Grand Slam

From church choirs to skate spots, tagging streets to DJing art openings, Jihaari Terry has done it all. We talked music, style, vinyl for Barry Jenkins, and why Virgil Village vintage is getting wild.

You grew up in Oakland, CA. When did you first discover your love for music?

I was in church for most of my childhood. Baptist church is all singing and service throughout. My dad and mom were in the choir, so I was there a lot. We had a piano at home, and my parents listened to every station on the radio—whether it was Jazz, Quiet Storm, R&B, or Hip Hop. The Bay had the best stations. Even classical and rock stations. All of that really formed my love for sound.

At what age did you move to San Francisco, and what was the skate scene like at the time?

I moved to SF in my early 20s, but I had been going to skate there since I was a teenager. The scene had kinda died a bit. Most spots like EMB and Pier 7 had been capped. New Spot (3rd and Army) was still being skated a bit. I mostly skated the library at night. Potrero Hill Skatepark had just opened. Anybody that’s skated there would say it’s not for beginners. I rode my fixed gear a lot then and would still bomb hills on my bike and skateboard too. Good times.

“The Bay had the best stations. Even classical and rock stations. All of that really formed my love for sound.”

Any memorable music or videos from that period?

I remember really liking The Strokes, Radiohead, Belle and Sebastian, Company Flow, the Deltron 3030 album, Built to Spill, Jurassic 5, Mos Def, Erase Errata, Modest Mouse, The Smiths, '60s Soul, Motown, and Disco.

Björk’s Army of Me video stands out.

Then hip-hop and graffiti became major influences—was there a turning point for you?

When I started using spray cans and catching tags—that was the biggest turning point. EL-P and Cannibal Ox had throw-ups in the jewel case on their albums. There was a screening of Style Wars at SF MoMA. A lot of the kids I saw at bars in the Mission would tag outside of it. I would just go up to dudes doing pieces on Market Street and make friends. It was a cool time.

With DJing, you’re now doing fewer residencies and more select gigs, right?

Yeah, things have slowed down a bit. I guess I'm being more selective about what I play for and who.

Any notable events recently?

I love playing at Part Time Lover HiFi—it’s a beautiful record bar. Hauser & Wirth always draws a great crowd for openings. Love playing for the art crowd.

Do you collect vinyl for Barry Jenkins?!

I did for a full year. It was super fun building out his collection. He would give me some cues, and I would take it from there. He’s got a stacked collection now.

Any unexpected mixes lately?

I did a mix for a skate shop. They filmed and recorded it too. Will post that soon.

Are you still producing the Sample That series?

Nah, had to put it on ice for a bit. But I did very much enjoy interviewing a guest and talking about a musician’s discography while creating a soundtrack live. Let me know if you've got a venue and can get me in contact with Anderson .Paak. Haha.

Tell me about Grand Slam—the store, East Side Tennis, and the local community.

I'm glad you asked. Grand Slam by Greig Bennett is the only tennis boutique that specializes in our brand, East Side Tennis, and the dopest, never-before-seen vintage clothes from the '70s to the '90s. We can outfit you for play or leisure. We also play tennis and have a beginners' clinic every Friday at Riverside (Griffith Park courts) from 7-8:30 p.m. Just DM @grandslamla.

And the vintage goods… Fila, Sergio Tacchini, Ellesse—that takes me back.

We got 'em all.

“When I started using spray cans and catching tags—that was the biggest turning point.”

I know you love art, and your wife is a curator. Can you suggest any cool people for my series?

I'd love for you to talk with my wife, Essence Harden. She is curating the next Made in LA at the Hammer Museum in the fall. Greig Bennett at Grand Slam has a whole story about why he opened the shop, and his backstory is interesting too.

Top spots around Virgil Village? I heard vintage stores are flipping pieces for $15,000—true?!

Haha, it's crazy. Virgil Normal—Charlie’s my guy. Be U (dope Vietnamese spot), and House Mouse and Salt for your ceramics.

What’s next…?

Living life. I've got a long-overdue beat tape coming out. The world needs another Black Peace Strategies mix. And, I don’t know—hit my Insta if you're looking for good music to add to your collection. 

Thanks for the questions.

@djjihaari