{{Short description|American skateboarder}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox sportsperson |name = Kareem Campbell |birth_name = |birth_date = {{birth_date and age|1973|11|14}} |birth_place = Harlem, New York, U.S. |occupation = Skateboarder |years_active = 1989–present |parents = |country = United States |sport = Skateboarding |turnedpro = 1992 }}
'''Kareem Campbell''' (born November 14, 1973) is an American professional skateboarder. He is known for popularizing the skateboard trick "The Ghetto Bird" which is a nollie hardflip late 180°.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdzquuaNNcY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/SdzquuaNNcY |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |url-status=live |title=Kareem Campbell Ghetto Bird |last=martinkus |date=October 14, 2006 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://juicemagazine.com/home/kareem-campbell-2/ |title=Kareem Campbell Interview |last=Juice Magazine |date=May 1, 2014 |access-date=October 24, 2016 |archive-date=October 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025053752/http://juicemagazine.com/home/kareem-campbell-2/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
== Skateboarding career ==
Kareem Campbell was an innovative professional skateboarder in the 1990s. He was featured in the World Industries videos ''New World Order'', ''20 Shot Sequence'', and ''Trilogy'', which are regarded as classics to many skateboarders. He has been called the godfather of smooth street style.<ref>{{cite web |title=Classics: Kareem Campbell's "Trilogy" Part |url=http://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/videos/classics-kareem-campbells-trilogy-part/ |website=Thrasher |date=September 16, 2014 |access-date=October 7, 2017 |archive-date=October 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008030527/http://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/videos/classics-kareem-campbells-trilogy-part/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Muckmouth – Kareem Campbell kareem is featured in Tony Hawk video game as a playable character. Interview |url=https://www.muckmouth.com/kareem |date=October 9, 2013 |access-date=October 7, 2017 |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814155818/https://www.muckmouth.com/kareem |url-status=live}}</ref> He eventually went on to spawn another company of his own under the Dwindle Distribution umbrella, though he continued to ride for World Industries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://skately.com/library/brands/menace-skateboards |title=Menace Skateboards < Skately Library |website=skately.com |access-date=June 19, 2017 |archive-date=June 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608133602/http://skately.com/library/brands/menace-skateboards |url-status=live}}</ref> He also helped found Axion Shoes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://skately.com/library/brands/axion-footwear |title=Axion Footwear < Skately Library |website=skately.com |access-date=June 19, 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> After Menace, he went on to create City Stars Skateboards also under the same Dwindle Distribution umbrella. He still operates City Star Skateboards to this day.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://citystarsskateboarding.com/ |title=Official City Stars Skateboarding website |access-date=October 7, 2017 |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814155817/https://www.citystarsskateboards.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Profilin' With Neftalie Featuring Kareem Campbell |url=http://skateboarding.transworld.net/features/profilin-with-neftalie-featuring-kareem-campbell/ |last=Kelly |first=Ben |date=October 13, 2009 |website=Transworld Skateboarding |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523071201/https://skateboarding.transworld.net/features/profilin-with-neftalie-featuring-kareem-campbell/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
Campbell rose to mainstream fame in 1999 following his inclusion as a playable character in the ''Tony Hawk's Pro Skater'' video game series. Tony Hawk also credited him with increasing skateboarding's standing in the Black community.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Forrest |title=Skateboarding Legend Kareem Campbell Has Plenty to Say on His New Podcast |work=Dallas Observer |date=January 6, 2021 |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/kareem-campbell-raised-the-bar-for-skateboarding-in-the-black-community-11981740 |language=en |access-date=August 14, 2022 |df=mdy-all |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512183848/https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/kareem-campbell-raised-the-bar-for-skateboarding-in-the-black-community-11981740 |url-status=live}}</ref><!-- more to paraphrase in source --> Campbell would later reprise his role in the 2020 remake of the first two games in the series.<ref name="Stedman">{{Cite web |last=Stedman |first=Alex |date=June 23, 2020 |title='Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2' Remaster Reveals Pro Skaters Getting Added to the Roster |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/tony-hawks-pro-skater-1-2-remaster-roster-new-skaters-1234645912/ |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
Throughout his career Kareem has been sponsored by World Industries, Axion Shoes, Nixon Watches, Alphanumeric Clothing and more.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://skately.com/library/people/kareem-campbell |title=Kareem Campbell Profile < Skately Library |website=skately.com |access-date=June 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031164615/http://skately.com/library/people/kareem-campbell |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Campbell is from Harlem, New York, and moved with his family to Los Angeles in his early youth.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Mike |title=Kareem Campbell speaks on his legacy and longevity in skateboarding |work=Red Bull |date=November 29, 2021 |url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/kareem-campbell-skating-legend-interview |language=en |access-date=August 14, 2022 |df=mdy-all |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814155812/https://www.redbull.com/us-en/kareem-campbell-skating-legend-interview |url-status=live}}</ref><!-- more to paraphrase in source -->
Campbell now resides in Dallas, Texas and works in a variety of business ventures, notably real estate.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://juicemagazine.com/home/kareem-campbell-2/ |title=Kareem Campbell |date=May 1, 2014 |work=Juice Magazine |access-date=June 19, 2017 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630091254/http://juicemagazine.com/home/kareem-campbell-2/ |url-status=live}}</ref> His nephew is professional skateboarder, musician, and Odd Future associate Na-kel Smith.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GDVlbw1Hek&t=259s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/5GDVlbw1Hek |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |url-status=live |title=Na-Kel Smith {{!}} The Nine Club With Chris Roberts – Episode 64|date=September 18, 2017|work=The Nine Club|access-date=2020-11-25|language=en-US}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{X Games profile|old_id=3012684/kareem-campbell}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, Kareem}} Category:1973 births Category:American skateboarders Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Manhattan Category:African-American skateboarders Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:X Games competitors
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