Ari Marcopoulos for Living Proof Radio.

Ari Marcopoulos is a photographer and filmmaker whose work has documented the evolution of underground scenes since the early 1980s. Moving to New York City, he began working as Andy Warhol's assistant, printing black-and-white photographs. His life in New York exposed him to a wide network of artists, including Irving Penn, who taught him the discipline of fashion and still-life photography. 

Early on, Marcopoulos captured vital years in rap music, skateboarding, and youth movements. His photographs of the New York skateboarding scene serve as a memory of an unrivaled time period of both New York and skate-history. With a multi-faceted approach, his work spans the Judokas of Japan, The Mardi Gras Indians, The Beastie Boys, amongst many others. 

Available now for members of the Living Proof Patreon.

Stevie Williams for Living Proof Radio. Full podcast episode now on the Living Proof Patreon.

Stevie Williams is one of the most influential street skateboarders of his generation. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he came up skating at the legendary LOVE Park, officially known as John F. Kennedy Plaza. There, he helped establish Philadelphia as a global destination for street skating, with LOVE Park’s signature granite ledges, open plaza, and the fountain gap becoming a proving ground for some of the most progressive East Coast skating of the 1990s.  

At 14, Williams left Philly for San Francisco, one of skateboarding’s epicenters at the time, where he immersed himself in the city and filmed at iconic spots such as EMB (Justin Herman Plaza) and Pier 7, appearing in videos for Chocolate, TransWorld, FTC videos, and more.

In 2002, he founded Dirty Ghetto Kids (DGK), turning a phrase tied to his Philadelphia upbringing into a brand. Over the years, DGK has released several full-length projects and grown into one of skateboarding’s most recognizable brands.

Full podcast episode on the Living Proof Patreon.

Mike Carroll for Living Proof Radio. Full podcast episode now on the Living Proof Patreon.  http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork 

Mike Carroll is an influential skateboarder and a pioneer of modern day street skating. Coming up in the San Francisco scene of the late 80s / early 90s, he became a regular at Embarcadero Plaza during the spots hey-day. His approach to skateboarding and the brands he built had an immense impact on an entire generation's view of what skateboarding is. Thrasher Magazine recognized Carroll as the 1994 Skater Of The Year. 

Carroll co-founded the legendary Girl Skateboards alongside Rick Howard, Megan Baltimore, and Spike Jonze in 1993. Girl would quickly become a leading name in the industry, releasing several renowned videos, including Goldfish, Mouse, Yeah Right, and Pretty Sweet. These videos raised the bar, introducing a new level of creativity and artistic direction in skateboarding videos.

In 1999 Carroll and Rick Howard launched Lakai Footwear. Lakai was part of a generation of skater-owned companies that shaped the industry before the entrance of corporate brands. Lakai released Fully Flared in 2007, one of the most influential skateboarding videos of all time that featured an all-star roster from Eric Koston, Guy Mariano, Alex Olson and more. Although Lakai would eventually change hands, its legacy will always be tied to the vision of Caroll and Howard.

Today Carroll continues his leadership at Girl and Crailtap, remaining closely involved in the brands direction and commitment.

Styles P for Living Proof Radio. Full podcast episode now on the Living Proof Patreon.https://www.patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Styles P is a New York City Rapper from Yonkers who rose to prominence as a founding member of The LOX, alongside Jadakiss and Sheek Louch. The group released their debut album ‘Money, Power, & Respect’ and went on to become iconic figures in the 90s New York City hip-hop scene during an era that set the standard for what hip-hop could be and raised the bar globally. 

Sparked by a period of incarceration, Styles P stood out in his generation being one of the early advocates for mental health and wellness. His music focuses on introspection and knowledge of self as well as struggle and pain, reflecting the duality of his life. 

Alongside Jadakiss, he opened a juice bar named  ‘Juices for Life’ in 2011, now spanning six locations throughout New York City. 

Shaun Crawford for Living Proof Radio. Full podcast episode now on the Living Proof Patreon.https://www.patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Shaun Crawford is a graffiti writer & artist from East Harlem, New York. In the early 2000s, Crawford would become known for his work experimenting with and creating handmade inks from raw materials under the name Do*Em*Dirty. 

