Since 2020 I’ve scoured the internet for a wall of boomboxes — I found two. “I spotted another wall of boomboxes at Trill in Phoenix,” I said to Ron Morales on December 1. “Wanna take a road trip?” “Vamonos, bro,” he responded. “How far is Phoenix from San Diego?” “About five to six hours.” The […]
By Mike Madriaga The palabra within the off-road community is that reggaeton star Karol G has brought some new fans and racers into off-roadin’ culture. “I think it’s awesome that more women are getting involved in off-roading,” said Yolie Stover, who has covered the off-road racing scene since the ’90s, when Karol G was birthed […]
By Mike Madriaga The original story was published in the print edition of the San Diego Reader on June 24, 2021[/caption]Throughout the month of June, pop-rapper and reggaeton songstress Becky G has tweeted and TikTokked while “drippin’” with Dime Optics, the sunglass/eyeglass brand she signed on with during the pandemic. Some ‘90s hip-hop heads say […]
By Mike Madriaga This month, those who live in Lemon Grove were soured by the grand opening of a Popeyes restaurant. “Just two days open has already made it impossible to navigate the parking lot by Bank of America, as the [Popeyes] drive-thru line extends into the narrow exit onto Central!” exclaimed Charlie on our […]
By Mike Madriaga On May 29, wellsready2fish, a local eBay seller, sold a concrete chunk from the recently demolished SDCCU stadium — for $15. The online seller sold a different concrete chunk a week prior titled “San Diego Jack Murphy Qualcomm Stadium …. Souvenir Authentic” for $10. “So happy to have this little chunk representing […]
By Mike Madriaga A sense of elation followed by pride broke out among San Diego hip-hoppers and sneakerheads last month when Lincoln High alumnus, Norman Powell, signed a sneaker deal with AND1. “Powell is currently the only San Diego-born player with his own shoe,” said local hip-hop head and sneaker dealer Dante Rowley. “Powell signing […]
By Mike Madriaga On March 26-27, an estimated 20 San Diegans rendezvoused with about 3000 other record collectors and dealers at the Pasaje Rodríguez on Avenida Revolución in Tijuana for the Fifth Tijuana Vinyl Fair. “[I found] an extremely rare ‘City of the Angels’ single by Los Walker de Tijuana,” said Lucio Soto. “Currently, I […]
On the 4th of July, Kanye West tweeted: “We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States! #2020VISION.” I took to my social media to see if the 43-year-old rapper turned entrepreneur would have San Diego voters […]
By Mike Madriaga San Diego hip-hop heads were baffled as to how Tekashi 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj’s “Trollz” copped the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 list on June 12. Near the beginning of the three-plus-minute cut, 6ix9ine raps: I know you don’t like me, you wanna fight me You don’t want no problems […]
By Mike Madriaga Michelle Cardenas from San Diego became worried to hear that Angeles Verdes (Green Angels), a free of charge and national road service, might be discontinued in certain parts of Mexico. “The Green Angels towed our car to Rosarito when we broke down on the toll road,” she said, “they came up at […]
By Mike Madriaga If you want to fish, you have to be west of the checkered flag,” blared a voice from the PA speaker above us, “there’s also no fishing on the south side of the [Imperial Beach] Pier at this time.” “There’s nobody even surfing down there,” yelled fisherman Nick Cline, “not even swimmers, […]
By Mike Madriaga On the morning of April 23, Jasmine King and her family’s flatbed trailer was stolen from the front of their Escondido home. “People are getting desperate,” she said to me on May 9, “there’s been a recent problem with off-road [vehicle] theft ….” Fortunately for King, 36, their 1988 Big Tex trailer […]
By Mike Madriaga “I believe I had this COVID-19 virus a few weeks ago,” said Sunnie. “I never felt so sick in my life.” Sunnie, 54, from Pacific Beach and a registered nurse, requested we not publish her last name. I sent Sunnie a direct message on March 22, hours after Governor Newson called on […]
By Mike Madriaga On March 12, the Rocket Con promoters postponed their upcoming comic book, toy and collectibles show in Mission Valley, to August 1-2. Anaheim’s WonderCon — a subsidiary of Comic-Con International: San Diego — also canceled their three-day show next month with no word on a new date, “to protect public health and […]
By Mike Madriaga Alexis, a public school teacher in Ensenada, received 20,000 pesos (about $1062) in back pay on December 20, after going months without being paid. “And some of my colleagues received up to 80,000 pesos (about $4249) owed to them,” he said. “The last time we spoke on September 18, you and your […]