da-underground

PRIZ "The Spanish Five"

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:49:08 +0100

The Spanish 5ive had a strong presence in style and letter form from the mid 1970’s to the late 1980’s. They ventured off into other IRT andIND’s /BMT’s train lines but their train line of choice was the IRT, Broadway #1. Here they produced numerous colorful Window downs, whole cars, T2B’s (Top to Bottoms), Blockbusters and Married Couples. They also painted several productions with crew members from MTA (Mad Transit Artists), TMT (The Magnificent Team), and TDS (The Death Squad).

In the mid 70’s, the president of TSF/TS5 (The Spanish Five) crew was a Latin writer known as LEO. Some of the other high profile members of the crew were ADROCK (rip), FED-2 AKA KOMET, TEEN-125, TEAN-5, MATCH, PAPO, TITO, KADE-198 and RATE-125, (Vice pres) also known as DJ- OC of the Hip Hop rap pioneers The FEARLESS FOUR. *In their 1983 video, “Problems of the World Today,” STAN’s blockbuster, window down whole car piece would appear in their video.

By 1979, the first generation of TS5/TSF members had retired or recruited into well known crews such as TMT and TDS. Other members would become rappers and record producers. At this time, a young up and coming Harlem writer by the tag of STAN-ONE was learning style from the same group of older, more seasoned, veteran TSF/TS5 writers who lived in his building. When STAN finally proved himself, LEO and RATE-125 granted him presidency of The Spanish Five. Membership from the early 1980’s included (DE) DONE-ONE, CHAZ, MATCH-2, SON-ONE WBC (Writers Beyond Control), CAS, SEP ONE, NATE-125, SWAN-ONE AKA PRIZ-ONE (PRISM/PRISMA), MON, FRESCA-5000, MANIA, CHU-ROCK, STAT, 2-RAK (SHY 147's cousin) (rip), NEAL AKA LEAN, CHRIS 217 and others.

STAN would later become an instrumental part in revitalizing the crew (Second Generation) in the 1980’s. The crew’s initials would be boldly written next to their tags on the interiors and exteriors of the #1 line subway cars. STAN and his first partner (DE) DONE-ONE would develop their own individual styles as well as laying claim to the 1 tunnels. DONE-ONE would later retire from writing. Many whole cars would be painted by TSF in 1 tunnel during this time. SON-ONE would later paint the SON-REM (Donkey Kong Car) which would appear in Henry Chalfant’s Subway Art book. It’s was only when the reign of the TS5 crew finally came to an end in 1986, that the same younger writers that were chased out, harassed and robbed for their paint would feel safe enough to enter the tunnels and then claim ownership of the 1 ‘s. The Spanish 5ive crew had now dissolved with most of the main members retiring or pursuing legitimate careers.

By the end of 1989 and the demise of the New York Subway Graffiti era, STAN as well as a handful of original members of TSF/TS5 maintained a low profile for many years. Other (second generation) TS5 members like PRIZ-ONE had retired by the late 80’s but had now resurfaced to paint with other crews and their members in the early 90’s. In 2001, PRIZ convinced STAN to come out of retirement. PRIZ would later be granted the title of (vice president) of TSF/TS5 crew. PRIZ along with STAN, JEAN-13 BYB (BAD YARD BOYS) and SON-ONE would later paint numerous commissioned murals and walls throughout the five boroughs of New York City.

FUZZ ONE "A True Pioneer"

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:26:15 +0100

I started in 1970 when i first moved to the Bronx from Gary ,Indiana. That is where I met the original pioneers of the graffiti art form and learned how to ride the rails with the best and most influential writers of the generation. Let me give credit to the original top dudes who got me started from The Bronx: STAFF 161, AJ161, BILLY167, HONDO ONE, PRIEST 167, MG BOYS, MARK 198, TOPCAT 126, NEAL 182, STAYHIGH 149, TURK 62, JIVE 3, NIGGER CHARLEY, KILLER 1, PJ109, THE MAN 550, ME 163, PEL, KENNY 007,LITTLE CRUSHER, LITTLE ROCK 1 & 2, DON 101, JESTER 1

The crews that I ran with and rocked all city with: TFP, TED, MG Boys, TMT, MAFIA, OTB, BYB, CIA, RTW, TPA, TSS,CITY, 3YB, LLC, The Pretty Crew, PIC, RIS

I went to every yard, tunnel, and layup there was. The known ones and the secret layups they had that only were there for those that we knew. I rocked insides and outsides with such famous names: FUZZ, POPEYE, TOP 170, DELUXE, GOD2, PURE, OVER, LORD 138, PRINCE, ROMEO, 2WILD, 2SEXY, VIN, LOVE MACHINE 79, THE GENTLEMAN CALLER

No one had more paint than me and I used that to crush all lines, all city, from the 1970’s to the 1990’s. Now I do legal artwork. I never got into the art gallery scene when it became popular in the 1980’s to do that. I do artwork now for many of my book customers worldwide and the demand is there for FUZZ ONE work. Thanks to all you guys who support what i do .

JESUS SAVES the chase .... (Brooklyn NY)

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:46:14 +0100

I used 2 chill in Downtown Brooklyn alot around these projects called Fort Greene in Brooklyn NY .I remember catching marker tags on 25 Monument walk close by a Precinct ,St Michaels Catholic Church, a Library and P.S 67.Iit was this one night i was catching marker tags from the 11th floor on my way down 2 the 1st yet i didnt made it cause between the 7th and 6th floor i got caught tagging up in the hallway by a group of kids with durags and there pants sagging as they were rolling dice on the 7th floor.So as one of them opened the door and saw me in the hallway catching tags he told his peeps yo look at that dude he iis writting on the walls.So then from behind him more dudes starts to peek around the corner then all of a sudden i heard some dude say yo lets get this nikkaaa.All of a sudden the door flew open and about 5 dudes came flying out coming at me so i ran downstairs and all of them was running right behind me.On the 4th floor i opend the door very wide enough as i continue to run downstairs to make them believe that i ran in through the 4th floor for the simple fact when the door is opened wide it closes very slowly.So as i continue to run I noticed everybody ran through the 4th floor yet they thinking I opend the door yet i stopped at the 2nd floor to catch my breath as i had build up the guts and the heart to run back upstairs to my boy Timothy's crib on the 9th floor.Iit took time for me 2 exxpalin what was going on cause I had to catch my breath and my heart felt like it was going to explode that moment and for sure it was a night that i will never ever forget.

