Kareem Campbell, a 51-year-old native of New York City, has consistently remained involved with skateboarding. A decade ago, he established the 4DWN Project in Dallas, where he dedicates his time to supporting the community that significantly contributed to his success.
This lasting impact is now being honored in Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater 3+4, a comprehensive remake of the iconic skateboarding game series. Before you dive into the game to execute Campbell`s signature “Ghetto Bird” trick, gain deeper insight into the legendary skater through our exclusive interview.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Interviewer: Kareem, where are you currently based? I recall you used to skate primarily out of Los Angeles.
Kareem Campbell: Yes, I`m in Dallas now, and have been for about 10 years. Mike Crum, Rob Cahill, and I established a skate park here.
Interviewer: How did your initial involvement with Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater impact you? Was it an immediate, overnight transformation in your life?
Kareem Campbell: Absolutely, once the game was released, the change was instantaneous, largely due to its immense success. I became a widely recognized name. People I wouldn`t ordinarily interact with, including gamers, would suddenly approach me saying, “Hey, you`re Kareem!” It truly had a monumental impact.
Interviewer: It`s quite remarkable, isn`t it? Especially considering that back then, the graphics weren`t particularly detailed; your in-game face didn`t quite resemble your real one. Now, with significant advancements in video game graphics, do you find you`re recognized more often?
Kareem Campbell: Yes, definitely more recognition. The industry itself has grown tremendously, you know? So, you`re recognized beyond just the usual skateboarding community. There`s a much broader awareness.
Interviewer: Certain maneuvers, while impossible in reality, are achievable within the game. If you could manifest one of those into the real world, which one would it be?
Kareem Campbell: Any of those extremely long, winding grinds that stretch halfway across an entire course.
Interviewer: Like grinding across ceiling wires?
Kareem Campbell: Exactly, you understand. Any of the huge roof gaps, those “leaps of faith,” because I don`t know many people willing to jump two or three stories high.
Interviewer: You`ve been involved in significant charity work within both the broader skateboarding scene and the Black community. Do you believe the game contributed to elevating the visibility and profile of Black skaters?
Kareem Campbell: Yes, I believe it primarily boosted the general awareness of skateboarding, you know? While it wasn`t exclusively for the Black community, it certainly provided a significant benefit in that regard. Now, parents, much like they do with sports like football or basketball, realize, “Okay, there`s a potential career path here.” So, yes, I absolutely think it`s been beneficial for urban communities. Typically, a mom might say, “You better go get a job. Get off that board and find work.”
Interviewer: I`m sure she was pleased once things worked out for you, though.
Kareem Campbell: My two most substantial earnings came from my shoe sponsorships and my video game royalties. That`s when you`re able to purchase a house and say, “Hey Mom, this is for you.”
Interviewer: What career path did your mother envision for you before you became a professional skater?
Kareem Campbell: Anything that involved sitting behind a computer, rather than being out and about. Ironically, I always aspired to be a computer engineer, so I`ve always had a bit of a “nerd” side.
Interviewer: Do you play video games yourself?
Kareem Campbell: Yes, absolutely, I play games. I play a lot of different games, and I`m also getting quite into drones and related tech.
Interviewer: What games are you currently playing?
Kareem Campbell: Well, mostly the latest NBA game and the demo for Tony Hawk`s because, you know, I need to stay sharp for these younger players. I`m trying to get my skills back up to par.
Interviewer: There`s been a noticeable influx of skateboarding games recently, with Skate also on the horizon, alongside several indie titles. From an external perspective, skateboarding seemed to hit its peak in the `90s. Do you sense a resurgence in the culture now?
Kareem Campbell: Oh, absolutely. Especially with the Olympics—considering our history with the games and the upcoming events. It`s definitely experiencing a strong resurgence. Things are moving rapidly, as people are now actively preparing for the 2028 Olympics. As skaters, we don`t usually stress about such things; it`s just another day, another month. But now, everything is so focused on this next phase. It`s going to be an even bigger phenomenon.
Interviewer: Could you elaborate on the skate park you established in Dallas?
