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Make
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Interview:
Make STN
Q- Who else was writing from your crew? Well the crew I am from is STN, "SECOND TO NONE". At that time only the original members of STN, like "SINE" (RIP), "EASIE" (RIP), "DOC43", "DEF", "SKEPT" and me were hitting it up. Then shortly after "JACK", "TEL", and "SKETCH" began to hit it up. Then "CASH", "RELIC", "REPO", "COMIC", and "HEAVEN".
Q- How do you think your crews style mostly got influenced by? Q- What do you think other styles in LA were influenced by? Hmmmmm!........what influenced the styles in L.A.??? I personally cannot state that there is only one element of influence in L.A. I think it was and is a combination of many. I believe, as mentioned before, that influences in L.A. as well as other cities were and are different for each crew and individual. What each artist perceives their major influence to be is what their reality is and what they will embrace. If we carefully scrutinize the historical influence in L.A. styles we will realize that everyone's influence is completely a different and unique one but with some similarities. Q- How about styles now in L.A.?
Well to me the styles now are like the new styles that came out in the 80's or the new styles that came
out in the 90's and so on. Each era has it own dominating style. Graffiti have always been a collaboration
of many influences and styles. Everyone grabs a little of here and a little of there and adds their own touch
to it, their own flavor to it, know what I mean? Just like in EVERYTHING else that exists. I believe that everyone
grabs and incorporates from what has influenced them and/or what is influencing them now into their artwork.
Do not get me wrong. I am not trying to downplay the styles out there now. The styles that are out now are dope!
They are bad!!! Just like the new styles were when they first came out back then, they were fresh. The only difference
now is that graffiti has advanced and we have better tools, paint and mediums. Styles will continue progressing.
The styles in the next decade will be something to look forward to. We just need keep up and not fall behind.
Belmont was the spot!!!......and till this day still is. Specially, since other hot spots do not exist anymore.
The Belmont Tunnel is still the only "yard" around to really rock. It goes in cycles though.
For periods it dies out, then it gets hot, then it is alive again and then dies out again and so on.....it is kind of weird.
The first pieces I recall seeing at the tunnel were a "SHANDU" crushing a "GRAFF", a "TRIX", a "RISCO CITY"
with a silhouetted city and a "LABS" with a B-Boy character holding bomb with the fuse lit and it was wrapped
around the character. There was also "PRIMO" and a "RISCO" with green monsters wearing crowns as the "I"s.
The virgin walls of the tunnel were devirginized by these pieces. After that, the rest is history.
Q- Through the years, do you think LA styles have influenced any other cities styles? (i.e. Through mags, websites, pics etc) OH....Of course!!! Just like L.A. itself has been influenced by other cities. Q- How united was the city back in the mid to late 80's? Ahhh..MAN..........very united! If you are referring to Graffing. I sometimes wish it to be as united as it was back then. Back then the HIP-HOP culture, to many, was an alternative to what was out there. Through it we had unity, identity, self-expression, and above all LOVE and respect for each other. There were really no economical nor racial boundaries!!!! We were all one!!!! Q- What destroyed that tradition? DUDE.......sadly to say a combination of many things. I believe one of the key elements that destroyed that tradition was JEALOUSY and ENVY. They are still the active force that slowly deteriorates that tradition today. Then there were those that got involved and absorbed with gangs, drugs, and other crap, as well as those that tried to compound gangs with the Graff scene. There were those that jumped on the wagon as well, whom soon faded out because they never really understood the concept of graffiti. Then there were and are our all time favorite parasites.....TOYS.....but I mean real toys......I am not referring to those who are just beginning, who have love for graffiti and practice everyday trying to evolve and elaborate on their lettering (as many of us once were or once did).....I am referring to real piece of crap TOYS.........they know who they are!!! I am sure of it. Q- Who do you feel continues L.A.'s tradition? Individually? Or through crew leadership? Or just amazing feats? There is so many man............There are a lot of them that still bust and represent. I think they need not to be mentioned for their work speaks for themselves. Q- Do you think writers today just forgot or ignored the beauty of buses bombed? Not really..........The core of graffiti is "tagging" "hitting up". I do not think the beauty of that has died or been ignored! I think that as we move on, we find new ways of hitting up. Yeah! buses was the way to go back then but now we have "rooftops", "landmarks" "heavens", "walls", "trains" "corporates" and so on. Besides many of us do not commute on buses anymore. The tradition still remains and many of us still hold dear to that. Things have become a little more complex with the new laws on graffiti. No? Or is that just my years talking? I would like to see more illegal colored pieces with backgrounds and stuff like that on walls though, like the ole days!!! Q- What was your all time favorite marker and spray can color? I liked MeanStreaks because they were not messy and if anyone have seen and know of my pieces they will now that my favorite colors for piecing were Hot Pink, Plum Purple, True Blue, Baby Blue and Turquoise...haahaaaha. Damn...I'd still use them colors today. Q- What would you like to be most remembered for? The only thing I would like to be remembered for is for any influence that I may have had on a writer(s), if any??? If I was an influence to one writer, that's what I would like to be remembered for. I would also like to be remembered for the love I have for the art and for the friends made throughout my Graff years. SEE YA. Q- Have you ever considered a reunion with your