~ JESUS SAVES

KH-1 357 (New York City)

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:05:25 +0100

How it all started - About 9 or 10 years old hanging out with the big kids I picked up spraypainting in 1982 while others were writing names of their favorite rock or heavy metal band I decided to spraypaint parked cars on my block. I knew it was wrong spraypainting peoples cars into racing cars with numbers and fancy lines and shapes on the hood and doors of the cars but it felt so fuckin good I could not stop so I began walking around with what I had left of the paint and began writing my name on things in my town. North Bergen New Jersey.

Age 13 When a Jewish boy becomes a man.

I was sent off to camp to keep me off the streets and out of trouble durring the summer and thats where the name "Howey" was given to me plus it sounds nice when the girls yell it out. While most of the writers were using B-boy hip hop graffiti styled letters in their name I remembered what one of the students told me when they said "writing in script is faster." So I began writing "Howey" in script with fat markers...

One morning while standing in line at school I heard some of the cooler kids that were brake dancers talking about all the "Howey" tags on the peoples garages and doors on every block from 76 street to about 14 street ! I felt like turning around and saying "I'm Howey" but controlled myself and stayed shut but that is what kept me going with getting up even more until I demolished the whole Hudson County New Jersey area with "Howey" tags !! NJ was no longer good enough for me so I took it a level higher and went to New York City to get up ! Now at that time back in 1988 and 1989 no one had ever gotten up in both New Jersey and New York successfully. Well I did and honored to say that "I am the very first NJ writer to get up in New York City successfully !" That's a fact !
Next Stop -- New York City and how KH was started.

Now before I leave NJ and jump into New York City I should mention some of the New Jersey writers that did their thing and motivated me. First person I will mention and had the most influence on me was my good friend "Mike Balk" aka "White Rock and or "Stee Rock Ski" - "M.Stee !!" Rest In Peace Stee ! I still hook you up !! BMS !! Stee was the one that showed me how to get up more than once on one spot or block ! Other NJ writers getting up back in the 80s were "Disco Dee", "Jos One", "Jackpot", "Artist & Reb", "Bones", "Sar", "JZ- leader of Krylon Team -k.t.", "Clu", "Dy5", "Tet68", "Vel8", "Tone", "JSL", "Me & Poze", "Diz" , "Baze", along with the others I taught and influenced. LOL at a writer named "Roxy-Top" who use to diss and copy me ! Look at you now - You fag, and closet cock sucker. Look at cha now, fag ! Funny how people that did and do me wrong end up with a real extreme shitty ass life. Now on to better things and places -- New York City !!

The first place in 1988 I wrote on in New York City was a place called "The Brooklyn Banks" where skate boarders would go to practice. Later came back there at night to lerk the area I saw "Spade fox", "Fib", "JOZ", "Josh5" , "Easy", "Dcee", and lots of "Sev" tags around that area. I caught at least two tags every few seconds of walking distance then walked out into the side streets with more cans full and ready for the gates I been wanting to get ! I saw the size of how big and easy to read "JOZ" and "Easy" were getting up so I began writing "KH." large and simple to read as well. With the Zodiak Killer on the loose and Mayor Dinkins letting New York streets get filled with graffiti, hookers, drug dealers, drug users, muggers, thugs, pimps, bums, freaks, and common people it was a waaaaaay better place to be than any where else in the world for a young white Jewish graffiti writer 18 year old hornbag to lerk !

KH. New York round 2 next the second I went out

1988 and I'm still in highschool at the time and taking the bus to New York at 11:00 PM and taking the bus back home from New York and used a pad of dentist permission slips as "doctor notes" to take off of school every two weeks and having big clumpy silver braces and a face filled with pimples put the cherry on top.



The gates and streets were filthy and I waited then walked around the block a few times just to get up when I first started. Not good. I learned to know when the least amount of people and traffic ran through what ever area I was in. I mean yea sometimes there are times people have seen me getting up when I get in the zone and walk around like I own shit. One afternoon a friend of mine called and said he just saw my "KH." tag up in a Music Video On Video Music Box !!! After that I watched M.tv and Video Music Box to see if any "KH." tags popped up in the background. People began telling me that they saw my tag in Harlem, on Route 80 in Paterson NJ, and other random places in New York.

1990 came along and I sorta slowed down with graffiti and got two turntables and a mixer. Started out mixing all kinds of classic hip hop beats then got into acid music and industrial hardcore techno. Designing rave flyers and promoting in night clubs tripping on LSD and or free -e- at Future Shock Fridays and the Building for most of the 1990s. Oh by the way, the 1990s sucked for style and music ! For years I retired from graffiti but always had tags and other things catching my eyes and I would smile thinking "wowww I use to do those kind of things back in the day, that was crazy !!"



2008 I decide to get up alittle bit here and there so I began putting up "God Say's Hi" stickers since I study the power of faith and have been reading the Bible a lot to plant seeds with God's words. Then I began putting "Have Faith" stickers out there. Wow the hate I got from people with my "God Say's Hi" and "Have Faith" stickers pushed me to get markers and paint since so many haters were peeling them off !!

2008 I get introduced to a new form of graffiti and "they" call it "street art."

So the more I was lerking around New York the more I begen seeing how people were creating posters and pasting them up and calling it "street art." But I also started to see how these "street art" people were pasting their weird but corny posters over graffiti writers and when it happened to me I was not just going to let it slide so I made better looking and smarter looking posters and dissing other street art. I enjoy studying ancient typography and icons from thousands of years ago and thought it would be clever to incorparate Hebrew text into what I do along with pushing positive messages for people to read since those "yuppy modern hippy two faced" street artists "wanna-be" graffiti writers were mostly conserned with themselves and looking towards their next hero to look up to I was going to do something better and different. I thought "Obey" posters were played out and lame so I chose the Hulk Hogan image in my "Have Faith You Can Do It" posters because he slamed Andre The Giant in Wrestle Mania.

