Rodney Torres is dope. He's a combination of power, swagger, and classic NYC styz. Seeing footage of him cruising the streets always reminds me of Zoo York's Mixtape and legendary New York skating. The kid from Queens still got shit on lock, so be on the look out for El Toro and give him a shout at the SHUT store the next time you're in the LES.

48 Blocks: Talk about your early days in New York. How did you first get starting skating and who were you cruising around with at that time?

Rodney: I seemed to have always had a skateboard around growing up, but I didn't get completely into it until I saw an ollie for the first time. Before that I was just powersliding around with ninja boards. I was eleven when I got my first "real" skateboard. That's when I started skating with all the locals in Queens at the time like Hommy Diaz, Bryan Chin, Rudy Cepeda, Rodney Cooper, Ray Wong, Chris Carcich, and Steve Walsh. Vinny Ponte, Danny Supa, Javier Nunez, Poncho Moler, and Tim O'conner would come out to Queens and skate with us back then too. Those were the days.

48 Blocks: I remember you and Mike Wright used to hold down Manhattan. How did you guys first meet and what was it like skating around with him back in the day?

Rodney: I first met Mike by the Brooklyn Banks when I was like 13. I broke my board and he accompanied me to the nearest skate shop so I could buy another one. After that we got pretty tight. We used to skate together all the time back in the day, but as we got older, we went our separate ways. I bump into Mike randomly once in a while. He's making and selling his own signature t-shirts all over the city. They're pretty cool.

48 Blocks: The first footage that I saw from you was in Dan Wolfe's Underacheivers. Was that your first video appearance and how did you hook that up, were you filming a lot with RB at the time?

Rodney: I had a 411 Wheels of Fortune part come out first that was filmed by RB and Anthony Claraval. Every other video came after that. Underacheivers was obviously one of them and RB definitely hooked that up. RB's helped me out a lot to this day and I'm forever greatful. I still chill with RB at like Max Fish or any skate related event that happens in NYC. Thanks RB, you're the man.

48 Blocks: Talk about the Rhythm days how did you hook up with them and what was it like being on a team with guys like Danny Montoya.

Rodney: I think Felix saw some footage of me in a video and ask RB what my deal was. I wasn't getting boards from anyone at the time so RB told me to call Felix and gave me his info. Felix wanted me to send him some footage to show everyone at Earth/Rhythm what I was about. They got psyched and that's how it all worked out. I was honored and proud to be on Rhythm, they looked out so much for me and I did everything I could do for them. All the people that were on Rhythm to this day are awesome people and amazing skateboarders.

48 Blocks: You've been affiliated with many different companies can you give an official time line of what board companies you've been affiliated with?

Rodney: I don't know about the time line, but I can just list them all: Screw Skateboards, Rhythm Skateboards, ZooYork, Infamous, Arcade, and Official.

48 Blocks: I guess maybe a year ago you parted ways with Official Skateboards, what happened with that. Seemed like they had a good thing going with you and German?

Rodney: Yeah, we definitely had a good thing going on. Official was growing pretty fast, but my personal situation is what lead me to do other things. I'm still cool with everyone there. It was just time for me to move on.

48 Blocks: What's the craziest thing that you saw go down at the Brooklyn Banks?

Rodney: Dude, I've seen it all. Kids getting there boards stolen everyday, other kids getting beaten over the head with skate keys, every drug being done by the bums that use to live there, to kids getting hit by cars trying to do tricks over the banks wall. The banks were gnarly back in the day. As far as skate tricks though, there are to many to name.

48 Blocks: Talk about Supreme in the '90's, the stories are legendary and people seem to love it or hate it. What was the vibe like back then?

Rodney: Supreme in the mid 90's was like VIP to the hottest club in town. Only the illest skater or celeb could chill there. Supreme was like fantasy island! To this day people are still trying to get down with them. Kinda funny. The vibe hasn't changed at all. The staff is a new group of rippers, but the vibe is still the same. My boy Geo Moya works there so if you ever go to Supreme holla at him. He'll take care of you.

48 Blocks: Who are your top five skaters from NYC?

Rodney: There are so many different catagories of top 5 NYC skaters in my opinion. Based on the times and generations. There's the Top 5 Back in my day underdogs that still kill it today like Charles Lamb, Ian Ried, Rob Campbell, Ray Wong, and Geo Moya. Then there's the Top 5 pro's I looked up to growing up like Jeff Pang, Huf, Gino, Keenan, and Ryan Hickey. Then comes the Top 5 skaters I used to skate with a lot in Manhattan which were amazing like Keith Harrison, Jay Maldonado, Kyle James, Paul leung and Lamont Macintosh. Finally, The Top 5 new hot kids who are ripping right now like Luis Tolentino, Danny Falla, Taji Ameen, Kevin Tierney, and Shawn Powers. There are so many more that I could name but I'll just leave it at that.

48 Blocks: When was your last trip out to Cali and are you coming back out here anytime soon?

Rodney: A couple of years ago. I went out to Venice and stayed with Joey Brezinski for awhile. Joey's awesome. We would just skate and party everyday. Livin it up. Thanks Joey. I don't know when I'll be back out west, but hopefully soon. I'll let you know.

48 Blocks: I remember hearing stories about you being out in SF for awhile right before I moved out here in the 90's. Talk about that trip. Who did you chill with and where did you skate?

Rodney: Yeah man, I went out there a couple of times, but the one I remember most was when I went with Rodney Cooper in like 96. We bought one way tickets and took a bus out there. At first we stayed with my boy Shane Bovell, and linked up with Karl Watson and kicked some flows with Henry Sanchez, but we were on separate agendas so I went from there to staying with Josh Kalis and Drake Jones which was a lot of fun cause it was mellow and we just skated all the time. I also stayed with this kid name Josh Stoner from Chicago. He was out there for skating too. I would stay with him from time to time. I was basically couch surfing it up in S.F. with friends, got a lil part time, and skated the Pier almost everyday. I wanna go back to S.F. though, I haven't been there in years. I felt the most freedom skateboarding and chillin there. I'll be out there again soon for sure.

48 Blocks: What are you up to these days, what projects are you currently working on?

Rodney: These days I'm obviously still skating and I'm starting to work on building up the footy for a part in something. I'm also about to be working for SHUT. They're opening a store on the Lower East Side of downtown Manhattan.

48 Blocks: What's the deal with the SHUT store and what's your role in that?

Rodney: The SHUT store is a skate shop that's exclusive to SHUT and their affiliations. I recently got hired to manage the new store and have been helping out with some of the preparations. We had a preview opening and after party recently that was awesome. I definitely feel fortunate to be working with and for the same people I've been affialited with since I was a kid. I look at it as a good opportunity for me to grow with a respected and progressive NYC company in skateboarding.

48 Blocks: Give us one dope memory or story about Harold Hunter?

Rodney: The best thing I can say about Harold is that he was an awesome person that could make anyone laugh and can make you feel comfortable in any situation. Everyone loves and will never forget Harold Hunter cause "Legends never die."

48 Blocks: What's the illest trick in your opinion that's gone down at Flushing?

Rodney: I have to give it to James Reres from Long Island. He switch flip back tailed over the grate and he bigspinned out of it too a different day. I saw it with my own eyes. I don't think it gets any better then that.

48 Blocks: Any Last words or shout outs?

Rodney: Thanks to everyone that's helped me in skateboarding, all of my current sponsors - Autobahn Wheels, Venture Trucks, Rockstar Bearings, Rival, DVS, WESC and whoever I've met along the way over the years. Thank you.