Invasion of Privacy at Chemistry Surfboards

AWSM Ep 9 Clip
Snowboard legend, Chemistry Surfboards supporter, and all around nice guy, Todd Richards brings his weekly show “AWSM on Alli” to our headquarters in Oceanside. Be sure to watch the full episode HERE as this is just the “Invasion of Privacy” segment. Also subscribe while your at it!

The Rectangle

Over the last year we have seen the popularity of odd-looking surfboards. The most notable is something that resembles a rectangle. There are a ton of shapers playing around with this design by changing tails, bottoms, rockers etc.

The most popular rectangle, FireWire’s Vanguard designed by Tomo

Going back to the origin of this concept with Bob Simmons in the early 1940s, Simmons dropped out of the California Institute of Technology where he studied aero and hydrodynamics. He started applying these radical new principles to the surfboards he shaped. These surfboards were made of balsa wood with a spoon-like nose, a thin squared-off tail, and calibrated rails.

Hydrodynamica’s rendition of the straight outline

Fast forward to modern day ideas and concepts, we see shapers drawing straighter lines and shrinking lengths. Taking away width and thickness and adding volume back into the nose and tail width. With the extreme straighter rail lines, these boards will create tons of speed without the help of the wave. The extra speed is great for slower surf where you can use the help. If the shaper keeps the board on the narrower side, the board will still be able to maneuver well. The extra nose and tail width provides enough volume to accommodate someone despite the board being narrower. One of the most interesting characteristics of these boards is the all the different tail configurations to choose from. They all drastically change how the boards ride, from being really loose in small surf to holding in larger waves.

Tom Curren and his Tomo

These rectangle boards definitely have their place for the time being. But more than likely they will go out of style, and like all things, they will resurface again. That being said, these oddities are great boards to have in the quiver, especially for those gutless days. They definitely keep things interesting.

Jason

Good buddy Ryan Burch and one of his Asymmetricals

The Experimental has the straight outline but lacks the squared nose

Blame One & J57 ft: Akie Bermiss – They Don’t Know – ((Official Video))

Thanks to 2dopeboyz on the premier

Directed by Tekktron Films

Hope you enjoy!!

Do us a huge favor and please rate and leave a comment if you’re feeling it!! New album Walk in the Sun is available for pre-order on ITunes now and you get an instant download track if you pre-order now!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/walk-in-the-sun/id658032354

Out digitally and on Double vinyl via Soulspazm Records August 27th!

Machine vs Hand Shaping

I thought that this would be an appropriate post due to the fact that we are in the heat of summer and I’m in full blown production mode. I started my shaping career as an apprentice and hand shaping three boards a day. I would rough them out in the morning the do all my finish work after lunch. As the company grew over the past 8 years I have had to make the switch over mostly to the CNC machine to keep up with our growing surfboard numbers.

With the machine I’m able to bang out 6 -10 a day and keep the consistency at a very high level. I find with all the software and different machines out there we’re really able to fine tune our products and really push the limits of surfboard design. The one thing that I really miss is that self satisfaction of creating a product from start to finish by hand. If I had a choose one or the other, I would love to concentrate on one different type of surfboard design everyday and carve it out of foam with my planner and hand tools.

All of our models are well proven designs that have gone through numerous changes to be where they are today, but if you ever dream something up that we don’t already have in our line I would love to hand shape it for you.

Jason

Cheyne Mags blowing tail in Mexico on one of my hand shapes.

Blame One and Paid Dues

North San Diego County’s own Blame One is on the list of the performers at what’s shaping up to be one of the best Hip Hop festivals to hit the West Coast, Paid Dues. Blame has been a long time supporter of Chemistry and one of the only successful hip hop artists to ever emerge from our area. He is excited to be a part of such a large festival with so many great artists as well as the much anticipated Mos Def and Talib Kweli Black Star reunion performance. Take some time and check out some of his work at www.myspace.com/rudebwoyblame, and stay tuned for our exclusive Chemistry track produced by Collective artist Coper.

About Paid Dues:
MURS IN ASSOCIATION WITH GUERILLA UNION PRESENT
PAID DUES INDEPENDENT HIP HOP FESTIVAL 2011
FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS UNVEIL COMPLETE 2011 LINE-UP INCLUDING:
BUN B, E-40, SAGE FRANCIS, ANDRE NICKATINA, P.O.S., NIPSEY HU$$LE, LIL B THE BASED GOD, DEAD
PREZ, VISONARIES AND MORE!
‘GRIND TIME NOW’ STAGE TO FEATURE MC BATTLES
IN PAID DUES OCTAGONAL RING
PRESENTED BY GRIND TIME NOW
MURS ANNOUNCES ‘ROAD TO PAID DUES’ TOUR
PAID DUES AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER LOS ANGELES LAUNCH