About 41 months ago from today I googled my self "KH." and see that a few people had taken pictures of my stickers and Hulk Hogan posters I made on a web site called flickr and the nerve of someone actually writing that "my" poster was "bizzare" when there were drawings of goats wearing Bill Cosby looking sweaters, monsters, and a bunch of other weird artschool looking crap. So I began searching deeper into this flickr street art community and saw that they had their cliques just like back in highschool. Yeaaa now it was time for me to show these cliques what a graffiti writer was capable of doing in one afternoon with just one marker.

So my comback was in 2008 when I took a bus to New York with a 99 cent store marker, a box cutter and a camera in my pocket and walked over to a few of the most popular "street-art" spots in Manhattan and slashed posters with the box cutter and signed them with "The slasher" then I hung one "KH." poster up at the spot and posted it on flickr and I had the flickr "street-art" community very angered at my brand name "KH1" and the things I did and said. I really just wanted to be a "graffiti journalist" working with a magazine and began taking pictures and thought " I can get up on these spots too that I photograph. Why not ?" So I started getting-up on spots I liked photographing when no one was looking. It became addictive again for awhile but I control it best I can with other "activities." I worked for a certain graffiti magazine blog where I posted interviews from graffiti artists and writers from the Bronx all the way to Germany along with posting everyday photos of what was really going on in the streets

I have "KH." up in a classic movie called "Welcome To The Dollhouse" in their New York City scene with "KH." on every gate on that block. Who else wrote that big back in 89 ? I have "KH." in a classic Sonic Youth music video called "Cool Thing" and a few other videos I saw on Video Music Box but forgot the names of the videos. 2009 NBC was airing a commercial with a "KH1" tag dissing a street artist when I did that I had just picked up a copy of my interview in Liquidteks magazine and had brought a can and walked around the corner and just caught that spot without thinking it would air on NBC and then air again durring 2009's Superbowl commercial breaks ! Some magazines and music videos have more "KH's" in them and my graffiti career was going great until the end of 2009 and the whole year of 2010 ! I was giving out "KH1" samples of organic juice that I am working on having sold in stores. Met a skank whore from myspace that always had the police knocking on my door then she lied and had me put in jail....

Had me put in jail with months of court dates she was afraid to show up at thinking I would stop all "KH1" related things and plans. Well 2011 and 2012 I am back again with the mission of making money from crime with starting a fanzine with hopes of it growing into a magazine with sales, a laon or grant to start my juice business and silkscreen printing clothes and bed sheets.
Shout out to all of 357, JAO, The people putting up lots of graffiti stickers and tags to help ruin property, my haters and to the summerians and our true creators for providing humans with the written language. Ohh yea shout out to all the escorts that let me suck their boobs and fuck them for free.

And shout out to crew R.U.O.K. and One last shout out - to Jerm and the DC crew from the Bronx

The End
KH1-357

“PRIZ-ONE TSF/TS5” "Nothing personal, your name just came up."

Thu, 19 May 2011 20:51:02 +0100

To say that I invented a particular style would be ridiculous as it would be to say that Jimi Hendrix was the only rock guitarist - what, the purist scream, about Eddie Van Halen, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and a dozen others? The same is true in writing, which to me is the equivalent of graceful hand style and lettering accompanied by raw bold intensity under pressure.

Before me came dozens, going as far back to the inventor of the “Broadway Elegant,” style, DEAN BYB, and JEAN-13 BYB, and PART TDS, and, ZEPHYR RTW, and DON-ONE MAFIA and 2-MAD CYA, and RASTA RTW, and NOC-167 OTB and…

But like rock guitarist styles', or any other genre that draws up such raw creativity and emotions, must constantly regenerate and renew it self or die.

In the mid 70’s, when crews like MTA, TDS, TSF/TS5, WAR, TMT, MAFIA, BYB, CYA, RTW were dominating as well as revitalizing styles, one train line at a time, I was hit in the head with a bolt of pure lightning while benching on the 96^th street station.

What do I remember? I remember hearing the words “whatchuwrite” and falling oddly silent. I remember what they taught me; the same thing rock’s titan, Jimi Hendrix, articulates in one of his songs: "If you can just get your mind together, then come on across to me." I started collecting, writing pseudonym and then began experimenting with them relentlessly. TLD (TRAINS LODGING DESTRUCTION), TUA (TRAINS UNDER ATTACK), MR/RM, SWAN-ONE, PRISMA/PRIZMA, PRISM/PRIZM, PRIS and PRIZ. I racked a small Black book, some Designer Markers, a Niji pilot and a can of Opaque Black Flo Master ink. Then I turned on the afterburners and went into Toy overdrive...LOL.

In the summer of 77, I had a next door neighbor who was a boxer. He wrote SAM BYB from LOS-MOSQUITOS street gang. We began talking about boxing and his black book collection. He had a wicked collection of legendary cats on paper, and I had a lot of interest in boxing and a Graff stash of Vivitar 110 photos, so we starting hanging out together. Out of that beginning, of our mutual interests, a friendship blossomed. When he saw my hand style, he said: “Yeah. Definitely you’ll be a writer.” It’s not like so many cats that come to you and say, “Well, you okay, “you know, if you keep working at it you may make it. He was obviously very blunt and effective like his right hook. He introduced me to DEAN AKA LE aka KO (RIP) (BYB PREZ), JEAN-13, BAD, ROOK aka SEAN TCB (THE CITY BURNERS) (RIP), BLAZE aka PAPO, NEST, NEON and SAN who were members of BYB (BAD YARD BOYS) crew and hung out at the school yard of Brandeis High School.

My tags began appearing on the Riverside Park benches, mailboxes, freight tunnel walls aka (Freedom Tunnels), 79^th and 86^thstreet, station pillars and the school yard walls of P.S. 9.

The lettering styles in my black book and school composition notebooks were a result of countless hours of shaping and reshaping, benching and then reshaping the letters again. After school, I was grooving for hours while watching whole cars by ZEPHYR, REVOLT, MACKIE aka HYPER, BILROCK, MITCH-77 aka TUES, DAZE and LEE roll into the 96^th street station on the 1, 2 and 3 lines.

