The latest issue of Frank151 is dedicated to New York skate culture. That’s a subject that you can’t really delve into without talking to RB Umali. His interview from Chapter 63 was just released online, and contains a classic Harold Hunter story that we were not familiar with. It’s amazing that these incredible tales involving Harold are still emerging a full 15 years after his death.
RM: I know I always bring this up every time I see you, but every time I see you I think about that time that you had an apartment on Second Avenue and it was packed. We’re all hammered. I think I must’ve smoked like three or four Ls-
RB: Yeah. The balcony.
RM: -and then Harold’s like, “Yo, I’m going to go make some breakfast.” And I was like, “Dude, what are you doing?”-
RB: I wish I had footage of him stirring the pot in the middle of the party with eggs.
RM: He was making eggs, I was trying to holler at you. “Yo! Yo!” But it was too late because there was probably 50 people in your… Was it a one bedroom or a studio?
RB: It was a two bedroom converted into three. We had a lot of people living there.
RM: Anyway, there was mad people there. They were throwing stuff off the balcony. I’m pretty sure you almost got evicted that night.
RB: The next day I got in trouble with the management, for sure.
RM: Yeah. I’m not surprised but I-
RB: I think the glass doors downstairs got broken.
RM: That wasn’t me.
RB: I know who it was. I know exactly who it was, and yeah. We were all young, dumb, and stupid back then. But then those were amazing times.
RM: Those were amazing times.
RB: I remember, before Harold was cooking those eggs, he went up to us, and was like, “RB, you got any food?” I’m like, “No, Harold. I don’t have any food.” He’s like, “Ah, you’re greedy, man. You have food. I know you have food. You’re rich. Look at your apartment. I know you got food.” I’m like, “Harold, there’s nothing to eat, dude.” He’s like, “I’m gonna make some food.” Then, the next thing I know, he’s got a pot and an egg heated up on the stove. He’s just eating scrambled eggs out of the pot.
RM: That’s so funny.
RB: “I told you, you had food.” So greedy.
RM: Dude, he’s so greedy and hungry. Hide food in his pocket. That’s crazy.
RB: Man, I wish I had footage of him doing that.
Head over to Frank151 to read the rest of the interview. And for more on RB, revisit Episode 01 of Mission Statement.
