Skip to Content
Transport

Photo Essay ~ Lowrider Life In the City of Compton

4:02 PM PDT on June 20, 2018

[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap] shot these photos in the city of Compton. I’m out there every Sunday shooting the lowrider culture-- from the hop contests that can happen spontaneously, to just shooting the cars cruising by doing some classic three-wheel motion. Lowrider car culture has been a part of L.A. history for many years, and has grown and evolved into something much bigger than just cars. The car club that stands out to me, with some of the most killer cars every weekend, is HIGHCLASScc.

The kind of people you see every Sunday are from every race, coming together for the love of these beautiful classic cars that they put their heart and soul into. People bring their kids and grandkids so they can experience the culture as a family. There’s also the BBQ man with his trailer smoker dishing up the bomb BBQ for everyone.

In the city of Compton you can see that this car movement is not just a way of life — it is life!

RELATED: Good Kid In a 'M.A.A.D.' City: Compton's Own Kendrick Lamar Wins Pulitzer

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More Stories

Did FIFA’s New Investment Scheme Kill The World Cup?

FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s greed finally pushed everyone to the limit as UEFA threatens a boycott of all FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, and CONCACAF have formally rejected FIFA’s latest proposal.

July 30, 2026

Remember the 99 Cents Only Art Show? Artists Allege They Got Ripped Off.

A number of local artists involved in a heavily attended, viral art show in a former 99 Cents Only Store tell L.A. TACO they’re still yet to be paid for the work that was sold.

July 29, 2026

Who’s At Risk of Being Detained at Airports by ICE? What We Know.

After good samaritans prevented ICE from detaining a Vietnamese-Australian man at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, community watch groups are receiving more calls about airport targets.

July 29, 2026

A California DJ Recounts the Horrors of Immigrant Detention at Otay Mesa

Diana Ledesma alleges forced pregnancy tests, a potential infectious disease outbreak, and human-sized cages during her nearly four-month imprisonment at the San Diego facility.

This Proudly Queer and Undocumented Organization Has Funded More Than 100 DACA Applications With Only $50 and a Screen-Printing Setup

The words "May I Be Latino in Every Lifetime" adorn their shirts, but behind the bold letters is a founder who's quietly paying for DACA renewals and redefining what activism looks like.

July 28, 2026

The First Native Powwow Comes to Cal State LA After 79 Years. Here Is What I Learned From Attending

The university's inaugural Indigenous Powwow wasn't just a celebration, it was an invitation to learn from Native voices, histories, and traditions that have always been here.

July 28, 2026