1979 marked the beginning of entry into motioning insides and bombing stations along Broadway. I was hitting available panels, ceilings and headboards with classmates SPHINX/SPINKS aka MR. VON ROC aka APE, SSB, (SAL SOUL BROTHERS), BIC (BROTHERS IN CRIME), SARE-ONE CA (CRUSH ARTISTS), RANK aka SPARK-2 TUA (TRAINS UNDER ATTACK) and BD-173. We weren’t great, by any means, but we were fairly good, fairly fast and totally crazy-which means we weren’t afraid of anything or anyone who was sitting in the last car.

1981 found me energized with creative writing muscles. Older cats like STAN-ONE, CHAZ, DE-DONE TSF/TS5 (THE SPANISH 5IVE) crew were always encouraging me to get up on trains. It was an adrenaline trip. They considered me untried talent. So I kept trying and trying on the subways.

By now a close knit “brotherhood” had formed between me and the members of TSF crew- many of who considered me as the often “quiet” but opinionated member. I just wanted very much to start doing primo pieces on the exteriors of those subway cars. One Sunday, I caught a set of buffed R-15’s and put up several PRIS aka PRISM throw ups along their exteriors. Then in 1982, I did my first window down PRIZ-FELO whole car. Years later, Henry Chalfant would give me photo of that car. Jeez. Its funny how you’ve been neglected a good part of your life and no one is paying any attention to you, and suddenly, chicks are paying attention, cats are paying attention: peers are passing you their black books and putting you down with their crews.

By the mid 1980’s, our crews diverse talents, personalities and competitive intensity in and out of the 1 tunnels was ideal for those crazy times.

After school, we went on four man sleeve jacket and body racking missions. We scooped up Krylon, Rustoleum, Red Devil, Wet- Look spray paints and Pilots, Magnums, Marsh, Flo Master and Purple Supermarket ink. Then we bombed, painted, got drunk and slapped boxed each other up and down the 125th street platform lol. Unwelcomed lightweights were constantly using Aspirin to cope with ever the increasing headaches from the head thumping’s they were catching down in the 1 tunnels from some of the more seasoned TS5 cats. Some of those same chatty cats around today have developed a bad case of amnesia. They will continue to rewrite Graff history and then publish their own fictional books and fantastic stories about what our crew did or didn’t do. If you didn't see me up, I wasn't offended.

As a crew, we would venture out from place to place. That was any given spot from the Stone Gym, the Columbia University’s Campus, and 125thstreet station, the Ghost Yard, Bonds on 42^ndstreet, 175th street layup, Tracy Towers or New Lots.

I was being introduced to cats like CHRIS-217 AW, REVOLT RTW, FREEDOM AW, SON-ONE TSF, POKE MOS, TRACY-168 WS, FLITE FC, JON-ONE TB, REVON NTA, PARM VIA, PHEAR YCB, NEAL/LEEN KBC, FROSTY FREEZE RSC, ZESTA WKTU, DOZE YCB, DAZE CYA, VISA/VEZA QV and SEE-3 TVS.

At this point in the game, we started having beef with cats and whole cars began getting ragged, lined, slashed and then cats got vicked and vamped for their cameras and paint. Some whole cars never left the tunnels intact or completed for the Monday morning rush or the benching bunch. We lost whole cars too. Since I was opinionated and less skilled, I never gave any older cats the impression that I wouldn’t swing or get down if I had to. In those days, you had to step up or get stepped on.

Then the VS (Vandal Squad) saw a chance to capitalize on bad blood between writers. They went to different lines and started rolling whole cars with yellow and gray gallon paint. Sometimes they were bold enough to leave their initials of VS behind.

I remember a fall night in 1986, when my boy SUEIE/SUEY CAC (COOL ART CREATORS), FEMER VC (VISCIOUS CREW) and DAPE BYI (BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION) and I were on the way to the side entrance of the 3 yard. Between us, we had three bags of paint, a 007 knife and a mini baseball bat. As we got to the handball court which was facing the yard, two tall white plainclothes cops emerged from the hole in the fence. As they walked towards us, one of them said, "If you see SEEN, tell him we’re looking for him." They walked passed us and didn’t skip a beat. We all just froze and looked at one another. By the time we looked over our shoulders, they had disappeared. Sh*t! The 3 yard was hot! As we walked up the fence, we could see silver SEEN UA throw ups on every set of white elephants in that yard.......

When I came back to Broadway from an extensive vacation, I noticed STAN and CHAZ as well as other key TSF members had retired or were long gone from the scene. The BALL BUSTERS still made special appearances. They would occasionally clip a cat that wasn’t hip to the skinny. SON-ONE TSF had joined up with FBA (FAST BREAKING ARTISTS) but he was still representing TSF and his crew WBC (WRITERS BEYOND CONTROL). There were also occasional raids in the 1 tunnel. There were too many cats benching or lounging on the 145th street platform. Sometimes you could see the haze of paint fumes from the inside of the tunnel. I personally knew some of the young bloods who were macking. While I was away, they forgot how to be humble. Looking back, I should have extended my vacation.....

I have to admit, that most writers don't like admitting they've gotten spooked, chased, robbed, beat down, arrested or even losing their cool in a raid. It's one of those things that do happen though. However, some cats rather not be mentioned you dig? As a teenager, when a raid went down, I remember firing off both cylinders and going into hyper drive. In 1983, a younger classmate wanted to do a whole car. He had no skills. He supplied the paint. I supplied the outlines. How could I refuse? On a Friday night; we watched one set of IRT trains get laid up for the weekend on the Uptown side and another two sets on the Downtown side. The next morning, we rode back uptown. As we pulled into the 125thstreet station, six crew shirt wearing BALL BUSTERS stepped into the last car with us. They were giving us hard looks as they walked through into the next car. While painting with the fellas, I had met other BB’s. I had seen PONYROCK and BABYROCK WKTU up in there too. Now THE BALL BUSTERS had ongoing beef with ZULU NATION and were checking id's at the door. I wasn’t taking any chances.

