Joe Niranonta is the definition of the term, working-class BMX rider, juggling a full-time job working in boiler rooms in New Jersey while maintaining his status as an AM rider for Animal and Kink Bikes after hours. In those after hours, Joe can usually be found in the streets of Philadelphia pushing his dreams forward one pedal at a time.
Joe is from Levittown, Pennsylvania and is the oldest of three brothers. All of which ride BMX. For the Niranontas, BMX has become a family trait. One that started with their late father, Paitool, and has transcended through four generations of the family name. On the verge of completing filming for the highly anticipated ‘Chocolate Truck Two’ video, we spoke with Joe about the upcoming video, the launch of the Niranonta brand, how it all started and much more. You can read the full interview, after the jump.
“The streets always gravitate to wherever we are filming, and they love and support what we do. Here in Philly, you ask anybody or their kids about Chocolate Truck, and you will get a positive answer.”
Let’s start out by talking a little about your roots. How and when were you introduced to BMX?
I was introduced to BMX through my father and my uncle Bob, his brother. My father initially got me riding because he rode flatland BMX. He was very good also. I guess you can see where the Niranonta brothers got their moves from. I was probably around six years old when my dad first got me to ride a bike and around ten years old when I started riding around the neighborhood with my friends jumping dirt jumps. After a few years of messing around and filming random shit around Levittown and Philly, we started to put together Chocolate Truck.
What was it about BMX that made you want to start riding?
The thing about BMX that made me want to start riding was the freedom it gave me. I could go anywhere I wanted around my area and ride my bike with my friends. That was the best shit if you were a boy growing up around here, going out riding with homies, filming all day, getting out of the house and away from your parents yelling at you [laughs] feels great.
Tell us a little about the scene growing up in Levittown and some of the riders that had an influence on your riding.
Damn, Levittown. The BMX scene out there is crazy, or it was crazy. A lot of the riders that lived there moved out to different cities, or work full-time. The riders that are in Levittown are always riding with us in Philly. There’s not a ton of shit to ride in Levittown, but we managed to get by. We build all of our own spots now because they don’t want to build any god damn skateparks, oh well. The riders that influenced me and my riding in Levittown are legendary starting with Rich Dupell, JJ Palmere, Matt Miller, and my Uncle Bob.
You have been heavily involved in filming for Chocolate Truck Two. How has the filming process varied from the first video?
Yes, yes. Chocolate Truck 2, COMING THIS SUMMER! The difference in the filming process from the first video would be the spots, clips, and riders. Our first video took about the same amount of time to film, but the riders are all switched up. Carl Brown (one of my favorite riders) no longer has a part in the next video. Other riders such as ‘Bdub’ have been putting in that work to have a full part in the second video. The first video we went to California as one of our big trips to film, in the second video we stepped it up a notch and hit Barcelona, Spain.
Would you say you have been pushing yourself harder during filming for the second video?
Yes, most definitely. The whole squad has been putting in that work! I’d say me and the crew have all been pushing ourselves mentally and physically. Every time we go out filming everyone kills it, the energy is amazing. The streets always gravitate to wherever we are filming, and they love and support what we do. Here in Philly, you ask anybody or their kids about Chocolate Truck, and you will get a positive answer. CT2 is gonna be a game changer mark my words.
“BMX is expensive, and kids don’t just have money to buy expensive bike parts every month, so it’s a blessing to receive a package with clothes, jackets, stickers, and some things for my bike in it.”
The first Chocolate Truck video was released back in 2013, nearly five years ago. Were you surprised by how well-received the first video was?
Yes, I think we all were. The way Matt edited the video was unreal. It turned out amazing. The video was huge for Philly, and huge for all of us featured in it, definitely took a little longer then we expected, but it was all worth it. We had a mishap with the footage and a laptop from our first CT house when it got robbed on Berks Street right across from Meek Mills mothers house. Meek was even rocking that shit all over his laptops in his videos for a while. #FREEMEEK
You shared a split section with your brother Ryan in the first video. Can we expect a full section from you in the follow-up video?
