Michael, if anyone’s been paying attention on social media, you’ve been blowing up blading recently. Which made me think, where’d you go, anyway?
Basically, I said “Skip rollerblading… I’m over it.” I was going through a lot of stuff, plus lost one of my best friends to drugs. Shit was really f****d up. Messed me up pretty bad. Got super into partying and basically just being a thug. I was wilding out. Towards the end of my hiatus I got in a bunch of trouble and got locked up, which to me was a blessing in disguise because it gave me time to sit down, think, and reflect on everything in my life. I realized rollerblading is what I NEED TO BE DOING.

Why’re all those judges and authority types been trying to “fuggg” with you out there in KC?
I don’t know bro! They wanna see me locked up… Nah. Like I said, I was wilding out and got myself in a bunch of mess. But actually the judge has been rather lenient and took a liking to me, basically giving me another chance which I vowed to myself and my family and friends not to “Fugg” up this time around.

Since your rebirth on blades you went on a update spree and seemed to get yourself hooked up with USD by sheer force of will. How did that happen? What’s your status?
Basically, I wanted a fresh start. And USD was the only company I felt I would even consider blading for besides Valo. I saw Montre just started skating for them and I like the direction they are goin’ in, and the team is dope. Especially Franky Morales — he’s always been one of my favorite bladers since I was a youngin’. It just made sense. I see myself doing big things at USD. So I found out who I needed to contact from Rachard Johnson (That was Erick Sauer [USD team manager]. He’s dope.), and he contacted Matthias for me, and like that I was skating Carbons and on USD. Honestly, I don’t know what my status is at USD right now, but I’m gonna do everything in my power to be pro by the end of this year, which is what I told Matthias. I’m very, very hungry and not giving up anytime soon. Beleeee that.

I’m sure there’s bladers out there that think it isn’t fair or deserved or whatever. What do you want to say to them?
Ha ha, sucks to suck! Nahhh JK. I’m completely joking. I don’t know man. I am very grateful of every opportunity I’ve been given and plan to take full advantage of them. I’m sorry to anyone that feels I’m stepping on their toes, but I think I’m pretty marketable and plan on making rollerblading look as cool as possible. Not to mention all the work I put in throughout my younger years, regardless of my lil’ hiatus I went on. I’m back, better than ever, grown up, with a way better outlook on life, and just way more mature in my opinion.

Michael Collins – Warm up backslide

Speaking of that stuff — up until this point, what has been your blade life highlight?
Road To Nowhere, Meantime, The Zombie Comatose vid, On Top… Man, just filming sections is the shit. Having an opportunity to work with people like Adam Johnson and Brandon Negrete was a blessing. I owe both of those dudes for sure, as well as Alex Broskow too. They helped me out a lot man.

You were just out here in California; how’d that go?
Well, if you didn’t know I actually went out there for my big cousin Chris’ funeral. He was my favorite cousin. Straight G and had all the chicks. But unfortunately, six years ago when I was 17 years old he got shot by some suckas. Due to no insurance and it being in South Central LA, the only hospital that would take him was so far that he actually died for a minute on the way to the hospital. For the past six years he’s been brain dead in a hospital where my grandmother went every day to feed, bathe, and take care of him. He finally passed away mid-April of this year, so I flew out to LA for the funeral which was on 4/20. I linked up with Erick Rodriguez who wanted to make a “Welcome to USD” edit for me, so I ended up staying with my dog Paul John in Long Beach for an extra week to film with Erick and Rachard. Cali was the shit though. I got some fresh photo’s with Jonathan Labez and some dope footy with Erick and Rachard.

Top Acid / Photo by Labez

What was up with that music video you visited?
Randomly I got a chance to be in my dog Caligula’s new video “Fighter Jet” feat. Wiz Khalifa. Look out for that! Shit’s gonna be fresh. I got a cameo shredding in that mug.

That’s cool. Stayed clean though, right?
YES. I’m on probation, so for that and my own reasons I dropped the drugs completely. EVERYTHING, even Weed. Yes that’s right, VX Fresh quit smoking weed. Although I did drink a few times I’ve really chilled on that as well. It’s def for the better!

Sick. So is the weather better in KC now? How often are you able to get out on the blades?
Bruh, you never know what the weathers gonna be like in KC. It could be 85° one day and 30° the next. It literally did that last week. But whatever weather it is I’m blading! Even if I have to hit KC Indoor!

Think you’ll stop again any time soon?
F*** NO! I’ll quit when I die! On stones! It’s BLADE LIFE over here!

Well cool man, it’s good to see you around again. We look forward to working together more. Anyone you need to shout out or thank?
Well, first and foremost I wanna thank my lady, Jessica Alexis McLeod, and my lil’ mans Jacen. Jessica motivated me to get back on my blades and stuck with me thru everything. I love you baby. You’re the shit for real… My moms too. I love that woman with all my heart. I really wanna thank Alex Broskow and Adam Johnson for raising me right, and I wanna apologize to them for being such a thug and fuckin’ up all the time. Those guys are the shit. I was raised by the best. Thanks to Matthias, the owner of USD, and Erick Sauer, the team manager, for believing in me and giving me a chance at USD. USD SKATES ALL DAY. Go buy some Carbons. Cop my nigga Frankys pro skate. Thanks to Mike Johnson for sticking with me and still believing in me. JUG over here dog. Buy Jug gear, buy Jug liners buy Jug sneakers. That shit is fresh. Thanks to Geoff Acres, and Jon Elliot also, for giving me another chance with Ground Control. Buy GC frames. They the best. FREE MY LIL’ BROTHER ROYCE. 500. Shout all my lil’ brothers Marcus, Tyler, James, Jacques, Josiah, Travis, Cody, Micah, Win, Lil’ Patt Piff from the Chi. Shout out my big bro Chris McCullough and the rest The Moes. ABPSN 500, that’s my set. Shout out my big bro Sir Rod, Dutch Newman, and all my other friends, fans and family. I love you all!

RIP CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY ROBERTS
RIP JOSHUA THOMAS FRUTCHEY

www.usd-skate.com
www.gcuprising.com
www.jugshoes.com

Follow Me on Twitter and Instagram: @VXfresh

Like my Facebook Fan Page
Follow me on Vine: King VX Fresh

All right, then be good! Later.

Photos by Jonathan Labez