When the train pulled out of the 137thstreet station, we looked out the train windows and saw the same parked sets from the night before. As we pulled into 145th street station and the doors slid open, we stepped out and looked down the length of the subway cars to see if the six BALL BUSTERS were getting off too. There was no sign of them. "Did they get off at on 137th?" I asked myself. We waited. Then the kid was worried about scuffing up his new Pumas. As the northbound train left the station, we went to the end of the station, down the yellow ladder and walked towards the set of sleeping red eyed leviathans. The lights in the set were off. As we came up to the first car, I climbed up the front of the subway car, looked in, checked the door handle, pulled my IRT key out, unlocked the door and quietly slid the door back. As the door opened, the kid was standing below me on the tracks holding the bag of paint. The light bulbs along the length of the tunnels kept the inside of the set dimly lit instead of completely dark. Suddenly the lights in the second car came on. I caught a quick glimpse of two men, one man sitting down and another stepping out of the motorman's cab. I saw the bright orange transit vest and the glint from the badges around there necks! I let the train door slide back quietly, pulling it close while slowly stepping down. I was hoping we hadn't been spotted. Then I heard a growl "HEY YOU! COMEAR!" followed by the heavy footfalls and two long blasts from the train’s horn.

Everything became a blur along with the instantaneous mixed sounds of crunching gravel beneath my feet, the slamming of doors, the boom of the train horn, the grunts, the swearing and the rattling of the numerous cans of spray paint. I jumped down from the train into the tracks. I ran past a set of pillars and over the third rail and into the middle track and in the direction of the downtown station. An uptown train shot by on the opposite track. From the corner of my eye, I could see a 5-0 to my right and another one closing in to my left. They were trying to cut us off. I could hear the kid breathing hard as he ran behind me. Then everything went to hell. As the kid was running, one of his fat laced Pumas’ came off in mid air. I saw him slow down and then go back to retrieve it. In the tunnel ahead of me, I suddenly saw the bright lights of a southbound train heading straight for us! I looked back and the kid was picking up his sneaker with one hand and holding the bag of paint in the other. I heard the word “STOP!” and then I saw the two cops come to a sudden stop, turn around and run for cover in between a set of pillars. I finally made it up to the platform. I turned around and ran back. I saw the kid on the tracks below me and felt the rush of tunnel air coming from the downtown train. I quickly grabbed down, held and then pulled up hard as he flipped over onto the platform and onto his back. The train's screaming horn echoed throughout the whole station as the train shot by us. I jerked the kid up and through the turnstile gate and up into the street. We headed toward Amsterdam Avenue. We were both visibly shook up by the whole thing. He never suggested or ever came down to paint again. That day he gave me two shopping bags full of paint. He realized how spooky close he came to being Casper. As far as for me, it would be the first of many raids that I would be involved in.

By the late 80's, I was introduced to a young blood who wrote YAZ-ONE. He was an Art and Design kid. He had skills. We became partners and started painting on the IRT's, IND’s and BMT's. Then we switched to painting concrete. We were pushing the crews CAC (COOL ART CEATORS), TKM (THE KINGS MEN), NOC (NATION OF CREATION), CLK (CRAZY LAYUP KINGS) AND KOK (KINGS OF KINGS). WE were a good team together. Years later, in the 1990's, after several years of perusing our own individual agendas, we would link up again and catch some brand new Red Birds in Brooklyn. A year later, we would loose touch once again and I would keep painting and painting and...

The era of Subway Art whole cars would vanish by 1989 and replaced by a fleet of shiny foreign made sardine cans and old repainted redbirds on third rails. The writing was literally on the wall.

And even now, some nights, I vaguely hear the drumming of the subway cars motors. And then the end psssssh! And then the drumming starts again and I begin to drift to sleep........

I want to thank the cats at Graffaholiks for letting me spew some of my history as well as allowing me to relapse back into my yesterdays. Peace..

BEEN3 "Wallnuts"

Sun, 15 May 2011 15:51:52 +0100

In the mid to late 70's I started noticing the colors of the paintings on the walls and trains. I soon learned more about the underground culture called "writing" aka graffiti. Everything about it called my attention.

Then I met Jean13 BYB (Bad Yard Boys). He was painting these amazing murals.. I would always hang around him when he was painting one of these walls, asking questions and bothering him to show me his black book.I guess I bothered him so much that he decided to teach me. I learned a lot from looking at the hand styles of other BYB members Dean, Bad, Blaze, Rook aka Sean, San and of course Jean13 aka Flare.

I was about 9 when I ventured out into the streets to make my mark. At first I wrote Shorty (very creative), then Remie.. Then in middle school I took on the name Been3 (pronounced Bean "proper English"). Wanting to be like the older BYB members (Jean, Dean and Sean), but with a little individuality, I chose Been. Back then everyone had a number after their name so I chose the number 3 (my birthday). I painted my first piece in 84-85 and did a few trains in 86, but since I was interested in many other things like Djing and sports I soon left the Graffiti scene.. But I never stopped doodling.

Then in 96 I walked by the Graffiti Hall of fame and saw that it had recently gotten painted. So I came back with my camera. That got me hooked again. I started venturing out looking for new walls to photograph. Then in 2001 I ran into the "Wallnuts". At first they thought I was a cop. After we started talking, they invited me to paint with them.. The rest is history..

For a 3 years span we painted about 40 murals a year. It has slowed down now but every now and then we paint a wall. Now I am very content with documenting the scene. I have published 1 book "No Drips Allowed Vol 1" and I have a few other books in mind.

I started taking photos in middle school. My seventh grade teacher Richard Ulmer (RIP) introduced me to the camera. I would take my dads 135mm stack flash and 110mm cameras and I would go out and photograph the graffiti in the neighborhood. Then in HS I took a photography class. The teacher Dan Becker taught me the technical side of photography. Soon I was working in the photography class as a student aide. He also taught me how to take portraits. I am not a big fan of portraits but I used those same skills to take candid shots.

When the digital age came around I was skeptical. But when the developers lost one of my rolls of film. I was not happy. This was also right around the time of my daughters birth and we wanted to photograph her birth. So went out and bought a 2mp Sony.. $600 at the time.. I loved it.. It also allowed me to save about $1000 a year on film and developing. I was already fooling around with photoshop so it was a match made in heaven.

As you will see in my photos. I am very diverse. My passion is the panoramic photos. Giving you 180 degree view of what I see. But I enjoy capturing many topics with my photography. My goals are to make the ordinary look spectacular. To take that everyday moment and make it breathe taking. To take the boring ole librarian and show you how alluring and sexy she can be.