We shared a split section in the first video which was sick, turned out amazing with Matt filming. I definitely have my own part in the new Chocolate Truck video. Everyone who had a split part or short friends section will have a full part if they filmed enough clips. The next friends’ section is gonna be lit! I’m telling you now if we could win an award for best mix/friends section in BMX we would.
Following the success of the first Chocolate Truck Street Jam back in 2016, has there been any discussion about hosting another event in the future?
Yes for sure, no doubt about that. As we speak, I’m putting one together for the summer time. BMX Day was huge with Monster Energy helping us out and coming to Philly two times in a row. They must have fucked with us heavy or liked what our city had to offer. They sent out the big dogs like Dan Lacey, and his squad, so these kids want something to do on that day, honestly, I think its gonna be huge. I’m gonna make it huge. The after party location is already booked in downtown Center City. This new BMX Day event I’m putting together with a few people is going to be ridiculous. Stay tuned. There will also be one before that once the weather stops messing with us. I know this whole city is itching to ride.
You have been a part of the Animal and Kink AM teams for a while now. How has your working relationship with each company been so far?
My relationships with both companies have been amazing. Kink is always taking care of me no matter what it is. Thanks to Jay Roe and the guys over at Kink for that! They are based out of Rochester, NY so it’s a little further for me to get up there when they have their events. Animal is my areas biggest BMX sponsor whether it’s Philly or Jersey. My favorite team, and one of my very first sponsors. Looked up to some legends on that team, they created me as a BMX rider. I looked up to Edwin Delarosa and still do, my favorite rider ever. BMX is expensive, and kids don’t just have money to buy expensive bike parts every month, so it’s a blessing to receive a package with clothes, jackets, stickers, and some things for my bike in it. Unreal, my brother and I never thought we would be doing what we are doing. 2018 is holding big things for us, just wait and see, you will be amazed.
You’ve been running a gold Kink Titan frame for a few months now. Tell us a little more about your current setup and what you are running.
The best frame I have ridden so far. Kink BMX makes quality products that last long and can take some beatings. Currently, I’m riding the new Kink BMX Titan 2 frame in LA Gold & Purp (LA Lakers) colors. I get a lot of comments and compliments with this baby, in the hood, it’s risky though [laughter] dudes steal bikes like it’s nothing. Gotta protect your shit out here. I’m also riding Kink wheels, front and back with 4 Lino OG pegs. Hub guards all the way around, Kink CST forks, Animal MR stem, Kink Human bars, and a Fiend seat with an Animal seat post that I’ve had forever. ALWAYS got the Animal GLH tires, actually just put on some fresh 2.3’s today. Akimbo cranks, Rat Trap pedals, and the Kink 27 tooth minus 1 sprocket.
“I never stop grinding, if you stop grinding then what are you doing? Slacking.”
Are you currently working on or filming for any other projects at the moment?
Yea man I never stop grinding, if you stop grinding then what are you doing? Slacking. Everyone has bills to pay, and I never got shit handed to me like these other mother fuckers out here in BMX. As we speak, I’m filling out paperwork for a New Era project with Nigel Sylvester, the GOAT! He’s been my inspiration to get up out of the boiler room and onto the big screens with my bike. Working on my very own Go Pro video also with my brother Ryan out in Philly. Gonna be epic. I got Renzo, Ant, Lorenzo, whole CT crew, and anyone else who wants to be featured all riding out doing what we do best in the city, putting on a show for the hood.
You’ve done your fair share of traveling over the last year including a trip to Barcelona, Spain with some of the Chocolate Truck crew. Tell us a little more about that trip.
