporters.

Therealjennabentley.com Twitter.com/jennabentley07

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Meet

JENNIFER IRENE GONZALEZ Half Spanish, half Taiwanese - what was being of mixed ethnicity like during those high school years? Fried Rice and Frijoles ~ best combination ever! During my high school years it was a little tough trying to blend in with the other students because I was always traveling with my parents or living a different cultural lifestyle. But like many things, we tend to appreciate things more as we get older and looking back now I would not change a thing. Obviously sex appeal doesn’t hurt, but, music or modeling, what do you prefer if you could only do one? Definitely I agree sex appeal can NEVER hurt. If I absolutely HAD to chose between either music or modeling I would have to chose modeling. Both industries are really competitive, however I figure for where I’m at in life right now modeling has been what works best for me. Tell us something about yourself most people would never guess... I can speak three languages, Mandarin, Chinese, and Spanish. Oh and I don’t work out, eat a lot of junk food, and still rock a size 0-2! Fast metabolism. You were named Miss Taiwan 2010 and ranked in the top 5 for Miss Asia - does sexy take on a different meaning outside of America? In my opinion, Sexy is the universal language. It’s the same here, it’s the same there, but it’s even SEXIER if you can conquer the term internationally.

What are some of the projects you are working on and what are your plans for 2012? 2012 has been an amazing prosperous year for me. It’s only March and I already have five magazine covers coming out including an FHM cover with Tera Patrick in April. I am currently on tour around the world as the official spokesmodel for a company who has recently launched over 20 new products.You can find my billboards across the nation and in the UK. I recently shot a commercial with RUN DMC and KYOSHO, I was signed on by two more modeling agencies. Plus I am going to buy my first house this year. I’m totally stoked!

Facebook.com/JenniferIreneGonzalez Twitter.com/JGmodeltalent

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SKINNIEScene

Trey Songz & Big Sean @ RAIN Nightclub @ The Palms

INDEX

LOS ANGELES

LAS VEGAS

ORANGE COUNTY

SAN DIEGO

INLAND EMPIRE

p.044 Weekly Club Listings

p.046 Weekly Club Listings

p.048 Weekly Club Listings

p.050 Weekly Club Listings

p.052 Weekly Club Listings

Calendar Club Pictures

Calendar Club Pictures

Calendar Club Pictures

Calendar Club Pictures

Calendar Club Pictures

To Receive Updates on Skinnie Scene Club Listings or To Submit Your Events, E-mail: Update@skinniemagazine.com to be Added to Our Weekly Skinnie E-blasts.

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Los angeles | Skinniescene

Photos Courtesy of Harmony Gerber and Evan TsuTsumida

LA CALENDAR

03.14 The Joy Formidable @ The Music Box

Jonathan Davis @ SMOKEOUT

Low End Theory @ SMOKEOUT

LET @ SMOKEOUT

Guerilla Union's SMOKEOUT

Justified on FX

Justified Red Carpet

Sublime w/ Rome @ SMOKEOUT

Rome @ Smokeout

Korn @ Smokeout

Justified Red Carpet

03.12 Guns N Roses @ House of Blues Sunset 03.15 VNV Nation @ The Mayan 03.19 The Temper Trap @ The El Rey 03.20 Of Montreal @ The Wiltern

03.20 Sharon Van Etten @ Avalon/Bardot 03.22 Cults @ The Music Box 03.23 Skinnie Magazine’s Official 10 Year Anniversary Party @ LA Exchange 03.27 Big Sean @ Club Nokia 03.29 Vans Warped Tour Kickoff Party @ Club Nokia

03.29 DEV @ The Roxy 04.01Tyga & YG @ Club Nokia

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Las Vegas | Skinniescene

Photos Courtesy of Alan Rivera, Bryan Steffy, Tryst Nightclub and Shane O’ Neal

LV CALENDAR

A-Trak @ Tryst

Wilmer Valderrama @ Hyde Bellagio

Wilmer Valderrama @ Hyde Bellagio

Big Sean & Trey Songz Afterparty @ RAIN

Georges St-Pierre and Bruce Buffer @ Tryst

Tryst Nightclub w/ A-Trak

RAIN

LL COOL J Performing at Studio 54, Las Vegas, 2.4.12

RAIN

RAIN

03.15 Every Time I Die! @ Hard Rock Café on The Strip 03.12 Set Your Goals @ Hard Rock Café On The Strip 03.14 Rebelution @ House of Blues 03.16 Flogging Molly @ Thomas & Mack Center 03.16 Steve Aoki @ Surrender Nightclub