‘PAID DUES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROJECT’
TICKETS ON-SALE NOW VIA TICKETFLY.COM
Murs (Living Legends) and Guerilla Union (Rock The Bells, Cypress Hill Smokeout) have revealed the complete line-up for PAID DUES INDEPENDENT HIP HOP FESTIVAL held on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA. Bun B, E-40, Sage Francis, Andre Nickatina, P.O.S., Nipsey Hu$$le, Lil B the Based God, Dead Prez, Visionaries plus many more artists will be joining previously announced headliners including Mos Def and Talib Kweli’s Black Star reunion performance, Immortal Technique, Murs and Slaughterhouse.
The PAID DUES 2011 roster is its most ambitious and eclectic to date. Anticipated performance highlights of this year’s festival include headliner E-40. Murs shares his excitement, “It is with great pride that I announce E-40 will be headlining the ‘Dues Paid’ stage. As far as independent rap goes, he was the first to get his label major distribution. From Master P to El-P, he pioneered the artist/CEO business model in hip hop.” The Black Hippy collective comprised of Top Dawg Entertainment label mates Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Jay Rock will also be performing on the west-coast themed ‘Dues Paid’ stage. Wrote The Los Angeles Times (8/17/10), “Unlike many hastily formed groups, the members [of Black Hippy] boast the sort of hard-earned chemistry that comes from having rapped together for a long time.” Murs states, “Individually they are a force to be reckoned with, but collectively they have to be my favorite group in the world right now.” After establishing individual success, Asher Roth has teamed up with producer Nottz Raw to form a new project titled Rawth. In 2010 the duo independently released their self-titled, ‘Rawth EP’. Ill Bill, of La Coka Nostra, and Vinnie Paz, of Jedi Mind Tricks, are two additional established emcees that have joined forces for a new project called Heavy Metal Kings. Their full-length, self-titled release “Heavy Metal Kings” is due out April 5, 2011.
PAID DUES is an all all-day, all ages hip hop music and lifestyle event. In its 6th year, the premier independent hip hop festival will expand in 2011 to three stages and over 40 live performances. This year, fans will be treated to an array of all-star performances with themed stages including the ‘Dues Paid’ stage which features all west-coast artists and the ‘Grind Time Now’ stage that will integrate emcee battle elements for the first time.
Murs credits the flourishing state of the indie music scene and technology for the need to expand the festival, “Why three stages? Because the independent hip hop scene has grown tremendously in volume and talent over the past 5 years. Partially due to the major record label system being turned on its ear, and even more so the way technology has empowered independent music as a whole.” Chang Weisberg, of Guerilla Union, weighs in on the significance of a festival like PAID DUES, “Now more than ever, it’s important to have a live music platform like our PAID DUES festival, which showcases the best and brightest that independent hip hop has to offer. If you want a pulse on what’s happening in hip hop, PAID DUES is a true barometer. Murs has done an amazing job bringing together new and emerging artists as well as the most established pioneers in the business.”
The ‘Grind Time Now’ stage is presented by Grind Time Now, the largest battle rap league in the world. Among scheduled artist performances throughout the day, this stage will showcase seminal producers spinning as top emcees are invited to battle one another. “I am stoked to have Grind Time Now as a partner this year. Their organization has helped bring some prestige back to the arena of mc battles. I felt the festival was always missing that element. This year we chose a “vs.” theme featuring DJ Exile vs. Blu and Fashawn as well as DJ Muggs vs. Sick Jacken (Psycho Realm), Bambu and Planet Asia. I would love to take this theme even further in the years to come”, states Murs.
In support of his headlining performance at PAID DUES, Murs will also be embarking on a 35-city tour across the United States and Canada. The ‘Road To Paid Dues’ Tour will begin February 17 in San Diego, CA and run through March, making its final stop at PAID DUES. The tour will also feature supporting performances by Tabi Bonney, Whole Wheat Bread, AB-Soul and special guest, DJ Foundation. Tickets for most dates are on-sale now. Complete tour and ticketing information is available at www.mursworld.com and www.facebook.com/murs.
Murs and Guerilla Union in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) have also launched a new campaign merging hip hop and philanthropy. The Paid Dues Habitat for Humanity Project aims to reach out to the music community to raise funds and awareness to help HFH GLA’s fight to eliminate substandard housing. On Saturday, February 12, 2011, Murs, Guerilla Union, HFH GLA and 25 fans will be working side by side to build a home in the Los Angeles area. As a special thank you to those who volunteer, Murs and Guerilla Union will also be providing each participant a ticket to attend PAID DUES. 100% of the proceeds generated from the Paid Dues Habitat for Humanity Project will go to HFH GLA. Murs sends a call to action to the fans, “Please, please those of you looking to buy a ticket, make the extra effort to register and help us build with HFH GLA. You get to work alongside me and the GU staff to make a real difference in our community. There are only 25 slots so ACT NOW, don’t sleep!” For complete registration details, fans can visit www.paidduesfestival/charity.
Artists* confirmed for PAID DUES INDEPENDENT HIP HOP FESTIVAL 2011 include:
PAID DUES STAGE:
Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star, Immortal Technique, Bun B, Sage Francis, Asher Roth & Nottz are Rawth, Heavy Metal Kings, P.O.S., Dead Prez, Krizz Kaliko, Binary Star, Tabi Bonney, Eternia, Sab The Artist aka Musab,

