Compton Rapper Brings Hood Perspective to Elite Surfing World

A Compton rapper turned security guard found himself in unfamiliar territory while working at the World Surf League’s Lowers Pro contest, offering a refreshing perspective on the elite surfing world from someone who admits “we don’t have surfing in the hood.”

Ernie, who goes by his rap moniker Ayeman100, stood out among the crowds at Lower Trestles with his gold chain, dark sunglasses, and braids peeking out from under his trucker hat. Working security for the event, the South Central Los Angeles native brought his unique viewpoint to a sport he’s still learning to understand.

“Man, this is a totally different world,” Ayeman100 said with a smile during the competition. “I come from South Central, from Compton. We don’t have surfing in the hood.”

The former struggling artist transitioned from music to security work through his brother’s suggestion, and has since worked major events across California including PGA Tour events, Ohana Fest, Newport Jazz Festival, and multiple WSL competitions at both Trestles and Huntington Beach.

His candid assessment of professional surfing provided comic relief at the event. “I didn’t really know too much about surfing before this. To me, it just looks like they’re just swerving on the wave,” he admitted. “I was raised off Tony Hawk, so I wanna see tricks. The big stuff. When they do airs, that’s when it’s dope.”

Perhaps his most memorable encounter came with surfing legend Kelly Slater, whom Ayeman100 didn’t recognize during a 10-minute conversation. After asking if Slater was an amateur or pro, and learning he’d been surfing for 40 years, Ayeman100 joked, “If they made a surfing videogame, they’d put you in there…right?” Only when Slater revealed his name did the Compton native realize he’d been chatting with the greatest surfer of all time.

Professional surfer Cole Houshmand also made an impression, complimenting Ayeman100 on his style. “He liked my hat and my gold chain. I see his cheetah print hair, and I was like, I see you. I see you surfing’s Dennis Rodman,” the security guard recalled.

For Ayeman100, the best part of working such events is the unexpected connections. “Meeting people. You make connections with people you would never meet in real life. I would never cross paths with these people in real life, but this brings us together. Worlds collide.”

When asked if watching professional surfing had inspired him to try the sport himself, the Compton native kept it real: “If they give me a life jacket, yeah. I ain’t even getting close to the ocean without a life jacket.”

Ayeman100’s presence at the WSL event represents the cultural diversity increasingly found at professional surfing competitions, bringing perspectives from communities like Compton and Inglewood to a sport traditionally associated with coastal privilege.

This story draws on reporting by Dashel Pierson with photography by Kelsey Rosendale.