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X-Video games gold medalist snowboarder Zeb Powell is useless set on bringing hip-hop tradition to the mountaintop.
Interview: Joey Echevarria
Editor’s Observe: This story seems within the Summer time 2025 difficulty of XXL Journal, on newsstands now and out there on the market on the XXL web site.
World-class snowboarder Zeb Powell is simply as obsessed with hip-hop as he’s concerning the world of maximum sports activities. In actual fact, the athlete typically dubbed as probably the most inventive man on a snowboard describes rap music as one thing he can’t stay with out.
In 2020, Zeb Powell grew to become the primary Black snowboarder to win a gold medal on the Winter X-Video games, the game’s premier competitors occasion. The Waynesville, N.C. native takes immense satisfaction in breaking down that barrier and makes use of hip-hop as a conduit so as to add extra variety to his
sport.
Zeb tapped in with XXL by way of Zoom throughout a springtime snowboarding journey to Colorado. Right here,
he tells tales of shredding the slopes with top-notch hip-hop artists, the tracks he vibes to, his
high 5 rappers and extra.
XXL: How would you describe your relationship with hip-hop?
Zeb Powell: Nicely, sh*t, I can’t actually stay with out it. Half my life is simply hip-hop, whether or not it’s mellow or energetic. Rap music is so influential to everybody. Whether or not it’s relatable by way of what they’re saying, what they’re rapping about or simply the vitality within the music. Everybody can relate to at the least one rap music.
Do you’ve a high 5 favourite rapper checklist?
I’ve a reasonably distinguished high 5. Off the bat, Mac Miller might be first, simply because he covers so many genres. Not simply his get together music, however all of his music and every thing. His producing, I believe that sh*t’s so sick. He simply matches each vibe that I’ve. Then, I received Freddie Gibbs, Travis Scott, Don Toliver. However oh, my God, the checklist goes on. Isaiah Rashad. That’s an enormous one for me.
What have been your most memorable experiences with rappers?
We received the chance to take A$AP Ferg snowboarding. That’s actually after I noticed a unique
vitality on the mountain. I actually didn’t know the best way to introduce myself or introduce this complete snowboarding factor to him, however I put it into perspective by saying that there’s solely been two fellow Black [pro] snowboarders. Russell Winfield and Stevie Bell had been the primary to do it. [Ferg]
actually resonated with it. Simply to see him strategy the mountain, that’s when it actually was like, Oh, my God. That is such a unique vitality. It’s so cool, and it was captured superbly.
I linked up with Isaiah Rashad. The best way that we kick it after we are in entrance of our audiences may be very related. It’s simply mad real. I used to be with Bia the opposite week. She pulled as much as our occasion, Crimson Bull Heavy Metallic in Boston and she or he’s from Boston. She popped out and I received to kick it together with her. She’s mad cool.
Have you ever ever snowboarded with a rapper who shocked you with their expertise?
I snowboarded with Travis Scott. He was fairly good that day. I believe he was recovering from his knee damage, so he was a little bit rusty, however he FaceTimed me from Aspen a number of weeks in the past with my homie. I noticed the clips of him boarding and he’s mobbing them. He was following my pal off the X-Video games jumps. He wasn’t hitting them, however he was filming them and people rollers, it’s such as you’re dropping off a constructing. So, it positively takes some talent to go down that. He’s within the combine, for positive.
What songs are in your playlist if you experience?
Off the rip, SahBabii. The music “On Movie.” I received “Skinny Suge” by Freddie Gibbs. “ILMB,” Sheck Wes and Travis Scott. Dude, that’s fireplace. That’s been on repeat in the intervening time. “That’s Not Gangsta,” Younger Nudy is one other one on my high, no matter. “Good N Gradual” by Money Cobain. That sh*t’s addicting proper now. “Imagine It” by SahBabii. “Olympian” by Playboi Carti. I’ve been bumpin’ that one quite a bit.
What would you want to perform that will strengthen the connection between hip-hop and excessive sports activities much more?
I wish to do a pageant that simply clashes my world with the hip-hop world. We’re positively heading in the right direction. I’m simply getting all of the issues in place, constructing my crew, dwelling and studying from occasions. One thing like that’s on the best way. I’m making these connections with these rappers. Simply attempting to be intentional with them and construct vitality.
Realizing the place I’m and the affect I’ve, I’ve been attempting to get the snowboard world and sponsors to let me break into this world of tradition as an alternative of simply absolutely doing the snowboard factor. I wish to do these neighborhood occasions that deliver vitality and connecting the rappers to do them, that’s the following step.
Watch XXL‘s Interview With Zeb Powell
Watch Zeb Powell’s Snowboarding Highlights
The summer season 2025 difficulty of XXL journal that includes Zeb Powell’s interview is accessible to buy right here. The difficulty additionally consists of interviews with all 12 members of the 2025 Freshman Class and producer Cardo Acquired Wings, in addition to conversations with Key Glock, Larry June, Aminé, Monaleo, Nardo Wick, Tech N9ne and extra, plus a glance again at what the 2024 XXL Freshman Class has been doing and a deep dive into who’s the largest and greatest XXL Freshman ever.