The Royal Kingbee UW (NY, New York)

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:36:52 +0100

The Royal Kingbee UW, AKA Kbornik Acid, AKA Kborne, was born in Harlem NYC, and raised in the Bronx in the early 70‘s. Kingbee began his illustrious career painting graffiti on walls until gathering recognition and eventually being commissioned to perform his artistic abilities for numerous businesses, public and private all throughout the city of New York. Some being Youngland, Bacardi, and RiteAid just to name a few. Highly talented, respected, eccentric and probably the most underestimated underground artist of our time.

Kingbee is the President/Leader/Founder of UW LAW, one of the most talented graffiti crews in New York City throughout the 90’s. Kingbee continues to create art in all mediums and categoríes including body art, canvases, logos, and clothing. Kingbee has influenced other well known artists and continues to impress new upcoming artists in the art world. You can find more information and see exclusive shots of Royalty at its greatest at www.kingbeeuw.com this Summer 2010.

NIC.ONE Aerosol Kings (Bronx New York)

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:36:17 +0100

NIC ONE was born in the South Bronx. As a kid growing up there he would become fixated on the New York City Subway movement. Through the many colorful influences that he pick up living close to the subway train lines NIC ONE would become what he came to admire the most a subway artist. Being an active subway writer and loving the artwork that he would often see on the side of the subway trains he would grow to eventually photograph the subway movement. NIC ONE would become known as both an Aerosol artist and a Hip Hop Photographer. He has done many art shows and Gallery and Museum events from New York to LA and Paris, as well as Television and Movie background artwork. His artwork can be seen in various Graffiti books as well as his Graffiti Photography. He’s had some of his artwork appeared in Glamour fashion magazine and a Calvin Klein advertisement featured in the New York Times Home Style section, as well as appearing in graffiti news articles in the New York Times newspaper.

In 2005 Nic One was honored for his contributions to the Graffiti movement on VH1 Hip Hop Honors and his artwork was featured in the Graffiti video game “GETTING UP”.He was featured in the international Graffiti documentary titled; BOMB IT! And he did some commercial artwork for the Cooper Hotel Wall project in New York City.

He documented the Hip Hop Music culture through his photography and some of his photo work was featured in rap magazines such as: The Source, Vibe Magazine, 4Korners Hip Hop News Paper and Hip Hop Magazine in the UK.

He is also the personal photographer of The Legendary Graffiti King BLADE and he has photo work featured in Blades book. Nic One was the head curator and event coordinator of the Graffiti Outdoor Museum called 5Pointz (2002-2006). He severed on the board of directors and was an assistant art director there as well as the sites graffiti historian, teacher and head site photographer. Nic One’s biggest achievement at 5pointz was organizing the Old Timers Day events. A yearly event witch paid respects to the Graffiti Writers of the 1970’s. Top Photo 2010 Bottom Photo 1989 Nic One has worked as a co/producer for Videograf Productions from 1989 – 2010 and he has worked as a production assistant for HENRY CHALFANT from 1989-2010.He’s currently working on his photography and he is still documenting the graffiti movement whenever he can. He is actively painting walls and canvas and is currently working on his own graffiti book project. It’s been 33 years that NIC ONE has been involved in the Graffiti movement as an active writer and 26 years as an illustrated Hip Hop Photographer. And there’s no slowing him down.

LOUIE167 HR "A True Skool Vandal" (Bronx ,NY)

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:24:58 +0100

I was first introduced to graffiti by my cousins, 2Rob, and Jab. They were a pair of brothers who lived on Walton, and 161st, in the shadows of Yankee Stadium. I guess that explains why I’ve always been a Yankee fan and loved the Bronx Bombers. I’d spend summers with them and we would play in abandon lots and take dips in Muloly’s pool, until we all caught ear infections and that put an end to cool dips in that shit pool. Whenever we would hear the rumble of the 4 train, we would all stop and stare at the iron snake roll by, just looking to catch a glimpse of a 2Rob and Jab piece, from that moment on I was hooked on graffiti.

Back in my hood, on Webster and 187th st. I played around with names and tags with my man Spa. He was Craze and I was Amaze, then we realized those names were taken so we dropped them. One summer evening a friend of mine took me up to the “Westchester County Fair”, at Yonkers Raceway. We came upon a booth with a few guys in there doing air brush t-shirts. Turns out it was Seen. Mario and I each ordered shirts; we came back later on and picked them up. Mario’s shirt had his name and a big character on it, mine said Louie on it with a drawing of a train on it. A few days later we both wore our shirts and Mario suggested, hey I know you have been messing around with that graffiti shit why don’t you just write your name Louie? I later moved to 167th and Gerard, hence the 167.

Louie167 was born a Bronx gritty kid with a bad attitude and a crew of young dudes ready to roll and eager to get their names up in the process. In the beginning I rolled with my high school partner, “Drane”. I had messed around with names while I hung with Drane but he wasn’t much into the Graff game as he was into getting high, shit I drank back then but getting high was not my thing. While attending Theodore Roosevelt High School I met Kace1 (UMXS), Serve, Lordism, Woosh, Ser, Term, Zads, jiser and so on, lots of kids were in to graffiti back in high school, Everyone had a nick name or tag they went by. Dudes in school were acting like they were killing shit and they were only local. I was already bombing parts of Manhattan and tore up the Bronx, I was up more than most of these dudes back in high school. That’s when Kace1 approached me and handed me a list of crew names, he told me don’t get down with them, form your own crew and watch them all get down with you. From that list the one that stood out the most was HR (HARD ROCS). That was It, HARD ROCS was born.

So I put down every stick up kid and gun totting, chain snatching catching wreck adolescent from my hood down with the crew. Niggas in jail were reppin the crew, I’d always know the hood would have my back and I repped the hood everywhere I went. So in the beginning I rolled mainly with cats from my hood, my man Craze became Spa, then there was Che, Evate, Rival, Lore, Sech, Face, AE, Dept, Lulu, Ric1. We mostly bombed the streets rolling around in stolen cars, stealing paint from Sears and Martin Paints on Fordham Road. Then I met Vase (TWA), Vase was the one that introduced me to piecing, the 1st piece I did was with Vase, I remember the cap we were using to fill-in the piece whistled as the paint sprayed out of it. But I was stuck on bombing, I wanted to put Louie167 HR’s everywhere. There’s a feeling you get seeing your name everywhere. Shit there’s was nothing like having fat cap tags all over the city. Rusto blacks, and silvers with the drifts on top, HR after every tag I was hooked.

