Watch Ad Rock, Fab 5 Freddy, and Other ‘True Yorkers’ Talk of Growing Up in NYC [VIDEO]

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Ever wonder about the youth experiences of famous native New Yorkers?

“True Yorkers” is a lifestyle video series by the Routes and Culture brand that features these so-called endangered species who discuss life coming up in the concrete jungle. The idea first germinated back in 2006, but is only now gaining traction. It’s an offshoot of the Bridge the Gap running movement pioneered by Mike Saes in 2004.

These three-minute black-and-white shorts with local luminaries are both testament and advertisement. Together, they comprise a larger project in which Saes envisions more in-depth pieces with his subjects. He tells us that he’ll continue shooting b-roll, and that a Kickstarter campaign is on the way to help complete the documentaries and pay for licensed elements like photos and footage.

What’s great about the teaser trailers is that the conversations are an honest look at childhood experience (i.e. life in general), and has little focus on the fame that brought them to the fore.

Videos of interest are many and worth checking out, including…

John “Bloodclot” Joseph of the Cro-Mags who describes life living on the street at 14 slinging heroin; Fab 5 Freddy, who talks about shopping the bargain district of Delancey Street, but being held up for shoes and jackets; or Ad Rock discussing life as a grade school dropout and his love for All My Children; or former owner Alan Dell of Katz’s Deli talking about the Bowery and the change around here the last two decades; or Liev Schreiber explaining his movement between public schools and living at 13th and Avenue B.

The “True Yorkers” moniker is also emblazoned on t-shirts geared toward runners (i.e. reflective).

Check these out…