Want ItX-Video games gold medalist snowboarder Zeb Powell is useless set on bringing hip-hop tradition to the mountaintop.Interview: Joey EchevarriaEditor’s Notice: This story seems within the Summer season 2025 subject of XXL Journal, on newsstands now and accessible on the market on the XXL web site.
World-class snowboarder Zeb Powell is simply as enthusiastic about hip-hop as he’s in regards to the world of utmost sports activities. In truth, the athlete typically dubbed as essentially the most inventive man on a snowboard describes rap music as one thing he can’t dwell with out.
In 2020, Zeb Powell turned the primary Black snowboarder to win a gold medal on the Winter X-Video games, the game’s premier competitors occasion. The Waynesville, N.C. native takes immense delight in breaking down that barrier and makes use of hip-hop as a conduit so as to add extra range to hissport.
Zeb tapped in with XXL by way of Zoom throughout a springtime snowboarding journey to Colorado. Right here,he tells tales of shredding the slopes with top-notch hip-hop artists, the tracks he vibes to, histop 5 rappers and extra.
XXL: How would you describe your relationship with hip-hop?
Zeb Powell: Properly, sh*t, I can’t actually dwell with out it. Half my life is simply hip-hop, whether or not it’s mellow or energetic. Rap music is so influential to everybody. Whether or not it’s relatable by way of what they’re saying, what they’re rapping about or simply the power within the track. Everybody can relate to at the least one rap track.
Do you’ve gotten a high 5 favourite rapper checklist?
I’ve a reasonably distinguished high 5. Off the bat, Mac Miller might be first, simply because he covers so many genres. Not simply his celebration music, however all of his music and all the things. His producing, I feel that sh*t’s so sick. He simply matches each vibe that I’ve. Then, I obtained Freddie Gibbs, Travis Scott, Don Toliver. However oh, my God, the checklist goes on. Isaiah Rashad. That’s an enormous one for me.
What have been your most memorable experiences with rappers?
We obtained the chance to take A$AP Ferg snowboarding. That’s actually once I noticed a differentenergy on the mountain. I actually didn’t know the best way to introduce myself or introduce this entire snowboarding factor to him, however I put it into perspective by saying that there’s solely been two fellow Black [pro] snowboarders. Russell Winfield and Stevie Bell had been the primary to do it. [Ferg]actually resonated with it. Simply to see him strategy the mountain, that’s when it actually was like, Oh, my God. That is such a special power. It’s so cool, and it was captured superbly.
I linked up with Isaiah Rashad. The way in which that we kick it after we are in entrance of our audiences may be very related. It’s simply mad real. I used to be with Bia the opposite week. She pulled as much as our occasion, Pink Bull Heavy Metallic in Boston and he or she’s from Boston. She popped out and I obtained to kick it along with her. She’s mad cool.
Have you ever ever snowboarded with a rapper who shocked you with their abilities?
I snowboarded with Travis Scott. He was fairly good that day. I feel he was recovering from his knee harm, so he was a bit rusty, however he FaceTimed me from Aspen just a few weeks in the past with my homie. I noticed the clips of him boarding and he’s mobbing them. He was following my pal off the X-Video games jumps. He wasn’t hitting them, however he was filming them and people rollers, it’s such as you’re dropping off a constructing. So, it undoubtedly takes some ability to go down that. He’s within the combine, for positive.
What songs are in your playlist while you journey?
Off the rip, SahBabii. The track “On Movie.” I obtained “Skinny Suge” by Freddie Gibbs. “ILMB,” Sheck Wes and Travis Scott. Dude, that’s hearth. That’s been on repeat in the meanwhile. “That’s Not Gangsta,” Younger Nudy is one other one on my high, no matter. “Good N Gradual” by Money Cobain. That sh*t’s addicting proper now. “Consider It” by SahBabii. “Olympian” by Playboi Carti. I’ve been bumpin’ that one loads.
What would you want to perform that will strengthen the connection between hip-hop and excessive sports activities much more?
I need to do a competition that simply clashes my world with the hip-hop world. We’re undoubtedly heading in the right direction. I’m simply getting all of the issues in place, constructing my crew, dwelling and studying from occasions. One thing like that’s on the best way. I’m making these connections with these rappers. Simply attempting to be intentional with them and construct power.
Realizing the place I’m and the influence I’ve, I’ve been attempting to get the snowboard world and sponsors to let me break into this world of tradition as a substitute of simply absolutely doing the snowboard factor. I need to do these group occasions that convey power and connecting the rappers to do them, that’s the following step.
Watch XXL’s Interview With Zeb Powell
Watch Zeb Powell’s Snowboarding Highlights
The summer time 2025 subject of XXL journal that includes Zeb Powell’s interview is obtainable to buy right here. The difficulty additionally contains interviews with all 12 members of the 2025 Freshman Class and producer Cardo Acquired Wings, in addition to conversations with Key Glock, Larry June, Aminé, Monaleo, Nardo Wick, Tech N9ne and extra, plus a glance again at what the 2024 XXL Freshman Class has been doing and a deep dive into who’s the most important and finest XXL Freshman ever.