It was bad for Vase, because he wasn’t much of a bomber so he started to run with King B and UW, and would eventually move to Connecticut. So we never painted after that. We eventually got into a huge beef with UW. I guess they were doing pieces on JHS 147 Handball court, and Merk decided to write everyone’s Tags over some pieces we had on the other side of the wall. That was all I needed to set off a beef between us and them. We went to the Hall Of fame and ragged all their pieces. They rolled up on us with shotguns and baseball bats. A bunch of pint size dudes I never heard of before and or after the beef. Niggas looked like a bunch of Pirates, (That was when loop earrings were in style). I remember chasing King B around a car while he held a bat in his hands, but his mans pulled out a shotgun on Lore in the middle of the street and that was when we all realized that shit was getting out of hand. I guess that’s what happens when you go to the Hall Of fame and rag niggas pieces. I got into a big beef with TD over Vase that took its toll on me; I would roll around on a mountain bike with spray cans where the water bottle should be and a 25 cal. Berretta in my pocket looking for him. I got into it with that idiot JA, The entire Sports crew, Hush and those dudes; of course there was the TVT beef. That nigga Sento had to catch it as well. He’s lucky I never caught him in the streets cause he was popping mad shit and I aint about talking shit I just said when I catch you it’s on. Ket put him on the phone and tried to squash the beef with us. He started talking all this respect shit and I told him to go fuck himself it’s on. His man Noah too, I let him have it as well then Key called me and squashed it.

I was accused and blamed for hitting some kid with a hammer.Although it wasn’t me, I caught the heat in the industry behind that shit. I know because of that incident, Sasha Jenkins (Ego Trip/Vibe and all those other graffiti projects your bitch ass did) would look pass me whenever a graffiti project came his way, but he could call me to try to get advertising money from Varcity when I was working with them. Shit, I should have hit whoever it was that got hit with the hammer, I got blamed for it. Even though I supported him when he was at Vibe and doing his little mag Ego Trip, I got black balled in the industry over it. Christina (Dulce) Veran called me crying and screaming hysterical over that shit. Industry folks looking at me like I’m some fucking bully or something. But Fuck You, I didn’t hit your man with the hammer, I would have punched him in the face instead, that was more my style.

Instead I hit those streets hard, I would not be denied, I was out for my fucking fame, and I went for mines and sometimes took mines. You know how it goes they either going to respect you or fear you, and I wasn’t to be messed with, with the hands, or cans. We almost burned down a building, because we had gotten Intel that Sento was living as a squatter in an abandoned building off the Bruckner expressway. I got caught in the middle of the beef between Brim and Jew, Brim at the time was running with Joe (Fat Joe, Crack), so Joe comes by Carvel’s and offers to set up a rumble between us and them, shit you got to respect Joe for that. He said and I quote “Just as long as you don’t swing on me I won’t swing on you” everyone else is fair game. At the end these two dudes were beefing over a chick and my mother taught me well not to get into relationship beef.

I caught a charge in Poughkeepsie, and my ride or die nigga Ruel left me out to dry. We formed a clothing company and he let some trick come between us. After he came to me with his baby looking to get back in the game and I embraced him. Shit he and his girl at the time wrote a bio and completely left me out of it like I didn’t fucking exists. Shit even when I’m taking a shot at niggas I still give them a shout or props. I was part of that small percentage of writers that can piece and bomb the streets as well. I ran with Tabe (TFT), Ric1, and Rak. I rolled with Tyke TFO for a few years. We came across a few sticky situations that had to be handled real quick, but I won’t drop any names, Tyke holds a heavy grudge and I think the beef is still on with him.

But I kept it moving, then I met my man Chad and he introduced me to Phame. Phame was a pretty boy bus driver who only wanted to bomb bus routes and does pretty fill-ins. Ha ha by the way welcome home my brother. Chad was also doing the MC thing, bunch of trips to Vegas with Wane COD and SOE (TNS). We sure left it in Vegas. Got into a few sticky situations out there too. Ran with Cine, Astro, Fogs, Ceek and Who, that was fun running through Brooklyn and Queens. Fucking Astro would take forever to bust a fucking tag, but he was a good dude at least with me he was. Astro was caught up in so much beef with them Brooklyn cats but he still managed to have crazy up’s. It was he who showed me how to bomb with a fucking milk crate. I was already over 6 feet so standing on a milk crate I got up above the rest. Master Ace was introduced to us by Crazy Legs of Rock Steady at Union Square Park, Ace wanted to get back into the Graff game and Ruel and I were “Born to Roll”, Ace was a cool dude he liked football like me, and had a love for Hip Hop like me. Very lyrical at the drop of a dime, He didn’t even believe me when I told him Kool G Rap was my favorite. Oh by the way thanks to Fat Joe for introducing me to KRSONE. On summer in front of Copeland’s we hung out with Joe, and KRSONE. My man Paul nice from Poughkeepsie and a few other dudes, we just stood on the corner chopping it up while a homeless man was doing flips off the Don’t Walk sign. Each time he did a flip we’d all give him a dollar. The Bobbito and Stretch Armstrong show where I met Kool G Rap was the shit every Thursday, they’d give us shout outs while we were bombing or we’d just pop up at the station after a bombing session. This shit was fun.

I’ve had the chance to paint with Nev, Serve, Kace, Vet, T-Kid, Ovie, of course the legend Cope2, Med, and my nigga Dezo, Wane COD. It was fun back then, now a day’s Graffiti has really changed , you have all these permission walls, designer paint and colors, special caps, ladders, scaffolds be back tomorrow or next week cause it’s dark “Oh My”. Shit Tuff City has a train in the back so motherfuckers can go back there and get “That Old thing Back!” (Sup Med), niggas having friendly battles, shit all over the internet now. Niggas do a piece shoot flicks and video and post it on You Tube. Now I not knocking it but c’mon how hard is it now. The Hall Of fame is all politics so is the gallery scene you have the meeting of styles all over the world, The Five Points, Where Meres would rather let some fucking foreigners paint before he gives you a decent fucking spot.

