Issue No. 24 | Wanderlust
9 February 2010 6:26pm PST
9 February 2010 6:26pm PST
Jereme Rogers Quits Skating, Completes Downhill Slide
For the past several months, I’ve been doing my bestest to not post about Jereme Rogers, purely because I didn’t want to believe that skateboarding has come to this. When he put out a terrible mixtape, I refrained. When he got arrested for taking mushrooms and preaching naked on his roof, I fell back. But, now the boy’s go, go, gone and quit his multi-million dollar skateboarding career to be a rapper at the ripe old age of 24, and I just can’t keep quiet anymore.
Just three years ago, Jereme Rogers won Transworld’s rookie of the year for his part in DVS’ Skate More, which followed a pretty solid intro performance in PJ Ladd’s Wonderful Horrible Life. Soon after, he tattooed his neck, face and everything else in sight, I suspect to hide the fact that he’s a pale, nerdy white boy much like myself. I guess teenage angst is a tough thing to deal with for some. But how’s that face tat going to look at 75? Nevermind…
In 2007, he declared himself part of Terry Kennedy’s SMP (sober mind power) clique, and jumped sponsors to Billabong, amongst others, before finally landing on Famous Stars and Straps. During his short-but-heralded career, Mr. Rogers caught a lot of crap from the skateboarding faithful, while riding for the best team in skateboarding – Girl Skateboards. No matter how ridiculous he got, Girl stuck by him (amazingly) until he jumped ship to Plan B. In the midst of all this, he released the decent “bring my homies along” video Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Despite never winning a major contest, he showed real promise at street skating, and he had an agent who hooked him up with the most lucrative sponsors in the game, even though I’ve never seen anyone skate a piece of JR gear. He bought a boatload of jewels, an Aston Martin and a house, which will all likely end up on the ebay when the money goes in about 6 months.
I don’t wish ill will on anyone, but like most, I enjoy a good ego-fueled failure. My only bitterness is towards his lack of love and appreciation for the lifestyle that’s given him everything. I’m wondering the same thing that Bryce Kanights asked in his Skate Daily post: ““How does someone just get up and decide to quit skateboarding?” The whole thing is baffling in its lunacy.
Surround yourself with “yes” men, and you’ll make bad moves like this. Be on the lookout for a JR skate return in another year or so after this “new career” flops like a fish out of water.
I’ll leave the last words for ex-pro Clyde Singleton, “that embarrassing jackass known as Jereme Rogers has retired from skateboarding via Twitter.. ok. bye. skateboarding could use less b!tchass wanna-be rappers, who tuck they chain in around Black folks…“
via David Mongan, 19 June 2009 9:00am | 22
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| Comments:
This is a fascinating story that keeps building. The Bob K Club Mumble site has been covering this as well. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds over the years.
[...] a kid on the come up, until last month when he caught attention of the mainstream press recently. Evil Monito has the full deal on Rogers, but long story short, dude apparently went crazy. Well, maybe not, but he does show signs of your [...]
damn right….he had the fuckin life we all worship and he blew it
What a waste….such a talented skater. I guess he has to go figure it out the hard way that he sucks as rapper. Anyone else would kill for his talent and the opportunity to get paid large for skating.
I can see your dissapointment, trust me i am dissapointed myself… But why do you guys care? He pursued skateboarding and overcame a lot to get to where he was at. Is he not allowed to pursue another career? I understand that he is taking a big risk, but who are we to critique his choice to change paths in his life journey. It took a lot to get to where he is at as a skateboarder, but it takes even more to risk losing everything to pursue another passion that is not as promising. Props to him because obviously, all of you are too big of pussies to do what he is doing, including myself!
Good point — I’m not sure. Why do I care? Jealousy? Envy? That’s definitely part of it–I’d love to skate professionally. For me, my two problems are this:
1.) He’s arrogant, and has never really respected skating professionally (always put contracts above putting out quality product)
2.) He’s terrible at rapping, and it’s borderline offensive as a hip hop fan.
