DESMOND RHODES
BROOKLYN · NEW YORK @hoodhappynyc ↗
Brooklyn raised. New York made.The rider. The story. The streets.Professional BMX

DESMOND RHODES

Desmond Rhodes airborne above a street rail in New York, from King of NYC Streets Part 2

Known as Blackman. Always his own.

Brooklyn raised.
Street made.

Watch King of NYC Streets IIA film by David Svedosh · 2017
01 / A life in motionNew York City. An ordinary street. An extraordinary line.Film still · David Svedosh / Viewing NYC ↗

01 / The rider

A New York
original.

Follow the full story ↗

Some riders learn the city.
Others become part of its story.

Desmond “Blackman” Rhodes is a professional BMX street rider raised in Brooklyn, New York. From a Ride BMX cover to the King of NYC Streets films and the Brooklyn Banks community, he has built a life around riding on his own terms. His creative world extends into HoodHappy, music and personal style; on Instagram, he goes by DROSE45 at @hoodhappynyc.

In his 2006 interview, Rhodes described himself as originally from Queens and raised in Brooklyn. The bike was his way beyond the block—and the streets became his canvas.

Home roots
Brooklyn, NYC
Discipline
Street BMX
Also known as
Blackman

Kanode Knows / Episode 89

A life beyond
the footage.

Desmond, in conversation with Bobby Kanode. The childhood, the breakthrough, the setbacks—and the reasons he keeps riding.

1:53hours of conversation
Published January 8, 2024
Watch the full conversation ↗

Recorded on New Year’s Eve 2023. These are Desmond’s recollections; projects discussed as future plans are not presented as completed releases.

01 / A way out, a way forward

The bike meant freedom.

Reflecting on an unsettled childhood and periods without stable housing, Desmond describes BMX as a constant—a way beyond his neighborhood and toward a different life.

02 / Finding his own line

Influence became individuality.

Early VHS films and New York riders opened his eyes to what was possible. The magazine cover became a personal dream reached; developing his own style mattered just as much.

03 / Still showing up

Life grows. Riding stays.

He talks about making room for BMX alongside work and adult responsibilities, and encouraging younger riders to support themselves while finding their own way.

04 / Building something of his own

The next chapter: HoodHappy.

Entering 2024, he discusses rebuilding HoodHappy and developing an independent shoe project. His ambition is to turn years of riding and personal identity into something tangible.

Explore the conversation

Approximate chapter times from the podcast audio edition; the video may differ slightly.

  1. HoodHappy and independent plans ↗
  2. The bicycle as freedom ↗
  3. Early riding and VHS influences ↗
  4. The dream of a magazine cover ↗
  5. Representing New York ↗
  6. Work, responsibility and riding ↗
  7. Encouraging the next generation ↗
  8. An independent shoe in development ↗
  9. The drive to make new footage ↗
  10. The moments that stay with him ↗
  11. The riders who inspired him ↗

02 / In motion & in print

Let the riding
do the talking.

The landmark films, candid conversations and overlooked archive finds. Start with a classic, then go deeper.

Original work belongs to the credited creators. Films open in an optional YouTube player; other features link to their publisher. Older material may contain explicit language.

03 / The documented journey

Years on
the streets.

Video parts. A magazine cover. The city's shared history. Explore the milestones, with the source behind every entry.

28 documented milestones · Select an entry to read more

2005

Livin’ in Exile — with Nigel Sylvester

Video part

2005 · Original film

A shared New York street section with Nigel Sylvester in the Ride BMX film. In his 2006 interview, Desmond described Livin’ in Exile as his first video part.

Original film: 2005. BMX Union’s linked archival repost was published January 9, 2022.Watch the archived section ↗
2005–06

Animal’s All Day — NYC section

Video part

Mid-2000s · Release year uncertain

Rhodes appears in the New York mix section of Animal’s All Day. The company later made the section available through its own video channel.

Sources differ between 2005 and 2006; DIG labels the film 2006. Animal’s April 2013 upload is a reissue, not the original film date.Animal’s NYC section ↗ DIG’s film date ↗
2006

The Ride BMX cover

Magazine cover

March 2006 · Issue 118

Rob Dolecki photographs Desmond’s ledge feeble for the cover of Ride BMX US. The issue catalog and cover scan anchor this milestone to March 2006.

Some later accounts loosely place his breakout around 2004. The dated issue is the stronger evidence for this cover’s publication. Stair counts differ between sources and are omitted here.Issue catalog ↗ Cover scan ↗
2006

Cream BMX — New York City lifestyle

Print feature

September–October 2006 · Issue 20

Cream’s issue archive lists Blackman alongside Nigel Sylvester, Marlon Europe and Skinney in its New York City lifestyle feature.

Verified from a historical contents catalog; a complete scan of the interior feature was not reviewed.Cream issue catalog ↗
2006

The early Blackman interview

Interview

December 15, 2006 · Surviving publication

A teenage Rhodes talks about being raised in Brooklyn, his approach to street riding and the films and photos that first carried his name. He identifies Volume Bikes as a relationship at that time.

