Rodrigo Lima: "I'm really not into karaoke"

Thrasher Magazine, July, 2004 by Benny Blanco

What's up dog; what are you doing?

Just putting a shoe lace in my shoe so I can go skating.

So you've been here for a little over two years now. Is the skateboard am life all it's cracked up to be?

It's been so good for me since I moved out to the US. I don't have to go to school--all I have to do is wake up and skate. It's just perfect for me.

I heard you used to be neighbors with Danny Cerezini back in Brazil; did you guys grow up skating together?

Yeah, Danny still lives a block away from my house back in Brazil. We used to skate everyday together.

Damn, you guys must have just fired each other up on skating. Any crazy Brazilian skate adventures yon guys got into?

We hyped each other up for sure. No stories I can really remember right now; it's been a few years, but it was good times for sure.

How has skating differed here compared to Brazil?

When I was in Brazil I would just skate more for fun or skate some contests, but here you're constantly filming and shooting photos. It's way better here though, the only thing that really sucks is that you've got to drive so far to get to a spot, and then you can get kicked out.

So you live in Newport Beach now? Why do all the Brazilians move to Newport Beach and Costa Mesa?

I don't really know why. Maybe because it's a really nice place to live and it's by the beach.

Do you think the beach makes all the Brazilians feel closer to home?

I don't think so.

You live in some crazy Brazilian karaoke apartment. What's that all about? Are you up all night on the mic singing? What's your favorite karaoke song to sing?

I don't like that thing and I've never sang into that thing before, but my roommate is crazy. He's 40 years old and he thinks he is 18. He just sings into the karaoke machine all day long.

Does your roommate ever dedicate any songs to you? Or do you ever request any songs?

Hell no, and I don't make any requests. I'm really not into karaoke.

Who do you usually go out and shred with? Who hypes you the most when you're out filming?

I'm always out skating with my homies from Brazil. They definitely hype me up the most.

What skaters are inspirational to you?

Right now I've been most hyped on Rodrigo TX, Danny Garcia ... when I was in Brazil, I looked up to Koston and Tom Penny:

So you're filming for both the Shorty's video and Circa video? That must be hectic.

It's kinda hard to film for two video parts at once, but it's not impossible. I'm just going to keep skating and filming and see what's up.

What set-up keeps you shredding right now?

Right now I'm riding a 7.5" Shorty's board, 50mm Ghetto Child wheels, and Fury trucks. I'm also set up with the Circa CX203's and Ezekiel clothing.

You've got a pretty solid list of sponsors. How did you go from an unknown in Brazil to one of today's up-and-coming amateurs?

Everything started happening after I won the best trick out at the Tampa Am contest a couple years ago. After that, I packed my bags and moved out here. I met Toan Nguyen and he introduced me to all the right people.

What was the move to San Diego like?

I lived with my old team manager, and that was kind of crazy. SD was chill, but I just wasn't feeling the spots we were going to and I really wanted to go live with all my Brazilian homies. I'm hyped where I'm at right now.

How have all the tours been? Do you get along with your teammates?

The tours have been so good--just traveling and skating, and the seven-hour Cee-lo games. The Shorty's crew is dope; we have good times and good skate sessions.

So how is it that you're making out with the most girls on tour? What's your secret?

Stupid. When we're on tour Fabrizio and Sammy always convince random girls to come over and make out with me. Just not feeling the demo girls.

What's up with your compulsive gambling problem? When we're on tour you just can't stop rolling those dice.

'Cause all I do is take everybody's money.

I heard you've been bumpin' BreezeBeatz from 3232 Records lately. Is that shit thumping or what? Are you going to use a Fabrizio beat for your part?

I haven't even heard any of his beats yet, but I can tell you I am definitely not using BreezeBeatz for my part.

What else do you listen to if not BreezeBeatz?

I mostly have been listing to hip-hop; right now I'm listing to Mobb Deep and the Prodigy solo stuff a lot.

Anybody you wanna holla at?

I want to say thanks to everybody who's been helping me out, God, my family, all my sponsors, and especially Thrasher for giving me this opportunity to be in the mag. Also I want to say what's up to all my homies back in Brazil: "E nois mesmo vagabundo aprecciate."