Mission Statement Episode 11: Yaje Popson

Yaje Popson played at Tompkins Square Park as a little kid before honing his skills there as an adolescent. During his formative years, he developed a spontaneity with his skating that can only be achieved through growing up pushing through traffic. He had already shut down much of the city, and was a step away from riding for Chocolate; when he injured his knee circa 2011. This resulted in a trip to Brazil for surgery.
Yaje traveled through South America during his recovery, and discovered gardening, cooking, and Ayahuasca. Upon returning to New York rejuvenated around 2014, he began filming what would become his part in DANY [2016]. The comeback was spectacular; and he’s put out several parts since. In the process, Yaje has emerged as one of the cornerstones of the current generation of Alien Workshop and the newly-reformed Sovereign Sect.
If the criteria for being considered a legend is being remembered for your craft, Yaje has likely achieved that status already. But beyond the flips and grinds, he has a great story of self discovery and overcoming mental and physical adversity to realize his full potential. Lee Smith takes a deep dive into Yaje’s narrative in Episode 11 of Mission Statement.
Host: Lee Smith
Executive Producer: Artem Gorelik
Art Director: Brett Dalzell
Editorial Director: Leland Ware
Listen on SoundCloud: bit.ly/2J5pA5K
Filmed on location at: monaliza.studio/
For more news, visit: skatenewswire.com/

[@sipeplow]

Yaje gets it. Enjoyed this ep. tuned in individual. Earth & Otherworldly Awareness. RIP TM ✨

[@survivor1time]

Yaje for President

[@ryanrowe1975]

RIP Pablo

[@tallgeese9715]

interview was too short

[@shakedown130]

"Yea everyone else was at the bar when they turned 21, I was in the amazon drinking ayahuasca." tOo cOoL 4 sChOoL

[@calisober7]

R.I.P. Pablo

[@WHDRWN]

Dude weed man.

[@sachaupshaw3931]

Eyyyyyyy making curry feelin inspired, thanks yaje🍛

[@lorenzojoneson]

that cyc wall is painted pretty terribly.

[@jasongerard5744]

His speech pattern is interesting. He pauses so much.

[@arthurhatten]

Jason Gerard thought my laptop kept freezing

[@chandlermusial5547]

Think he just likes to articulate his thoughts appropriately to get his point across ✨

[@xExile7]

I was literally going to comment about his speech pattern lmao

[@TheSLICEonU]

Not saying he’s a genius at all lol but it reminds me of when Elon musk talks. I just think they care a lot about the words they say

[@Tricerictops4]

I guess it’s better than people like kader that says like 10 times in a sentence lmao

[@carsonhughes3074]

Good shit Lee 👍

[@BG-sj7zh]

Cool dude

[@crazyasspatersonskaters]

Obsessed with skateboarding

[@tallgeese9715]

the interviewer seems disingenuous

[@tallgeese9715]

stop laughing over-eagerly

[@Creaturefiendyo]

Yaje gets too deep for him he doesn’t know what to say

[@vico805]

Wish we could get new mission statement episodes 😖/ seen this one like 5 times already good stuff by Lee and Yaje!!

[@dutchmaster2135]

yeah brodie

[@alexandermorris4336]

Rodney Torres hooked me up with a deck at flushing back in the day. First pro I met .Cool dude

[@rockafakie]

Definitely remember watching “Speed Freaks”, eating breakfast, before school, this dude is cool, keep skating.

[@planetzoot7410]

History is a race towards education or extinction

[@pmpreel]

Bobby puleo next please !!!

[@kouibingham1642]

I like this interview

[@whatmemories3728]

So stoned

[@sagesage5171]

1:05:00

[@Oscar-bb2uc]

yaj is the goodiest

[@jasongerard5744]

Much needed

[@liamgallagherrr]

Excellent keep em coming !