Barcelona [laughs] where should I begin… Well, the crews first big trip overseas and it turned out pretty good, fun. We all loved it and had a good ass time out there. The food was amazing, the people were amazing, and the spots were unreal. Not a whole ton of riding due to the three or four rainy days out of eight days we had out there. A lot of drinking went down due to the street beers being delivered to you by men hustling six-packs in the alleyways. Rode with the Barcelona locals, had the membership cards for the smoking bars, and partied our asses off. Pugwash met us out there from England and after that our squad was complete. He took a nasty spill and pretty much knocked himself out, but the dude is a solid rock and had the best attitude about everything. Riding was tough with the weather not being on our side and the spots that there were already destroyed by previous riders. I didn’t film as much as I wanted to but shit I had a blast. I did get called an “American Puta” by this black guy, and he wanted beef. He tried to superman punch me at the club, but he got rolled on after that attempt CT style! Dude missed me with his superman punch, and he was done after that, tackled him to the floor and he got rolled on for trying to sneak me. The trip was amazing for me [laughter].
Are you looking forward to traveling more in the coming new year?
Hell yea! Went to Florida to meet the wifey and that was a sick lil’ mini-vacation, but as far as riding trips I have nothing planned out yet. Supposed to drive down south on a road trip but don’t think that’s happening anymore, maybe next year. Working on planning a trip for me and the bro (Ryan) in a couple of weeks once the weather clears up and gets warmer. We’re trying to put together a really sick edit for you guys in the spring or summer time, shit is gonna be fuego. Trying to hit Thailand this year in November with my family and brothers. We have mad family out there and places to stay, my grandma is very well-known out there and helps take care of a lot of poorer people out there. It’s where my father was born and raised before he came here to work his ass off so I gotta go see what it was like out there.
Along with your brothers, Ryan and Eric, you recently started a brand under the Niranonta namesake. Tell us a little about the brand and the motivation behind it.
My father is the motivation behind it, he rode just like we did, but his style was a little different. He rode flatland all the time and even competed in some contests I heard, he had these dope ass Haro pants that were like some BMX pants from back in the day I’m assuming. They were like dirt bike riding pants in red, white, and blue. Niranonta is a name no one else around this world will have unless they’re related to us so I think it’s a good name for us to use for a brand. It is us. It is our family name. Why not? They know us already, they love us already shit, time to make our own gear and own videos for the world to wear and see. My dad would be proud of us three and how far we have come. Losing him gave me the motivation for all my moves no matter what it is, if anyone has lost a parent of someone important in your lives never go downhill with it. Use that anger and that drive to be productive, be smart, and please be strong. RIP Paitool!
The first product you released was the “Praying Mantis” tee which featured artwork from Nick Barrett’s older brother, George (@elmoskeez). Tell us a little more about the design.
One day I hit up George knowing he has the illest style I have ever seen, his artwork is unreal, and it can leave you staring at a piece of paper for an hour wondering how the fuck he did it. We smoked and talked about a little idea I had for a t-shirt, and it kept going further and further. I came up with the idea to produce a shirt somewhat about us with our families name on it in Thai. I told George I wanted a shirt with a bowl of noodles with some chopsticks sitting in the bowl. We also talked about how I wanted the family name “Niranonta” on the actual front of the bowl itself in Thai. No one can read it unless you can read Thai but they know when they see the shirt that it’s the Niranonta Bros. All I did was give George those ideas for a shirt and he hit me with some artwork asap! George’s personal twist was the praying mantis, that was all him, had nothing to do with me or my ideas, but I fucking loved every bit of it. He told us that it defines us perfectly, our ninja-like reflexes, the finesse we have on and off the bike and the agility we possess. That’s how our shirts came about and turned out so damn good. Thank you again, George. You blessed the bros with a masterpiece!
“Chocolate Truck keeps me motivated to ride every chance I get also, our team is as real as it gets.”
You have done some extensive work outside the BMX industry with companies like G-Shock, Shady Rays, Sneaker Lab, and more. Do you think working with outside interests could open up BMX to a bigger audience, and have a positive effect on the industry?