The surviving page is dated December 15. An earlier version is mentioned in historical indexing but was not independently recovered.Original interview ↗ Preserved snapshot ↗
2006–07

Flipside — New York meets Greenville

Film appearance

Late 2006–early 2007 · Release window

Glenn PP Milligan’s Ride BMX film brings New York street riders together with the Greenville, North Carolina scene. Rhodes is among its documented participants.

The film catalog preserves a December 2006 announcement and reviews and retail coverage in early 2007. Film sponsors are not treated as his personal sponsors.Ride film archive ↗
2008

Props Megatour 8 — The Come Up crew

Tour

December 6, 2008 · Trailer coverage

Blackman is named on The Come Up team for an eight-day tour through New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

December 6 dates the trailer announcement, not the exact start of the tour.Contemporary FATBMX announcement ↗
2009

Megatour 8 in photographs

Photo feature

January 6, 2009 · Published

Keith Romanowski’s tour photographs document Desmond and the crew in Ride UK’s online Photo Booth, accompanying its issue 123 coverage.

Ride UK photo feature ↗
≤2009

The AM:PM connection

Independent video

Documented by December 29, 2009

A contemporary review names Blackman among the riders in an AM:PM DVD. His later interview also recalls filming early AM:PM footage with Joey Piazza’s New York scene.

This establishes an appearance by 2009. The exact title, original release date and date of his first AM:PM footage remain unresolved.Contemporary DVD review ↗ 2015 interview ↗
2011

Bulldog Bikes / Urban Ink shoot

Editorial appearance

June 9, 2011 · Published

Bulldog Bikes identifies Blackman in its behind-the-scenes post from an Urban Ink magazine shoot.

The shoot is documented. His exact placement in the printed issue was not independently checked.Bulldog’s original post ↗
2011

HoodHappy in the New York scene

Brand / community

June 28, 2011 · Publisher report

Bulldog Bikes identifies Desmond as “HoodHappy’s Blackman” in its anniversary photo report, documenting the name within the NYC BMX scene before the later film productions.

This is evidence of the HoodHappy identity by 2011, not a verified brand founding date.Bulldog Bikes photo report ↗
2012

Hood Happy — Blackman Clips

Riding edit

February 23, 2012 · Published

BMX Union publishes a collection of Desmond’s street footage under the Hood Happy name.

BMX Union feature ↗
2013

Instagram Slam 12

Group riding edit

October 4, 2013 · Published

BMX Union’s Blackman archive documents an Instagram Slam session with Craig Passero, Grant Germain and Russ Barone.

BMX Union’s contemporary index ↗
2013

Asphalt NYC — The King of NYC Streets

Profile film

October 14, 2013 · Released

Network A’s film pairs Desmond’s story with New York street riding and a rail attempt in Queens. Produced by René Sascha Johannsen.

Original Network A film ↗ Contemporary BMX Union coverage ↗
2014

ENTREE LS — Misunderstood

Profile film

January 28, 2014 · Published

The Misunderstood series presents a short profile of Desmond and his perspective on riding and life.

The original Vimeo video returned 404 during research. The feature and its publication date were recovered from an Internet Archive snapshot.Recovered BMX Union feature ↗
2015

The Come Up — the long conversation

Interview

March 4, 2015 · Original publication

A wide-ranging conversation with Adam, Catfish and Scott Marceau revisits the Ride cover, early video parts, Megatour 8 and AM:PM.

The original March 4 date was recovered from Wayback. March 11, shown on a podcast mirror, is a later distribution date.Watch the interview ↗ Original page via Wayback ↗
2015

Peep Game — Point n Shoot

Group edit

March 23, 2015 · Published

Rhodes is credited in Steve Croteau’s group edit alongside riders including Mike Hoder, Sean Ricany, Colin Varanyak and Ty Morrow.

DIG feature and credits ↗
2015

Hood Happy Promo

Film preview

December 2, 2015 · Published

Dave Svedosh’s street promo builds toward King of NYC Streets Part 2, with Desmond riding through New York alongside a crowd.

DIG feature ↗
2016

The Instagram compilation

Riding compilation

February 17, 2016 · Published

BMX Union highlights a roughly fifteen-minute collection of riding clips and everyday footage from Desmond’s Instagram output.

BMX Union feature ↗
2016

Billy Perry — Daily Cruise 8

Group session

March 12, 2016 · Published

Desmond joins Billy Perry, Anthony Panza and other riders for 75 and Sunny, moving through Astoria, Long Island City, Manhattan and Battery Park.

BMX Union coverage is March 12; DIG’s related post followed on March 14.BMX Union feature ↗
2017

King of NYC Streets — Part 2

Profile film

February 4, 2017 · Released

Directed, filmed and edited by David Svedosh, the second film brings Desmond’s riding and personal story back to the foreground. Presented by HoodHappy Productions and Dr. Zeus Productions.

Original HoodHappyNYC film ↗ DIG feature ↗
2017

The Trip — Trip Tape B-sides

Group edit

May 1, 2017 · Published

Blackman is credited in the mix-section outtakes from Trip Tape, filmed around Los Angeles and Southern California.

