In the early 2000s, Pharrell Williams was dominating the music industry. As the face of the Grammy-winning production group, The Neptunes, he helped craft hits like Gwen Stefani’s "Hollaback Girl" and Snoop Dogg’s "Drop It Like It’s Hot." In 2004, he was named Billboard’s Producer of the Year.
Beyond music, Pharrell made waves in fashion. He collaborated with his close friend, NIGO, the founder of BAPE, to create Billionaire Boys Club (BBC) and Ice Cream, brands that blended high fashion, hip-hop, and skate culture. Pharrell also became one of the first musicians to partner with Reebok, releasing the first Ice Cream sneaker in 2004.
As a fan of the skateboarding scene, Pharrell saw its influence in his brands. However, he noticed a problem—skateboarding was still viewed as a "white sport." Wanting to change this, he sought out skaters who embodied BBC and Ice Cream’s style while also representing Black and Brown youth in a predominantly white scene.
With the help of Ricky Oyola, Pharrell assembled the first-ever Team Ice Cream, featuring Terry Kennedy, Cato Williams, Kevin Booker, Jacob Walder, and Reggie Destin. Terry Kennedy was the standout, already an established skater at Baker. His raw talent, charisma, and energetic personality made him a fan favorite and gave Team Ice Cream credibility in the skate world.
In 2006, Team Ice Cream released their first full-length skate film, "Ice Cream Vol. 1." The mix of fashion, music, and high-level skating made it an instant classic. The team even made TV appearances on 106 & Park and CBS in the Morning, bringing skate culture to a wider audience.
Team Ice Cream challenged the stereotype that skateboarding was just for white kids. Their influence inspired a new generation of Black skaters, including Na-Kel Smith and Ishod Wair, who credit Team Ice Cream as an early inspiration.