Ballin aint easy but it sure is fun.....

I plan on doing a regular feature in this blog which explores and exposes characters within the fashion industry who are of particular interest to me and hopefully you aswell. I started with INSA and his work surrounding graffiti and sneakers and will follow him with the one and only Ben Baller. Ben Baller a.k.a K-Town started out in the world of turntablism but has since progressed into jewelery, street wear and other realms of coolness. Ill let him do the talking. This is an interview he done with Vapours magazine in late 06 and pretty much sums up why he remains one of the most noticed and publicised figures in US streetwear and culture.

Ice ice baby

Hello my name is...

BEN BALLER aka K-TOWN

I was raised in...

K-TOWN aka KOREATOWN, LOST ANGELS, CALIFORNIA

The reason that you’re reading about me is...

BECAUSE I’M A BAD MUTHERFUCKER! I WAS THE FIRST ASIAN IN MY UNIVERSITY’S HISTORY TO PLAY BOTH FOOTBALL & BASKETBALL. I HAVE 19 PLATINUM ALBUM CREDITS TO MY NAME… DJ’D 4 WORLD TOURS, WAS 1 OF THE HOTTEST NIGHT CLUB DJ’S IN LA FOR A WHILE. I MARAUDED & CHANGED RESELLING SHOES & SNEAKER COLLECTING FOREVER! (IN 2003 I OWNED OVER 1,800 PERSONAL PAIRS OF RARE KICKS) I HOLD THE WORLD RECORD FOR THE BIGGEST SINGLE SHOE AUCTION AND GROUP SHOE AUCTION EVER SOLD IN EBAY HISTORY (1 PAIR FOR $33,100 AND A PARTIAL COLLECTION OF KICKS FOR OVER $229,000). I AM 1/3 OF “AMC” AIR MACK’$ CREW = DJ AM, DJ HOMICIDE & MYSELF (WHICH = ROYALTY IN THE KICKS & DJ WORLD) AND NOW I’M THAT “WEST COAST JEWELER” WHO IS KILLING THE CUSTOM ICE GAME WORLDWIDE AND TRYIN TO PUT US KOREANS ON THE MAP!

AMC

AMC dun been showing rookies where the sneaker heaters at

Right now I’m working on...

MAKING A 200 CARAT DIAMOND PENDANT WITH OVER 4 LBS OF GOLD TO BARF ON EVERYONE AT THE NEXT NBA ALL STAR GAME IN VEGAS 2006 AND WORKING ON SOME CUSTOM PIECES FOR BLACK WALL STREET MEMBERS AND MAKING A NEW HUGE CUSTOM CHAIN & CHARM FOR JONAS BEVACQUA (CEO OF LRG CLOTHING)

Ben Ballers first Design for L-R-G, titled , "BEN'S NIGHT IN TOKYO"

The first thing I do in the morning is...

TAKE A VALIUM AND THEN CHECK MYSPACE

The last thing I do at night is...

TAKE A VALIUM AND THEN CHECK MYSPACE

My momma always said...

YOU ARE A MONSTER!

I love it when people...

HATE ON MY DOWNFALL, IT ONLY BRINGS ME STRENGTH

I hate it when people...

ASK ME IF I’M THAT GUY WHO MAKES BATHING APES. CMON MANG! I’M 6 FEET TALL! DUDE IS 4 FOOT 15 INCHES!

If you ever see me walking down the street...

SAY WHAT UP AND KEEP IT MOVIN, TRY NOT TO STARE FOR TOO LONG AND PLEASE DO NOT FREESTYLE IN FRONT OF ME, AND NO I WON’T LISTEN TO YOUR DEMO TAPE.

My most notable run-in with the law...

RAN FROM THE COPS & A HELICOPTER ON MY MOTORCYCLE IN A HIGH
SPEED CHASE DOIN OVER 175MPH AND MADE THE NEWS. NUFF SAID. LOL THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES.

If I had to say sorry it would be because I...

WAS NEVER EASY TO THE LADIES, I GAVE MOST OF THEM A LOTTA PAIN AND SUFFERING, LOL! AND I HAVE TO SAY SORRY TO MY FAMILY FOR GIVING THEM SO MUCH TROUBLE AND FOR PUTTING UP WITH ALL MY BULLSHIT AND BEIN AN ASSHOLE FOR SO LONG. I WAS KICKED OUTTA CLOSE TO 12 SCHOOLS GROWING UP, ARRESTED NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY STILL HAVE MY BACK.

Yo, you see this scar, I got this when I...

FLIPPED 23 TIMES ON MY MOTORCYCLE ON LA CIENEGA DOIN A STAND UP WHEELIE. I WAS SHOWIN OFF & THEN SOME 432 YEAR OLD BITCH DECIDED TO CUT ME OFF AND THAT’S WHEN THE BIKE SCRAPED THE TAIL AT AROUND 50+ MPH AND FLEW UP AND I WAS STILL FLIPPING & SLIDING AFTER THE BIKE STOPPED AND FINALLY LANDED AROUND A 1/8 OF A MILE AWAY. I HAVE A PIN IN MY KNEE UNDERNEATH THE SCAR & I TARNISHED SOME NICE MISTER CARTOON TATTOOS!

Lifes a beach

The last time I swore I’d never drink was after a night of...

DOIN TOOO MANY DRUGS; FROM MUSHROOMS TO BLOW TO PUFFIN DRO TO DRINKING RETARDED AMOUNTS OF JAGER AND WILD TURKEY AT MY BOY NIC ADLERS 21ST BDAY AT ON THE ROX. I THOUGHT I WAS TALKING TO JIM MORRISON THAT NIGHT. I WAS TOLD THE NEXT DAY THAT THE POSTER ON THE WALL THAT I WAS TALKING TO WASN’T EVEN JIM MORRISON, I WENT NUTSO, ALMOST LOST MY MIND & AND TOOK A PISS IN JACK NICHOLSON’S LIMO. HAHAA.

Future projects and plans...

TO BREAK THE ASIAN STEROTYPES IN THIS CRAZY ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND STARTING MY OWN WATCH & CLOTHING BRAND/LINE. MAYBE ANOTHER MOVIE AND A REALITY TV SERIES (MAYBE, I’M STILL SKEPTICAL THOUGH)

And before I leave I’d like to give a shout out too...

SLAUSON STEVE, ICEE FRESH FAM (JAMES, JEFF & JOE), COCKY RIDAZ, MISTER CARTOON & ESTEVAN ORIOL, JONAS @ LRG, DJ HOMICIDE, DJ AM, DJ SKEE, JOEL AND BENJI MADDEN, MAX MURDER, GAME & ALL AMC/BWS FAM, ALLON INY R.I.P., SORRY IF I FORGOT ANYONE

Oh. He forgot to say. The motherfuckers reeeeaaaallllll oldschoooool....................

Until next time. Adieu