I not mad though; he’s over there giving kids lessons in Graffiti? You think they feel the way I felt when I was bombing in the middle of the night? Shit Never. You know that feeling when you’re on a rooftop and the next morning you riding the train looking at your shit. You can’t teach them that feeling. Cats got colors named after them trips over seas shit its big business niggas, done sold their souls for fame. No more painting in the dark where you can’t really see, scrap cans cause your afraid of getting chased and or vamped (that’s an old school word) and have to leave your paint behind. Niggas poppin shit under aliases on Saster. Mr. Dutch out there putting together the dopest graffiti compilation videos on the net. Video Graff is back with Carl (The Man) and Nic1 after them pigs finished fucking with them. This is no way to disrespect anyone or anything that graffiti artists and writers are doing today. Get yours but don’t front like its hard when the only time you paint is when the sun is out and you got that permission slip in your pocket.

I’m not an artist, I’ve never been. I am a graffiti writer and I gave them hell in the streets, My influences were Jon156/Trim/Joz(RIP)/ Easy/ Cope/ Jab/ 2Rob/ Seen/ Tkid/ Serve (You’re the best if you could get your shit together and stop following mother fuckers), PJ I had you over that Idiot anytime. TAT’s Crew is still the best crew period. Love riding around as a kid taking pictures of ya shit. Nicer my condolences go out to you and your family. Every time I see ya I say the same “I Love ya Dudes and keep walking because you can’t disturb Master at Work. Cope2 you are a fucking legend and get all the money this Graff shit gives you and a middle finger to whomever mad. To Menos get your money man, I did Fuk Graff for him and I’m the only motherfucker rocking everything with a fat cap in the whole entire video niggas is doing fill-ins tags and other dumb shit all with skinny caps?

My Brothers the game has changed, I no longer have the same passion for it, not the thrill of it or even that itch. Every day I stare at hundreds of cans and nothing just nothing. I put my time in and spilled my paint, blood and sacrificed my family. I get invited to paint and I’m far from motivated. Tons of paint lying around and I’m not moved by it. This is in no way to discredit anyone or disrespect anyone; lots of this shit is just my experiences. Chad, Phame and I had Pit Bulls let loose on us. I stopped Shams and Vet from getting into a fight with each other. I caught a beating with Jew by the fucking cops for no reason at all. Oh I forgot we walked in front of the fucking prescient that was what we did. Fucking Cope choking Tabe in front of me thanks to Per (Laughing my motherfucking ass off). I got shot at by my own fucking man, because he couldn’t come up with paint to do his piece but still wanted a spot on the wall. These are just some of my personal opinions, and we all know about opinions. So do your things get your money, fame, Pics and videos, build your portfolios and shop your book deals, go buy your paint at the many paint stores the city has to offer. There’s enough to go around for everyone, and if not find your nitch and run with it.

Gano VGL went from taking cabs all the way from Staten Island to the Bronx, just to buy paint from me. He was getting all that Wu-Tang money at the time, and is now a serious actor (God Bless). At the end of it all I loved it and still do, I might appear at a gathering or a show, some production wall niggas are doing just to try to show some support for the Graff game. Thanks to the cats who along the way showed love. Ske If I were ever The Green Hornet you would be Kato. Med (Thanks for opening your doors to me and my family) Ket (thanks for the interview with Joz/Easy Cope, AND Me). Chad you’re a MONSTER, not a rapper but a fucking MC. Nev leave the dust alone. CENE my down south connection, Wane it’s always a pleasure. ESPO, you owe me my tags back. Near n Ryno, Else KGB. Sie and Trab4, Shit I had the Knife, Sie had the hammer (No Connection to the earlier incident), and Trab4 the smallest motherfucker had the 357 Magnum in his waist. Sak, you should have given back that black book. To Mitch (Jersey one) Thanks. I know I forgot some folks but after all the lost of rest and sleep and that malt liquor: SORRY…. To my fallen brothers, Dept1 RIP/POSE1 RIP/CASTERMER RIP/SAZ RIP (You were going to be a monster). May god bless your souls and every other graffiti writer and artist writing all over the heavens? I’ll be the one to bomb hell for all of ya…………

One

LOUIE167 HARDROCS is a GRAFFAHOLIK

COPE2 (Bronx, NY)

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 01:38:00 +0100

The man, the myth, the legend - Cope2. He's done it all, and to this day he is still doing his thing. He is the King of all Kings. Cope2 has lived his whole life in the Bronx, growing up amongst abandoned buildings in the South Bronx on the opposite end of the earth from Wall Street in Manhattan. He came to graffiti like everyone else in those days, at the age when young men and women begin to explore the urban labyrinth where we all live.

Cope2 is a graffiti artist who created a legacy in New York with his art and creativity. Cope2 has been painting graffiti since 1978, he painted trains in the 80's and even 30 years later he's still out there rockin' walls. And when he paints his pieces, he doesn't even draw a sketch. His pieces are literally straight off the dome piece! Many feel he's the one that kept graffiti alive in the 1990's.

In a time when the Mayor was doing everything in his power to stomp graffiti out he was still defying the law. Being very active in the graffiti street scene he came to be known as the ambassador for New York City graffiti. People from other countries even come to NYC to paint with him. The 1999 classic, “Cope2: Kings Destroy”, documentary takes an in depth look at him and his crew "Kings Destroy" in action.

In 2000 he made his canvas debut, by selling artwork in the infamous Guernsey’s Auction House “Graffiti: The Auction”. Since then his urban style of art work can be found in galleries all over the world from London to Japan. His book “Cope2: True Legend” (2003 Righters.com) bears witness to the extraordinary graffiti phenomenon that he is. In recent success, in 2005 Cope2 was commissioned by Time Life magazine to design a life sized outdoor billboard campaign in the Soho district. He is a featured legend in the video game, Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure and artwork in Grand Theft Auto IV.

His notorious Cope2 bubble style art also has had appearances in other media productions such as in the movie "Shrek The Third" amongst others. Cope2 has designed limited edition footwear with Converse, Pro Keds and an exclusive campaign for Adidas Originals and Footlocker Europe. While may writers retired and hung their cans up, Cope2 is still out in the streets organizing production walls, painting worldwide and leaving his mark in the art millennium .