Hosted by: Hollywood Holt, Million $ Mano
DUES PAID STAGE:
E-40, Murs, Andre Nickatina, Nipsey Hu$$le, Lil B The Based God, The Shock G Trio featuring Humpty Hump and DJ Fuse, Eligh, Mistah F.A.B., Visionaries, Black Hippy, Dom Kennedy, U-N-I, King Fantastic, Skeme, Casey Veggies, Droop-E, Noa James
Hosted by: Sunspot Jonz and the Marksmen, DJ Mark Luv, DJ Numark GRIND TIME NOW STAGE:
Slaughterhouse, DJ Muggs vs. Sick Jacken + Bambu + Planet Asia, DJ Exile vs. Blu & Fashawn + Grieves w/ Budo, Opio of Hieroglyphics, Chino XL, Invincible, Machina Muerte, Intuition, Dee-1, Blame One, DJ Freshh

Grind Time Now All Stars: Johnny Storm vs. Dizaster, Real Deal vs. Dirtbag Dan
*Line-up subject to change
About PAID DUES:
PAID DUES celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2010 with a sold out show, where for the first time in its history, the landmark event expanded to multiple stages. The all ages show featured performances by Ice Cube, Murs and 9th Wonder, Tha Dogg Pound, Dilated Peoples and reunited special guests, Freestyle Fellowship. 2009 marked the festival’s largest show to date with over 7,000 attendees featuring artists such as Atmosphere, Tech N9ne, Living Legends, Eyedea and Abilities and Brother Ali. In 2008, the sold-out Southern California event featured artists such as Sage Francis, Little Brother, and Hieroglyphics. 2008 also saw the festival make stops in New York, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Denver, CO and San Francisco, CA. In 2006 the first PAID DUES festival–with a line-up featuring Felt, Aesop Rock, Living Legends, El-P, Hangar 18 and more–sold out with over 5,000 concert goers packing the Shrine Expo Center in Los Angeles. The following year Murs and Guerilla Union, along with performers Felt, Living Legends, Sage Francis, Brother Ali and others–teamed up again for the PAID DUES festival tour for over ten dates across the country. About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles:
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) strives to eliminate substandard housing through advocacy, education and partnership with families and individuals in need to build simple, decent, sustainable and affordable housing. Since 1990, HFH GLA has built and renovated over 650 homes locally and worldwide, transforming the lives of hundreds of individuals. HFH GLA is a GuideStar® Valued Partner. For more information, please visit www.habitatla.org or call 310-323-4663.
www.paidduesfestival.com
www.myspace.com/paidduesfestival
www.facebook.com/paidduesfestival
www.twitter.com/paid_dues
The PAID DUES INDEPENDENT HIP HOP FESTIVAL is produced by
MURS and GUERILLA UNION

Coper and The Collective Surfboard Art

This week I thought I’d share some of the Collective boards that I’ve done art on over the past 6 years. I got introduced to drawing at an early age by my father, and in 9th grade I really started getting into graffiti art. I had a crew of friends and that’s all we would do in class. We would practice our throw ups, pieces, and tags. I was heavily involved in the graffiti scene in North County San Diego for the years after. When we formed Chemistry in 2002 it was natural to morph these two lifestyles together. Here are a few boards from the archives. Hope you enjoy.
Coper

RZA vs Kolohe

This is dope. He’s got the RZA shouting him out. He is probably too young to know the impact the RZA and WU TANG had on a teen growing up in the 90’s. One of my favorite artists of all time.

Screamin’ Like a Girl – Man vs. Beast

Check this tough fisherman versus a baby great white shark.

Jason Bennett’s Continued R&D Alchemist Remix

Jason Bennett working to improve his surfboard shapes through extensive testing of the Alchemist Remix. This is footage from the last few weeks at Oceanside Pier. It has been convenient that the Pier has had a nice little sandbar for a few weeks and the weather has been prime. Jason tests his custom shaped 5’10 x 19 1/4 x 2 3/8 Remix model.

All footage and editing by Russell Spencer.
Beats by Jason Bennett.

Leprechaun in Alabama!

This is one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a while!