Kareem Campbell: It`s called 4DWN, and it`s been our skate park for a decade now. We actually celebrated its 10th anniversary about a month ago. We maintain food reserves. On Wednesdays, we host an event called “Grill and Chill,” where everyone can skate for free, and we also provide free meals. We distribute about 25 to 50-pound boxes of food, and on Sundays, we do something similar but on a larger scale, offering 100 to 150 such boxes per family. We have a cold storage facility and a small diner. It functions as a community hub. We adapted our operations during the COVID pandemic because we observed children lacking financial resources while simultaneously needing an outlet. So, we opened it up, and as people faced financial difficulties, we expanded into food distribution. Our philosophy is: we identify a problem, then figure out how to help. We`ve partnered with the right organizations to arrange for 18-wheelers to deliver food. We collect all the provisions, ensuring no food goes to waste. That`s our operational philosophy.
Interviewer: So, it`s essentially you and your friends contributing back to the community?
Kareem Campbell: Yes, it`s entirely about giving back. We offer yoga classes, art classes, comedy shows—all centered around our community. We even educate the children. For instance, if they want to learn graphics, we have graphic artists. We offer photography, painting—every imaginable skill. The goal isn`t just to say, “Oh, you`re a skateboarder,” but rather, “You`re a skateboarder who now also knows how to garden,” for example.
Interviewer: You`re renowned for your distinctive style, often influenced by Venice Beach, correct? Do you feel the game accurately captures that?
Kareem Campbell: Yes, it`s more about fluidity. Our style is more about cruising, flowing, and being stylish. Not so aggressively “24/7,” you know? The game truly embodies that.
Interviewer: When you play, do you still choose to play as your own character?
Kareem Campbell: Absolutely. Plus, it prevents anyone else from trying to be me. My kids used to get upset with me and would just keep trying to crash me into walls in the game.
Interviewer: Is there anything you would alter about your portrayal within the game?
Kareem Campbell: No, not at all. It accurately depicted me for who I am. They allowed me to wear what I wanted and to speak naturally. They provided us with complete freedom to be ourselves, so I wouldn`t change a thing.
Interviewer: What`s involved in that process? Do they primarily review your existing footage, or are you actively consulted? Do you participate in motion capture sessions?
Kareem Campbell: They can easily capture movements from existing footage. They already had an extensive archive of my footage accumulated over the years, and then we provided new material. We also visited the studio a few times for motion capture sessions, where we finalized clothing and wardrobe details. Everything is meticulously done. It`s like we`re completely aligned, discussing what music and overall vibe we want to convey.
Interviewer: That`s excellent; it sounds like a very respectful approach. So, there are several new skaters featured in the game, correct? Who among the new additions are your favorites?
Kareem Campbell: Oh, picking favorites among the new skaters would be difficult, because I genuinely admire everyone—that`s the challenge. I feel like if I chose, they`d see this and think, “What about me?” Tony selected every excellent, diverse skater. It`s truly an incredible lineup. I`ll stick to a neutral stance on that one.
Interviewer: My primary exposure to skateboarding has been through video games. I`m not deeply familiar with the skate culture; I haven`t watched a tournament, although I`ve seen “Jackass” and, of course, clips of major skaters like yourself. Given my limited knowledge of the sport, I`m curious: do you believe all possible innovations have been exhausted, or is there still considerable room for new developments?
Kareem Campbell: So much. To be completely honest, a lot is being learned directly from this video game. Every contest I attend, every time you open your phone, it seems someone is pushing boundaries and executing new maneuvers. And the more you witness something and think, “Oh, wow, you can actually do that,” sometimes that`s all the encouragement needed. The things I observe these days are incredible. I see skaters flipping into tricks, flipping out, flipping back into grinds, then flipping out again. Kids are performing switch 900s as if it`s effortless. And they are also so much younger. That`s the crucial point. They have boundless time, and as they develop their strength and other abilities, I honestly don`t know what limits they`ll break next.
Interviewer: You and your generation essentially set the benchmarks, so they`re immediately striving to surpass those.
Kareem Campbell: Yes, and they are indeed surpassing us. They are also dedicated to studying. Kids are now approaching skateboarding much more like a formal sport. They are genuinely delving into the fundamental techniques and basics, which is a positive development. It fosters a healthy mental balance, as it`s truly just you versus that board, you know?