ONE Staff / June 15th, 2010 / Spotlight
PRINT: 15 MINUTES with B Luv Hardin

Brandon “B Love” Hardin came to LA and did what most cannot — became a unique human. His style alone has set him apart from the beginning. One thing I remember about B is that he used to have this pair of shants (not quite shorts, not quite pants) that had duct tape all over the knee; he would wear them every day we skated. In hindsight they were horrible, but back in 1994-95, most of what we all wore was horrible. B has a coolness about him that is hard to find. His love of music, skating, women and combs drove his rollerblading success. His skating style is like no other. Not huge on the competition scene, but he does sport a gold medal for best trick from the first X-Games (farside soul to soul). An old school favorite of many pros today, B Love Hardin has set his legacy in stone, forever. B still lives in Venice Beach and is a die-hard Lakers fan. You can catch him balling on the Venice Beach courts most days… and hitting on chicks! — MO

The premier of the “Hoax 2” was the pinnacle of my career. My hair was feathered and my woman had eight years on me. That night was amazing! Summer ’96.

So B, how did you get into skating back in the day?

There are a few things I remember that got me into skating. When I rented some skates in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, with some college friends. When I saw Chris Edwards doing a flip, and when I saw Arlo grinding a curved rail in “Daily Bread.” Those were the most inspirational moments that got me into skating and elevated my passion.

Photo by BK. Fall issue of Box, 1996.

What was the Colorado scene like?

After moving from Texas to Nebraska, I ended up in Ft. Collins, Colorado. The scene was a few amazing and highly talented teenage skaters pulling mistys and 720s off stair gaps, in between banks of snow. Those kids were very inspirational!

What made you want to come to LA?

Spohn Ranch. The dirty, funky, smelly house that ended up being a hub to skaters moving to or visiting Southern California. Seriously, though, LA was the mecca of exposure and advancement for rollerblading.

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Discussion / PRINT: 15 MINUTES with B Luv Hardin

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  • Anthony - June 15th, 2010

    Excellent Read here.B Love still rules today. Now I’m wondering what happened to Matty Mantz.

  • Lars Echterhoff - June 16th, 2010

    You was the guy I looked up to, when I startet grinding sidewalk curbs and jumping small stair sets back in 1995! You are one of those guys that ignited all of this rollerblading we have now!

  • Travesty - June 16th, 2010

    Nice article. Now, if they could track down the king of old-school style-TJ Webber, then that would be amazing.

  • Jeff Hughes - June 16th, 2010

    Just awesome, best guy ever.

  • joey - June 17th, 2010

    Fantastic article! Pleaaaasssse do a 15 minutes with Dion Antony and TJ Webber. This was just too good.

  • Somethingblue - June 18th, 2010

    Great, I remember seeing B Hardin section on Day of the Rope, but I had seen nothing before that of him, im glad I read this as I feel I know more about the history of rollerblading before I started in 96/97

  • Jordan - June 23rd, 2010

    Great read. Please keep writing these kind of articles. I can’t get enough content on old school skaters.

  • Malik Glenn frm bflo - July 29th, 2010

    grinds with tongue out..keepin it steezy son!

  • Anonymous - August 5th, 2010

    Awesome article bro, I remember you letting me borrow your skates all those years ago when you came back to visit and I trashed your bearings in those tarmacs, You were so pissed but I learned to grind those few days, years later I followed in your steps here in Houston but never went too far. I am glad you got the recognition I always thought you deserved and are seen by many as the great skater I always looked up to.

    Congrats on the interview and you were always my favorite skater.

    Your little bro

  • Randall - January 18th, 2011

    I just randomly came across this and am totally pumped to see it! B has been a great friend of mine since back in the day. I have so many great memories and random stories that I still tell on a regular basis! Shit I was seriously telling a B story to a friend of mine about 2 hours ago!!haha…B is an awesome guy and the recognition couldn’t go to a more deserving person!

    And whaddup Josh AKA “little bro”?!?!?! haha

  • James Q - August 12th, 2011

    LEGEND

  • anthony simpson - May 16th, 2016

    Bit late to the party I know, but these guys were inspirational. I remember watching hoax 2 and thought b love , brooke-howard smith & co were legends, the number of kids who strapped on a pair & went hitting rails. Anyone know what happened to ryan jacklone? That dude was amazing

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