I was first introduced to Niz Malverite during my trip to Chicago last May, where I had the opportunity to see him perform at the very first Legends of JB Skating showcase. Niz delivered a fantastic solo performance, representing the Middle School JB skaters and showcasing the style, energy and creativity that make Chicago JB skating so special.
Not long after the event, my friend Laverne connected me with Niz, who was interested in coming to London to lead a JB skating workshop. From there, Niz and I connected through a flurry of WhatsApp messages, eventually turning the idea into reality.
This week, I hosted my very first JB workshop in London, and NizM became my first guest instructor direct from Chicago.
I have to tell you — it was an absolute blast! The energy, the JB combos, and the connection between everyone in the room made it a ttruly envigorating and memorable experience.
So, while I had the chance to spend some time with this JB legend, I couldn't resist grabbing an interview!
Here are 7 Questions with Niz Malverite, where he shares a little more about his skating journey, Chicago JB culture, recorded right here - across the pond - in London!
"JB, in my opinion, is probably the most unique skate style in the sense that it has its own built-in genre of music that dictates how it goes.
So as someone who's seen the evolution of it, the moves have gotten more creative, but I recommend anybody to come to Chicago and see foundational JB by the older skaters where it's done a little more smoother with cleaner technique."
~NizM
7 Questions
Q.1: introduce yourself to me and tell me how it all started?
"So for the record, my name is Dr. David Stewart. My stage name is NizM. Skating next month will be 37 years. I'm Chicago born and raised.
I think maybe outside of high school, I've skated pretty consistently most of those 37 years.
My mother god a rest her soul was a skater.
So to paint a picture, late 80s in Chicago, I saw figure skating and I was like, yeah. So I actually started to train with a figure skater. A lot of people don't know that.
And then I saw my dad's fraternity brothers who skated JB, and I was like, oh, that's cool skating. I want to do that."
Q.2: So how long into figure skating and the foundations before ypu got to JB skating?
"So I did probably two or three years as a kid, a foundation, which definitely impacts how I approach skating.
I have been a JB skater since 1998.
Q3: How's the journey gone from then? And, has the style of JB changed?
"Yes.It's definitely changed. So I jokingly call myself an armchair historian. So when I started, it was before what most people know is the remixes, which the first one was by Kiso Kane, 2002, 2003.
So a lot of the music was just what we call foundation of James Brown music. So it was a lot of the, you know, make it funky, soul power, escapism, and then with the remixes, the first class of remixes with producers like Kiso Kane, Shy Pro, DJT Real, B-Dash, and K-Blaze, rest of soul.A lot of it sampled the original James Brown music.
So over time, a lot of the sampling of the music has actually gotten away from James Brown a bit. So a lot of what you hear is more rap with a, you know, a James Brown vocal over it real quick. So it's changed the tone of the remixes and it's changed the speed of skating as well.
[ME: Oh, so it's changed the way JB is expressed?]
Yes.So there are technically three classes. It's old school JB. I'm considered middle school and new school. So middle school is kind of the generation where the remix started at. I would say new school would be anybody under 30.
So as someone who's seen the evolution of it, the moves have gotten more creative, but I recommend anybody to come to Chicago and see foundational JB by the older skaters where it's done a little more smoother with cleaner technique."
Q.4: So have you seen this whole transition from old school, middle to new school? And, what's that experience been like?
"Let me just tell you, growing up when it was just old school, usually old school skaters are smoother partially because of age. Some of the daredevil leaves our body as we get older. The younger generation you can tell where the music has drawn it - pushed it, if you will.
JB, in my opinion, is probably the most unique skate style in the sense that it has its own built-in genre of music that dictates how it goes. Middle school, a lot of us grew up to it. This was our cleaning music as kids, right? Like James Brown. And let me be clear, Jame's Brown music isn't just JB. You got Led Zeppelin, Phil Collins, a wide cross-section of what is considered JB music.
As newer classes of producers came in, it was less actual sampling of James Brown, more incorporating a rap music and maybe like a Jame's Brown sample over it. And the sequencing is faster and more intense and it reflects in a way a lot of the younger JB skater skate.
[Me: I've seen it. Yeah, you got to be there to really witness this. And you can see when the old school guys come out, it's like, whoa, like one. And I thought I was going to see a whole rrink full of them. You would see one or two in the rink.]