No, I’m not the hip hop/skatebording cops. But, come on. I know I can’t swim, so I stay the hell out the pool. Jeremy is very clearly drowning right now.
I had this talk with someone the other day: we’ve all “rapped” at lunchtime or during freestyle fridays, but when 6th period rolled around or the show ended, we knew put the backpacks back on and that was that. If hip hop’s in your blood, then so be it. But, I don’t think it’s something you randomly discover when you get your first neck tat.
Sarcasm aside – thanks for the comment. It’s always interesting to consider why I care about someone I don’t/will never know. I really don’t have a good answer for you besides some plain old hating.
- Dave
When you say ‘quit’ do you mean his sponsors or skateboarding? Do you think you can quit skating right away from one day to another and that’s that? I’m sure he can not resist the need of hitting the curb across the street and bs tailslide it, then kickflip bs tailslide, then switch and on and on…This is a drug that is hard to quit, anyone who really skates knows that.
Agreed. I’m sure he’ll be back to skateboarding in 2yrs or less, even if his rap career goes well. It’s an easy way to make a living, and it’s hard to shake something you’ve done for so long.
Jereme Rodgers is fuckin rediculous. Hopefully he doesn’t really believe his rap career is going anywhere. I actually like rap music and I still think his shit is straight garbage. I’m gonna have a nice, hearty laugh when he comes back next year to get some funds rolling in, and nobody buys any of his graphics, shoes, whatever.
Nobody bought his pro models to begin with, so it really can’t hurt him in that sense.
It’s rediculous..
That rap song + video, was terrible! OMG!
When the crack run out, maybe he’ll come to his sense’s.
Who cares it’s what he loves and wants to do… it’s not your lives its affecting…right? I mean we all jump ships time aftyer time because it’s either fun, we want to do it, or other reasons. Let him be him and your just mad you suck at skateboarding and cant ever do what he could. HOP OFF HIS SACK YOU PUNK ASS BITHCES!
Terry – your comment just made my day. Thanks.
WEBSITE WARRIORS, MOUNT UP!!!!
Damn, I never listened to that trash he calls rappin until right now. Does he hear himself? What a fuckin clown, that’s some of the worst shit i’ve ever heard. He gave up his career for that? Skaters talk about posers and shit in the skate game and always have slick shit say about them…. He’s doin the same thing to hip hop that the fake skaters are doing to skating. I’m not even an emcee and i promise that i would shit on this dude. I don’t really even know what else to say about that shit. It was so garbage that it really just blew my mind.
For all those Virginians looking to write lengthy diatribes under false names/email addresses, three things:
1. I never said he was a bad skater.
2. I’ll never feel bad for saying that he’s terrible at rapping and that this is an even worse idea.
3. I’m not going to get in an e-fight with you. Ever.
Dude this kid grown up skating around here and this kid was never a skateboarder man. He first started showing up at the park with freaken ROLLERBLADES on man! It’s like turning your back on skating. Does it mean he doesn’t skate period? WHY would you do that? Quit skating professinally OK! But why stop all together? He must have never enjoyed it that much anyway? Sorry but if he had a real friend they would tell him to produce music not sing it cause that shit is freaken brutally. Sounds like his balls are hogtided when he raps. Go put your rollerblades back on and go ahead and try to sound like the white lil wayne! It aint working bro.
this is in reply to terry kennedy, rodgers is a joke, he did skate good. you were always wack on and off your board, you were never even mediorce, dick ridin reyonlds to get on, how you gonna tell these kids they suck your style is was and always will be horrible”bullshit fakie tricks” you herbs are has beens in the skate industry, go get a reality show, you niggas will be broke in a couple months, on the street blowin eachother,bum ass nigga.
“streets are talking” actually believes that Terry Kennedy wrote the comment above, LULZ.
who cares what jereme does. there’s plenty of skaters that are as good (or better) than roders. will he be missed? maybe, i know i will. some of us dont agree with his decision but his life isn’t ours to live. so lets just accept his choice and stay positive about it all. skate more… literally!
rogers*
Dang u quit skating dude, I use 2 look up 2 u then u quit skating.