03.20 Young Jeezy @ House of Blues 03.17 Blake Shelton @ Mandalay Bay Events Center 03.22 Three Bad Jacks @ Bunkhouse 03.24 Kevin Hart @ Mandalay Bay Events Center 03.31 DEV @ Pure Nightclub

04.05 D.R.I. @ Cheyenne Saloon 03.31 Extreme Thing @ Desert Breeze Park

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Las Vegas | Skinniescene

Skinnie magazine’s 10th anniversary party @

ghostbar day club, the palms

Photos by Alan Rivera

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Orange county | Skinniescene

Photos Courtesy of Harmony Gerber and Alan Rivera

OC CALENDAR

03.21 Adventure Club @ The Yost

Scott Ian @ The Grove

Zakk Wylde - The Man

TEN Newport Beach

Sharon Osbourne @ The Zakk Wylde Roast

TEN Newport Beach

TEN Newport Beach

Zakk Wylde Roast @ The Grove

TEN Newport Beach

TEN Newport Beach

TEN Newport Beach

03.09 Flogging Molly @ City National Grove of Anaheim 03.10 Reverend Horton Heat @ The Observatory 03.11 The Green @ The Yost 03.16 Peter Murphy @ The Observatory

03.24 Off! @ The Observatory 03.17 Street Dogs @ House of Blues 03.29 Detour @ House of Blues 03.30 Kottonmouth Kings @ The Observatory 03.31 Keith Sweat @ City National Grove of Anaheim

03.25 Set Your Goals @ The Yost 04.03 Cults @ Constellation Room

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Orange county | Skinniescene

Skinnie magazine’s 10th anniversary party @

The yost theater with Autoerotique

Photos by Jen Plumhoff www.UNDRGRNDphoto.com

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san diego | Skinniescene

Photos Courtesy of Jeremy Wassink of Eventvibe.com

SD CALENDAR

03.20 Lost In The Trees @ The Loft

House of Blues

Mardi Gras 2012 @ Gaslamp Quarte

Mardi Gras 2012 @ Gaslamp Quarte

House of Blues

House of Blues

Mardi Gras 2012 @ Gaslamp Quarte

Mardi Gras 2012 @ Gaslamp Quarte

House of Blues

Mardi Gras 2012 @ Gaslamp Quarte

Mardi Gras 2012 @ Gaslamp Quarte

03.12 Slow Club & Signals @ The Casbah 03.14 Drive-By Truckers @ Belly Up Tavern 03.20 Lucero @ Belly Up Tavern 03.21 Young Jeezy @ House of Blues

03.27 Tyga @ House of Blues 03.22 Soulfly @ 4th & B 03.23 The Ting Tings @ House of Blues 03.26 The Aggrolites @ La Jolla Playhouse 03.31 Henry Rollins @ San Diego Women’s Club

04.03 GWAR & Municipal Waste @ House of Blues 04.01 The Polyphonic Spree @ House of Blues

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Marquee

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inland empire | Skinniescene

Photos Courtesy of Alan Rivera, Richard Rosner and Esther Ortiz

IE CALENDAR

03.10 Andrew WK @ Glass House

Lingerie Bowl @ Citizens Business Bank Arena

Skinnie's 10th Bday @ Luna

Skinnie's 10th Bday @ Luna

Ra Pour

Lingerie Bowl @ Citizens Business Bank Arena

Skinnie's 10th Bday @ Luna

Skinnie's 10th Bday @ Luna

Ra Pour

Lingerie Bowl @ Citizens Business Bank Arena

Skinnie's 10th Bday @ Luna

03.16 The Devil Wears Prada @ Glass House 03.17 Dubfire @ National Orange Show 03.17 Puscifer @ Fox Performing Arts Center 03.20 I Set My Friends On Fire @ Industry Theater

03.22 Too $hort @ Marquee 15 03.24 John Waite @ Marquee 15 03.24 fun. @ Glass House 03.30 Poncho Sanchez @ Victoria Gardens

04.04 Sleigh Bells @ Glass House 03.30 Conditions @ Industry Theater

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inland empire | Skinniescene

MEZ Sports Presents

PANDEMONIUM VI

Photos by Alan Rivera

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