Monday, November 9th, 2020. This is when Primitive’s newest masterpiece was published. From the teaser last week, to the “Deadline” video a few days before the release, I was counting down the days. You would think that with “Encore” dropping less than one year ago, it would be impossible to release something of that caliber again so quickly, especially during a year where traveling was almost out of the question.
Well, they did it. They did what seemed impossible, about 11 months after their last full length, Primitive dropped another video, and it lived up to the expectations that they have created, and in many ways exceeded them.
Primitive has come to define themselves as a super team, one you might compare to the old Plan B, or DC during its hay-day. Although every skater on the team is unique in their own way, the overall commonality is that their skill is top tier.
Going into this video I was excited for all 4 parts; from Giovanni’s unparalleled trick selection, to Robert’s mind blowing pop, Trent’s cleanliness, and Miles’ ability to make every trick look completely effortless, I knew it would be good.
With all of that being said, the ability of the skateboarders can be enough to make a video good, but to make it great takes a lot more. In a day and age where video parts are released every single day, it takes something extra to make them stand out. This is where Alan Hannon, Alex Kissinger, Alex Papke, Eric Iwakura, and Oliver Barton deserve a round of applause. Whether filming, editing, shooting photos, or producing, they all played a key role in making this video what it is.
For me, that something extra that really makes a skate video stand out in 2020 is personality. If I find someone to be funny, admire their work ethic, or can relate to their life off of a skateboard, it makes watching them skate even more fun. This is exactly what Fourth Quarter had that made it great, in my eyes. Personality. The intro to each video part featured Super 8 footage of each skater, with their family and or friends, hanging out, being themselves. This B-Roll showed us as viewers who they are, that they are more than skateboarders, and then we were quickly hit across the head with footage to remind us that they are 4 of the best skateboarders on Earth.
Music is another huge factor, great skateboarding, matched with great filming, can easily be ruined by a song that seems out of the blue. But, I didn’t get that feeling, each song seemed to fit the individual. Giovanni’s first song built up, and faded out to leave us with a slow song that dramatized his enders, which each needed multiple angles and slow motion to make comprehendible. Robert skating to Lil Wayne as he wore Jordan 1’s and looked fresh the whole time just made sense. The beat hitting and the quick cuts right before that first line really got the hype going, and Robert lived up to it. Trent’s song had a fun feel to it, and as he manages to make tricks that I’ve never even thought of look easy, the “fun” song flowed well. Lastly, Miles skated to Aretha Franklin, a combo I did not expect, but it worked beautifully. I think Miles is the smoothest skateboarder, he looks so light on his board, like he’s just floating, and this slow soulful song emphasized that smoothness.
Well, it only felt right to make a loop of each dude, so here they are, all 4 of them –
This was a clip that I knew I was gonna loop right when I saw it. The way Trent springs out of the Noseslide and into the Switch Front Blunt is amazing. What a cool spot to get creative at, I’m sure that isn’t the last time you’ll see a trick there being looped.
The open shirt, the push before he did this trick, it just looked like a walk in the park. As I’m sure most people have noticed by now, this is actually the same school that Mike Mo filmed his ender for “Pretty Sweet” at, and Robert did almost the same line, but he Nollie Back Heel’d over the corner of the ledge into the Switch Front Krook. I love how 2 skateboarders can do almost the same line, but they can look completely different doing it. My jaw dropped watching Mike Mo do it, and I had the same reaction watching Robert’s, all around amazing.
Giovanni’s ability to Half Cab into rails/hubbas has always amazed me, especially that he can do it into a Frontside Grind. I’ve seen him do it to FS Nosegrind before down a hubba, but to twist it all the way into a properly locked Front Krook was something else. The amount of control, pop, and power this takes grabbed my attention, all of that while making it pleasing to the eye.
I love this clip, it’s for sure one of my favorites from “Fourth Quarter”. Switch Heel Back Tail, down a handrail. Ha. That just sounds crazy, but to me it’s more about how Miles made it look. The catch and turn, then the signature roll away looking over his shoulder, and even the way he jumps off his board and into the grass. All of it looked so controlled, like he knew exactly what was going to happen.
Well, that’s it, for now at least. I’m sure there will be more “Fourth Quarter” loops, as it’s a video full of special tricks. Thanks again to everyone involved for such a treat, I’ll be rewatching this one for years to come.🌀
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