crews? Definitivo........I would love to someday paint with all the heads from my crew.........maybe if any of the guys read this they will consider joining up for a massive production again, at least for one last time. Before I die and for history and ole time's sake! Q- What's your vision for LA graffiti going into a new time? The only vision I truly have is to regain that true and pure unity that we all once possessed.......that is it!!!. Q- What kind of history should we pass down to writers these days? The history of the whole Graff scene. Better yet the history of each one's experience doing graffiti. I do not think there is anything more valuable, more inspirational and more informative than our own experiences. We should be like those old men sitting in the corners or like Granddads telling stories of what we went through. Be like "I remember when I was young we used to .......". LOL Q- Tell us a story. A story huh? Well I will tell you a fact-based story. Mannn..I remember the day I went to go paint at Pan Pacific. It was myself along with "DEF" and a few young guys from "KGB". I busted a "MAKE" off the Beverly wall and "DEF" busted a "DEFFER" on the west-side wall of the theatre. Damn, that was the spot back then too!! "SINE" and "DOC" showed up when we were almost done. We were done around 3:00 p.m. or so and the guys from "KGB" took off and the rest of us shot down to the tunnel on the bus. We ran into who is now "BESK" on the bus, disco boy you. We got to the tunnel and we busted an "STN" a "DEF" and a "DOC". Night came! and we all headed down to "RICK's" pad, he lived about five block away in an apartment building off of 3rd St. We run into "SKEPT" who was coming from "RICK's" and lets us know he ain't home. So we hung out waiting for him and waiting for a later evening so we can go paint. While we waited, we began to discuss what to paint. We chose a wall, a wall in front of Belmont High School where "RICK", "GEO" and "DANTE" had busted before. "RICK" never showed up. So we bounce. "DEF", "SKEPT", "DOC", "SINE", and my bad ass self, j/k! So we get there and we begin to bust...."SINE" bamn "DOC" bamn and a "SKEPT" bamn....we had a GANG of paint and we were all being generous with it...no holding back.... While they were almost done and look out was no longer necessary, I took the roof of the building and busted a "GALO", a little roof top spot I had hit up before when "RICK", "GEO" and "DANTE" painted. After we were all done, "DOC" took off and we all headed back to "RICK's" pad, still no sign of him. The night was not over though. "DEF" sort of crashed out and "SINE" and I began to bust a MARIA. Maria was both of our girlfriend's names. The wall was on 3rd, behind a building behind "RICK's" pad. But, do not get me wrong, this wall was very visible, you can see this wall from 3rd street. It was a good little spot and it was "RICK's" spot actually.... He always gave us grief about that. Anyhow, so by now "DEF" is dead asleep...., and our hands were still itching. So we leave "DEF" behind and go writing. We stop on Rampart and Beverly to bust yet another "STN". Running low on paint and tired we walk back and end up at our friends, "2MAD's" pad, well actually his laundry mat and we get some rest. "SKEPT" and "SINE" are asleep, "SKEPT" on the floor and "SINE" is asleep in the sink. LOL! I can see morning coming and I get an idea, so I try to wake them up and only "SINE" is down to get up. "SKEPT" stays behind, Aummm...asleep...and we go down to 3rd Street and Lucas and we see "DEF", standing there. We hook up and I tell them what I want to do. It is morning and I start to bust a "GALO" on the wall, on 3rd and Loma, in broad light, in front of the school bus stop.........I tried to use all the cans I had left. "DEF" and "SINE" keeping eye..., and I am done..."DEF" is across the street looking at me and I write next to my piece...."GOD LOVES MAN KILLS", and I am laughing out loud as I say this and picture it, because "DEF" like, runnnns across the street to me, all mad, yelling NOOOOO!!!..., but it was too late....I had stolen his saying....and he was a little upset....but he got over it...... And that was it man...., that day and evening I will always remember...., and there is no way that it will ever be forgotten amongst us. HUH fellas??? So that is it....I do want to say one more thing.....just to seal this long ass interview and story. I want to give shout outs to my crew "STN"...... SINE, EASIE we will always hold you dear in our hearts, SKEPT F$#%ER I love you, RELIC, REPO, CASH love you too man, hope we cool? and call me, DOC much love, SKETCH el pingon and TEL, JACK you are free bro you are so free!!!, HEAVEN no hard feelings, and of course big bad DEF peace out to you and God keep you, BABA you owe me a piercing. To WISE, REMIX, IMAGE. I also want to say what up to, BESK I love you a lot, RICK/CRIME you are the reason I graff, SHAN, RISCO R.I.P I miss you bagging on me, MINER, SER, WISK, SAME miss your fat butt, KUE, ONICK what happened to you man? HATE I do not hate you man, SURE duhhhhhhh??, LIKE, PRIME que pasa?, DUKE, KRENZ or YEM love you, LENCH love you too lazy ass, PEN, SIZE it does not matter dawg, HUGE, RIVAL, SCAN, SUMONE you made it!!!, DELO, RAGE, SUNDOOBIE yo Jason you shut me up when we threw in elementary, EARNNNN, FISH, JUST1, HAV, SCRIBE, CHASE vibble? JASCO, PRICE tell me come one tell me!, NUMBA see ya at your gigs, GIN thanks for the tips, KARTOON hello world!, DANTE, CHARLIE, GENIUS, FRAME come back man, SLICK, CRE8, SKILL, 2MR, OIL, HAEL, TRIBE what up girl?, ENVY of all women?? Yeah right J/K, TROPIK I love you! You know that right? tqm, IGGY, COOK's I still remember you and LOOK's te quiero cabrona, talented ass NEO, RISKY see you at Al's, and everyone else that was part of my life in Graffiti I love everyone. Thanks for the good times and for the laughs and stuff. Let's not forget our other family members that have passed on, CLEVER, MINUS R.I.P and stop sniffling, GEO mannn....there are not enough words to say how much I miss you and SINE, ZODIAC, and so on....the crews KGB, SH, LOD, WCA, OTR, TNT, BKA, TFG, TKO, K2S, KSN, MAK, UCA, CBS, and all the true hearted graffers. PEACE OUT!!!!!! End of Interview- |
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