Through his art, he began designing clothing, which led to collaborations with brands including Nike, Arc'teryx, BAPE, Supreme, Givenchy, Engineered Garments, and Barbour.

Crawford's art has been showcased in many galleries across the globe.  His recent work is on display at Milliony Arlekina Art gallery in Milan until February 2nd. 

MARTY for Living Proof Radio. Full podcast episode now on the Living Proof patreon. https://www.patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

MARTY is a graffiti writer from Brooklyn whose name in New York became synonymous with SMART Crew, a collective of graffiti writers, artists & friends whose approach to getting up served as a beacon of ingenuity in the city’s graffiti landscape. Alongside his peers, MARTY’s approach, spot selection and letters had him stand out in an era of graffiti that was rife with talent. 

He speaks on his time spent heavily involved with writing graffiti, avoiding taxes, Riker’s Island, SMART Crew & more.

Blondey McCoy for Living Proof Radio. Full episode now on the Living Proof patreon. https://www.patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Blondey McCoy is a British skateboarder and designer who grew up skating at London’s South Bank, a space that played a significant role in shaping his style and way of approaching work.

His work later expanded through a long-running partnership with Adidas, for which he designed a signature sneaker line known for its experimental details and clean, unmistakable aesthetic.

He went on to establish THAMES MMXX., developing it from a personal art project into a full clothing and board company. While the brand carries hints of the city that raised him, its identity ultimately reflects Blondey’s own vision.

Shoreline Mafia for Living Proof Radio for Living Proof Radio. OhGeesy and Fenix Flexin interviewed by REBOE LNE.

Full episode now on the Living Proof Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Shoreline Mafia is a Los Angeles rap group that emerged in the mid-2010s and quickly became one of the defining sounds of modern West Coast street rap. The crew began when OhGeesy and Fenix Flexin met through writing graffiti and East Hollywood’s skate-and-street culture.

Their music touches on the realities of hustling, fast money, navigating dangerous environments, wealth, brotherhood and Los Angeles culture.

After a breakup in 2020, founding members OhGeesy and Fenix Flexin reunited in 2023, bringing the Shoreline Mafia name back to life as a duo and garnering mass attention with their return.

Danny Diablo / Lord Ezec for Living Proof Radio. Full episode now on the Living Proof patreon. https://www.patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Danny Diablo, also known as Lord Ezec, is an iconic figure within New York's hardcore and graffiti scenes. Having formed influential bands such as Crown of Thornz during a pivotal era of New York Hardcore, Ezec naturally blended his graffiti background into the music he made; famously using a Cap One quote to introduce the album "Train Yard Blues", an album whose street-graffiti influence is strongly present throughout the record. 

His music would touch on the multi-faceted style of his life: speaking on emotions, inner-city living and life's problems. 

Diablo later expanded into hip-hop and crossover styles. Throughout the years, he has remained an active performer and cultural figure, bridging multiple scenes organically. 

EASY for Living Proof Radio, full episode on the Living Proof Patreon.
http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

EASY is a graffiti writer who began writing around 1982. Alongside his partners JOZ (RIP) and JOSH5, EASY's street-graffiti campaign across all five boroughs of New York set the blueprint for the term "all city". Using high-visibility yet ground-level spot placement with a straightforward approach to large legible tags, EASY's aggressive repetition helped define an era when writers transitioned from the subways to the streets. 

His legacy lives on through his influence on younger writers and his role in New York’s graffiti history.

http://livingproofnewyork.com

Alain Levitt for Living Proof Radio, full episode on the Living Proof Patreon.
http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Alain Levitt is a Los Angeles–born photographer who moved to New York in 2000 and began documenting the downtown life around him with a small point-and-shoot camera. 

He became known for capturing the skate, graffiti, nightlife, and art scenes of early-2000s Manhattan in candid, flash-lit images. 

His photo book NYC 2000–2005, released with @fuckingawesome, gathers hundreds of these moments, preserving a disappearing era of creative freedom in the city. Levitt’s work has become a vital visual record of a formative moment in New York’s cultural history.

http://livingproofnewyork.com