Yeah, it depends on the session. It's half the speed.
Yeah, it's half the speed, much smoother. So like in Chicago, you have like a Thursday night from eight to twelve, which is more of an older crowd Friday night at Lynwood is a younger crowd, right? So the age reflects the demographic and the type of approach to JB, if you will.
Q.5: So how do you feel about the whole transition from the old Middle, to new school JB?
"I'm an observer. I mean, as someone who's 45 now, I've seen it all. I've observed some skaters feel a way about the younger skaters, but I get it. We were once 20 doing what they did, right? So I think it's good that the tension exists to evolve the culture.
I think, and more importantly though, you don't forget your history. So a lot of times I tell people when they come to Chicago, you know, they watch great skaters online, like my guy in my league, Lonno, and they're great skaters.I often tell them, but go find out where they learned from.
So I compare it to like if a person is of Islamic faith going to Mecca, right? Go to the home of it, the source so you really get an understanding. Because a lot of times people watch videos on Instagram, TikTok, and they think they know it. And it's like not even close.
And a lot of times they're shocked by what you mentioned when they see older skaters and they're doing it in this life.They're not doing it so fast. I'm like, no, you need to know the foundation to understand how you want it to go and grow."
Q.6: So what's your hope for the future with JB? Where do you see it going?
"Like anything else it's going to evolve. I just think that in that evolution we make sure we don't forget our history. Super important. So like a lot of the music in today's class, I have a cross section in the music. So I'm starting with the older stuff.
So people may want to hear the higher speed remixes. They're not. I want you to understand where it came from.
I think ultimately the internet has been a double-edged sword. It's expanded.obviously the knowledge of it. But I think some people think that just because they see a video of two of these skaters, they understand it.So I think inspiration and history are connected or interdependent.
I think as people see things, you know, they're skaters like Dylan from Cincinnati, Bobby from Chicago, Polo from Chicago that have taken it places. Like I joke, I'm like, my body can't handle what they can do, and I'm not going to try.
But I think they will see more creativity, but also a skater by the name of Mitzi told me once I'll never forget. I was like, how come JB is so smooth? She was like, boy, you get older. You can't do all the crazy stuff.
So you would get your body adapts to it. And as someone who's done his fair share crazy things on skates, I can still do it because I'm in shape, but I find myself like, yeah, I want to be a little more smooth right now. So I think a lot of today's skaters 20 years from now will be having the same conversation.
I think historically it reflects to me not to get deep, but a lot of the diaspora in many ways where it's like people evolve a culture and then it moves forward. Then the old don't like the new, and then there's a group in the middle. So I think it's reflective of that and I think skating will continue to evolve, especially now that the culture of JB, the history of JB is more worldwide.
And I think people will, kind of like gumbo - at their own seasoning to it. But like any other recipe, you got to make sure you don't forget the original.
Q.7: So you're here in London? what do you think about London skaters? Have you noticed how we're literally hungry for JB over here? Is that happening across the globe?
"I've seen it other places, but it's one of those things that people like it until they have to learn it. Jb is hard.
➡️ Watch Video: JB Workshop With NizM in London
➡️ Watch Video: JB Workshop With NizM in London: Cypher
People think, oh, if I just swing my legs... I think it's more technical than people believe it to be.And it requires a patience.
And people want the look of JB. And I tell people, you've got to learn before you master. People want to learn like 20, 11 routines, and it's like, you don't even have the basics of how to groove and how to slow and how the music drives the skater.So I think in London and other places, I've skated around Europe, it's one of those, oh, it's a lot more harder than I thought.
But I love the hunger, and to be blessed to be able to teach it from my vantage point.
My goal is to just continue to contribute to the culture and help it grow."
Thanks, Niz.Thank you.
➡️ Listen via YouTube
➡️ Previous interview: 7 Questions With [Freestyle Skater] Michael ~ Detroit
➡️ Listen to the 7 Q's series on Spotify or Apple Podcast
Kelly
Cranial Osteopath | Wellbeing Coach | Roller Skate Instructor
🗯️ What have you learned from NizM's recounting of the evolution of JB culture across decades? Share them in the comments below or, leave us a lil emoji response.
