Mike Giant Podcast

Giant's interview with Bobby Ruiz, owner of Tribal Streetwear. Recorded in Mr. Ruiz’s office at the Tribal headquarters in San Diego, California on Thursday, October 17, 2019. Topics discussed include: Growing up in Los Angeles in the 1960s, Hacienda Heights, moving to south San Diego in 1972, initial exposure to lowriding, skateboarding, gang culture, moving to Mira Mesa (the suburbs), gang writing, musical influences, stoner culture, high school, Chicano Power movement, appearing in Lowrider magazine in 1981, customizing a 1964 Thunderbird, first experiences with "hip-hop” graffiti while working as a janitor, meeting San Diego writers, earning a bachelors degree with Honors at SDSU in Chicano Studies and Business Management over the course of ten years, difficulties with math, Tommy Guerrero, ska and punk music, Beastie Boys, Run DMC, NWA, Cypress Hill, breakdancing, Rocksteady Crew, the exploitation of subcultures, fashion vs. streetwear, Limp Bizkit, Korn, starting Tribal Gear in 1989, POD, Linkin Park,