This is a credited appearance in a group film, not evidence of an individual sponsorship contract.BMX Union feature and credits ↗
2017

Follow The Leader — Fall/Winter

Collection video

December 6, 2017 · Published

FTL’s own Fall/Winter 2017 collection-video post credits @hoodhappynyc among its participating crew.

The publisher credit establishes an appearance; it does not establish a personal sponsorship.FTL’s original post ↗
2020

Sesinko — Dunk Low Syracuse

Photo editorial

March 14, 2020 · Editorial date

Sesinko features Desmond in a street-style and riding editorial around the Nike Dunk Low Syracuse, connecting BMX with New York sneaker culture.

The gallery supplies the date and identifies Desmond. An editorial appearance is not a claim of Nike sponsorship.Editorial photographs ↗ Dated gallery index ↗
2020

Bike Rides for Black Lives

Community ride

August 23, 2020 · Event date

Photographer Steven Ferdman documents Desmond participating in the sixteen-mile Chinatown-to-Harlem ride, alongside Nigel Sylvester and other riders.

Photographer’s event caption ↗
2023

WK/BMX — The Urban Dynamic

Art / creative collaboration

2023 · Project year stated by the artist

Artist WK Interact credits @hoodhappynyc among the riders in a Brooklyn project exploring the relationship between rider, bicycle and street architecture.

The artist dates the Brooklyn work to 2023. The exact date of his retrospective public post is not established.Artist’s project account ↗ WK/BMX project film ↗
2024

Kanode Knows — episode 89

Podcast interview

January 8, 2024 · Published

In a full-length conversation with Bobby Kanode, Rhodes reflects on his childhood, riding influences, work, New York identity and ambitions for HoodHappy.

Published January 8, 2024; recorded December 31, 2023. Shoe-project comments describe plans at the recording date, not a confirmed product launch. Approximate chapters appear in the life-story section.Watch the full conversation ↗ Podcast edition ↗
2025

Back 2 Tha Banks Jam

Community / organizing

July 27, 2025 · Coverage date

DIG credits Desmond Rhodes and Anthony Panza with organizing a jam celebrating the Brooklyn Banks’ return. Rob Dolecki’s film records the gathering.

July 27 is the date of DIG’s coverage. The exact event day was not independently established.DIG film and organizer credits ↗
Riders and spectators gather under the Brooklyn Bridge at the 2025 Back 2 Tha Banks JamBack 2 Tha Banks · Rob Dolecki / DIG BMX

04 / For the city

The streets
bring us together.

When the Brooklyn Banks welcomed riders back in 2025, Desmond Rhodes and Anthony Panza helped bring the community together for Back 2 Tha Banks. DIG's film by Rob Dolecki captures the energy of the day.

The Banks sit on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge—a meeting point woven into New York's BMX history.

Watch the jam on DIG ↗

05 / A closer look

Beyond
the clip.

A useful starting point for fans, filmmakers, writers and anyone discovering Desmond for the first time.

Download short bio ↓Sources & archive notes ↗
Where should I start watching?

Start with Asphalt NYC (2013), then watch King of NYC Streets Part 2 (2017). For a longer conversation, watch Kanode Knows #89 (2024).

What makes the early work worth revisiting?

The early parts place Rhodes within the New York street scene: Animal's All Day, Livin' in Exile, and AM:PM. His March 2006 Ride BMX cover, photographed by Rob Dolecki, is another defining piece of that record. Each is linked and dated in the timeline.

Where can I follow or contact Desmond?

@hoodhappynyc on Instagram is the public account linked by his Kanode Knows interview and HoodHappy film credits. Use the profile's current contact options for projects, appearances or press enquiries.

Who are his sponsors, and what bike does he ride?

The 2006 interview documents his relationship with Volume Bikes at that time. It does not establish a current sponsor roster or bike setup. For present-day equipment or brand enquiries, check directly with Desmond through his public profile.

How are the dates and archive entries checked?

Entries use original publisher dates, video credits, magazine indexes and recovered Internet Archive pages. A publication date is not treated as a filming date. Uncertain years and retrospective accounts are labelled. This is a researched selection of the surviving public record, not a claim that every session or appearance has been preserved. Read the source notes.

Desmond’s world

The HoodHappy
state of mind.

From the streets to what comes next.

HoodHappy is the brand and creative identity connected to Desmond’s riding and New York life. It appears in the Hood Happy Promo and the HoodHappy Productions credits behind King of NYC Streets Part 2. On Instagram, he goes by DROSE45, connecting his BMX identity with HoodHappy and bike-trap music. Follow @hoodhappynyc.

Follow that thread here: BMX, personal style, community, and a VIP list for footwear drops and in-person experiences.

Get on the VIP list ↗Follow HoodHappy ↗

2015 film credit ↗ · 2017 production credit ↗

Desmond Rhodes × HoodHappy

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In good company.

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Stay connected

Brooklyn.
Always in the story.

Follow Desmond's world of riding, street culture and New York. For collaborations and press, reach out through his public profile.

Follow @hoodhappynyc ↗

Watch on YouTube ↗Original feature ↗