I also was still tagging the extra page area which I eventually stopped doing too. This particular style, a variation of a “blockbuster” (big large bold letters) and I remember back then the master of the blockbuster style to me was Mitch 77. He had so many solid gold or silver, end to end window down blockbusters running on the 4 line you were sure to see them daily. I never painted a blockbuster but if I was this piece would have been a good contender, even in 81’ I was a stickler for the one point perspective 3D to be correct, I never understood what was so difficult for many other artists to get that correct. 3D always followed the same rules of perspective. Even the face of these letters adjusts for the distortion that would normally happen since the center would be closest to your eye, the K and S would begin to lean or warp away from your eye creating a distorted view of the letters. I hadn’t studied that at all, it just seemed to always make sense to me. Now I purposely distort my letters to purposely and stylishly warp my pieces.

I used to get my name up in my hood, LES, then in school, A&D, then on subways, then Hollywood, then nightclubs, restaurants, clothing and blah blah, you get it, Today my surface is the internet, Google, it’s a bigger world but I relish devouring it!

As advice for the shorties, tell us what it takes to become a queen/king in this game?

Who out there is responsible for declaring who is king or queen, and further, king or queen of what? There are so many more important goals, don’t focus on things that other people have done, create your own path, just as important, create your own style. Establish realistic, and profitable goals, money isn’t the most important thing but it creates opportunity, it is a powerful tool that helps in every phase of creating art, don’t be fooled, lack of money is a pain in the ass. Being king of the IRT does nothing for me these days; it’s a new time, be king of the internet (an example). Raise the stakes, increase the goal, go for things that no one has accomplished before, don’t follow, lead, achieve.

Who are your top 5 all-time favorite writers?

Mitch 77, unsung all around badass.

Lee, not only for obvious reasons but because I grew up in the building next to his and had more access to stories and art from him than most others from further away.

Gil aka Sizer, my Graff partner who consistently challenged my style, technique, sense of self and success.

Crash, for helping me get my work into the 1980s gallery scene when he never had to, graffiti artists are so reluctant to help others who aren’t down with their immediate posse.

My 5th I have to give up to the dozens of younger, passionate and enthusiastic worldwide graffiti artist who keep the spirit and energy alive, reminding me to constantly keep getting as good as I can be. So many pieces I see recently humble me. Even though I know spray paint is much easier, colors more varied and time more abundant (in legal walls) but painting that are amazing. I toast all the new school.

What do you see as social media’s impact on graffiti culture?

Whatever one thinks or believes about graffiti today, it is a business, a big one. You can be a part or not, you can make fun of cheesy graffiti styled products filling the shelves of major stores but one must absolutely understand that money is being paid for all of it, the world doesn’t care about graffiti history, style kings or even who is good or not. The “un-graffiti” minded world thinks we all do the same art, think the same and may only be about a dozen or million of us who do it. The world doesn’t care, they believe what they see, and what they are told. How many times have I heard how amazed someone learning about our world about how complex and deep what we do is. Social media dumbs down the viewer, its our responsibility to educate the unknowing, not continue teaching the supporters. We have to raise our game constantly to keep the craft alive.

Give us a one-liner on style.

Take it and make it yours and yours only.

Now that you’re not a teenager anymore, is your work about quantity or quality? Why?

That’s easy, Quality, I have done quantity, I know how to do that, I have to challenge myself all the time and that takes time not amounts.

Would you be down for a 1-on-1 interview with me? We can include videos and photos, especially if they’re online.

Sure!