Growing up is not a walk in the park, but it’s worth the ride!

That’s what this two pieces of work teach us.

The first one, Ron Beals, age 78, is a living Venice legend
The second one, Danny Brown, is a stylish and sucka free Detroit rapper/hip hop legend.

Indeed, life is no sugar-coated bedtime story, but Danny Brown’s punchline and Ron Beals’ attitude and involvment in his community, show us it’s worth the ride!

Ron Beals

You probably remember Ron Beals’ rockin purple spandex shorts on the White Man Can’t Jump movie. He grew up in Chicago and witnessed the birth of Basketball. He started his career at Loyola University in chicago 1960,  where he was known to be a pure shooter.
When asked what was the his best all times performance he says that he’s  not interested in individuality and that is was all about the team.

He says that the 80′s was the Best competition he witness in Venice.  Players from The Rockets, The hawks, Michael Cage would come and play regularly. It was great time when Ken Hicks was hosting his Summer showdown games up to the point when Kobe was injured in the 90′s .

He speaks with great pride about his sister Jennifer Beals (Flashdance) and his daughter who is featured in the Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas. He has now been living on the beach in Santa Monica for 30 years and rides his bike to Venice Beach every day. The man is 78  and is in optimal shape, he keeps the legend of Venice Courts alive and is not going anywhere..

Danny Brown

His punchline-stuffed 2011 album XXX landed high on many best-of year-end lists and deservedly so. On his new Scion A/V single « Grown Up » Brown reminisces about being a frisky little kid over snappy snares and pulsing piano. « Whoever though I’d be the greatest growing up? » asks Danny.

Aurelie Siou

Watch the Grown Up video!