Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nite Owl. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nite, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Throughout life, the best way for me to learn something is by repetition. Doing it over & over & over again. I didn’t say by watching it on YouTube or from the sidelines — actually doing it! Reps!!!!
My racing coach & mentor, Wes Brown, says…
“You do something a million times, you’re gonna be a master at it.”
When I played high school & college football, I was one of the best route runners because I spent hours studying the route tree & how to maneuver on the field.
Same with Flatland. It took me well over five hundred attempts before I landed most of my difficult tricks. Who am I kidding, it’s all difficult. Lol!

I feel like the only way to speed up the process is by staying consistent. Therefore, there is no speeding up.
The goal should not be to learn it fast, but to learn it the correct way & be disciplined.
Progression is something other people see, but you feel within yourself.
The best way to break a bad habit is not develop one.
I’m dropping hella game right now. Lmao!

With Flatland, racing & music, it all comes down to how bad you want it. Having an elite skill can definitely help you.
However, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
How bad do you want to win?
How important is it for you to be first?
How much do you really want to be seen & known?
These are all questions that require heart & practice more than skill. A trick can be taught, but you can’t teach determination.

Sometimes hard work beats talent. I’ve outworked more people simply by sticking to the script of not giving up, staying focused & doing the fundamentals.
Lay-ups should come before dunks. IJS!

The only person that can get in your way of success is the man or woman in the mirror.
I’m a strong believer that nobody makes it alone & we all need assistance at times.
Ultimately, it still falls on the shoulders of the person trying to be victorious.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve been a Hip Hop Recording Artist, Live Performer & Song Writer for 30 years.
I started riding Flatland one year ago and recently began BMX racing in February of 2025.
I just released my 31st album called “My Flatland Journey” (Mics To Bikes).

In 1986, I saw a low-budget film called “Rad,” and since then, I’ve always wanted to do tricks on a bike.
I went on to play traditional ball sports, even earning scholarships to play football at three different colleges.
But I couldn’t afford the proper bike, nor did I have anyone to teach me how to do the tricks.
I didn’t even know magazines like BMX Plus and Freestyling existed to study the stills. Lol!

Flatland is like a long-lost love I once knew back in the day.
We went our separate ways, and 40 years later, we found our way back to each other.
Except now, we don’t have to get married & be committed — we just hang out from time to time and respect each other’s space.
It’s definitely an expensive extreme sport. Yet, in this short time, I feel like I’ve experienced more than I expected.
I successfully reached my goal in Flatland.

I documented every step of my transition into this sport & culture.
In addition to tracking my progress and interviewing legends & vets in the game,
I also recorded a musical soundtrack to the documentary.
It’s available everywhere you stream or buy music online:
“My Flatland Journey (Mics To Bikes)” by Nite Owl

My new goal in life?
To be the Deion Sanders & Bo Jackson of BMX. Lol!
I’ve now added racing under my belt.

My grandmother always said:
“If you have an able body, you better use it before you lose it.”
I’ve always been a fierce competitor, and this new lifestyle of riding bikes is fuel to my fire.

I didn’t intend or plan for any of this to happen — it just did.
One day I was shooting a music video… and next thing I know,
I’m doing tricks on bikes while writing songs about it.
This has got to be the biggest transition of my life.

I’m now winning races and entering Flatland competitions around the country.
I can’t really say it’s a dream come true…
but I’m definitely living in a dream world.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Valentine’s Day weekend, I attended my first-ever BMX race.
I mean—I had never even seen a track before, let alone ridden one.
To make matters even more intense, it was a National race, which is a way bigger deal than your average local event.

Of course, my first time out the gate, I was nervous, afraid & embarrassed—I felt like I had no idea what I was doing.
Picture a freshman showing up to basketball practice wearing football gear.
That was me. Out of place. Like I was late for class with no textbook.

In fact, I was so new & overwhelmed with anxiety, I missed my first race because I didn’t know where to be or how to line up—which I now know is called staging. Lol!

I fell off the bike, rolled out of bounds, and even hurt myself a little.
This was not what I imagined.
I went back to the hotel that night seriously second-guessing myself…
and honestly, I wanted to throw in the towel.

But the next day, I had three races lined up.
Somehow, someway, I ended up placing 2nd in a Show Me State Nationals USA BMX race.
I was shocked with joy—literally mind blown—that I had accomplished this on my own, with little to zero experience.

I still don’t really know what I’m doing out there yet… but the progress is real.
I’ve had the experience of finishing last and finishing first—and the truth is, they all feel like wins to me.
I’m not gonna break down the whole point system right now,
but just know this:
There are levels to winning.
And sometimes, even when you don’t win… you still win.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal on this BMX journey is to place 3rd or better on a podium in a Flatland competition — whether that’s in the novice, beginner, or “soon-to-be” category.
I also want to finish in the top 10 in my district for racing.

My musical goal is to release the rest of my songs and albums — tracks that have been written for years but still need to be recorded.
Unfortunately, I just don’t have the money right now, especially after recently losing my job as a radio personality. So the music is temporarily taking a back seat.

I need about $5,000 to finish recording my catalog.
So yes — I’m officially accepting donations. Lol!
Bvs! A closed mouth don’t get fed!

My life goal?
To live long enough to see all of those dreams come true — and have a little extra time on the side to actually enjoy it.

In closing, I want to thank my sponsors:

💥 Sean Porter at Flat Society (Level 7)
💥 Chris Young at Flatland Assassins

These two, first and foremost, believe in me — as a rider, a racer, and a person.
They support my career by:

• Paying entry fees

• Providing bikes when needed

• Hooking me up with the freshest Flatland apparel

• Creating custom jerseys for my USA BMX races

• Assisting with travel expenses to and from all the events I enter

But more than that, they mentor me with advice and wisdom, and that’s priceless.

Shout out to Haro for bringing me on as their newest brand ambassador for 2025!
They’ll be blessing me with a solid discount code and some fresh gear. I’ll take it!

LOOK ATCHA BOY!!!
🎤 Hip Hop.
🚲 Flatland.
🏁 Racing.
This is what my life is.
This is who I am.

L.A. Maclin
(aka) Nite Owl
(aka) NiTRO
(aka) Nite Rider
(aka) Little Brother
(aka) Racer X
(aka) Ice Money 2.0

Contact Info:

• Website: Niteowlhiphop.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niteowlhiphop/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/niteowlmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/NiteOwl1906
• SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/niteowlhiphop
• TikTok: Niteowlhiphop

Image Credits
1. Scott Smith 2. Sharif Ead 3. Patrick Landham 4. Camden Photography 5. Z.H. Photography 6. Clyde Thomas 7. Ray Myers