Yes, completely. It definitely opens up BMX to a bigger audience, how wouldn’t it? I’m getting sponsored by non-BMX companies, and they post our photos, and videos on their sites or Instagram accounts and the reactions I see are amazing. People out there have no idea what can be done on a BMX bike, so when they see it in person or in videos, and photos they are in shock. If they see another guy riding BMX, they’re gonna ask the guy what moves he’s got. Every kid rode a bike when they were younger, IDC what you say, you will be interested in the sport just because it’s a childhood goal that everyone accomplishes. “A bike ride”. We’re pushing the sport thanks to Nigel Sylvester, he changed the game and opened up some new doors for us younger cats. He’s a role model and a boss to me. He calls me and hooks me up with gigs and events that I can go get paid at for a day worth of riding, it’s amazing. Never got paid to ride my bike before and it’s the best feeling in the world thank you again, Nigel.
You also work a full-time job. What do you do for a living?
I work for a company called ImacuTech. It’s one of my good friends step dads business. I do everything you can think of [laughs], chimneys, copper piping, black steel piping, welding, soldering, PVC, service, piping your wife, whatever my boss needs me to do, I do it. I pipe in domestic hot water heaters and boilers (heavier than you, and your big homie together) so don’t fuck with me for real. It’s the best job I ever had. I’m a hands-on guy, so I learned fast once my hands got dirty. I need physical work none of that bullshit sitting at a desk, filing paperwork, or getting the guys coffee kinda job. Fuck that, that shit doesn’t make you feel manly, and I’d go insane sitting in the same spot for eight hours every single day. I also ride BMX as an AM for Kink BMX and Animal Bikes every chance I get after work or weekends. Hopefully one day I can quit and ride for a living like the rest of these guys out here.
As a working-class BMX rider, how frequently do you get to ride around your work schedule?
Perfect, exactly what I was just talking about in the last question. I don’t get to ride much at all, and it bothers me. I see everyone else out and about all day and night getting their practice in and I’m stuck in some boiler room in bullshit NJ… It’s tough with not being able to practice as much as everyone, but I make up for it on the trips and weekends we go riding. I go hard, not having the time makes you crunch it all in when you can, and sometimes that can help your riding, well for me at least. I would love to quit my job and ride, I would be even better than I am now but that’s not gonna happen. I got bills to pay, so I have work for what I want. I don’t get shit handed to me like some people do.
What keeps you motivated to get out and ride on a daily basis?
There are a lot of things that keep me motivated to get out and ride, but only a certain few are the real reasons I get out and ride on a daily basis. My family keeps me motivated the most, my two brothers are younger than me, and all three of us lost a teacher, a father, and a best friend. When my pops got killed it fucked me up good, and I turned rotten, I had to turn my shit around for my family. I couldn’t let them see me how I was and be a role model in that form, they looked up to me, and I was the new head of the family. I had to get my life together and find a better solution to my anger. I turned everything around got sponsored and linked up with Nigel, now we’re making moves around the world, and I brought my brothers with me. Chocolate Truck keeps me motivated to ride every chance I get also, our team is as real as it gets. East coast guys who all put in work for the love of the sport, we don’t get paid to do this we do it for fun and to produce a video you guys can remember forever.
Is there anyone you would like to thank? Last words?
I would like to thank my parents Michelle and Paitool for blessing me with life and putting me where they put me on this planet. I thank anyone, and everyone who thought I would never make it and talked down on me while I was going through my dark times, Y’all made me grind harder! I would also like to thank Matt Miller, for always hyping me up and being the best VX filmer east of the Mississippi, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him. Also Animal Bikes, Kink BMX, Shady Rays, Chocolate Truck fam, the HOOD for being our biggest supporters in Philly and wild’n out every time they see us filming. Nigel Sylvester, Ralphy Ramos, Sneaker Lab, God, and Renzo for being the biggest inspiration to me. He would hit me up every day just to make sure I was having a great day, and nothing was bothering me, he would have done anything to cheer me up if I was in a bad mood. He taught me to remain humble, always check your homies make sure they’re good and love life. He may have looked up to me and my squad but I’ll tell you what, I look up to him more than anyone, he was my favorite rider coming out of Philly.
RIP RENZO, LIVE 4 RENZO & RIDE FOREVER!