Nigel Sylvester is in a state of gratitude. It’s an early afternoon in June, and the legendary BMX athlete is relishing his recent appearance on Power Book III: Raising Kanan. After making a cameo in the third episode (“Tricks”) of the hit Starz series’ final season, Sylvester expresses his appreciation for the experience and how far he’s come since first falling in love with a bike.
“Growing up in Queens and riding my bike has now led me to opportunities like this,” Sylvester, 38, tells VIBE. “There was an array of positive feelings and positive sentiments, and it’s one of those things where if you put your mind towards something, and you move with love and great intention, you never know what other opportunities may come from it.”
Raising Kanan, which is set in his hometown borough, makes Sylvester’s guest spot even more fitting, as the streets and avenues depicted on the show served as an early breeding ground for the bicycle motocross skills that would take him across the globe.
The BMX prodigy turned multi-hyphenate translated the grit, grind, and perspective gleaned from his formative years in the Jamaica and Laurelton sections of the borough and channeled them into a personal brand of athletics, fashion, music, entertainment, and more. What were once dreams and aspirations shared with childhood pals are now the passion projects that support his lifestyle. Queens gets the money, no doubt.
