So it started with markers?
Well, markers and spray-paint. It wasn’t like fat caps or anything like that. It goes back to the mischievousness of being young. It was definitely more, without understanding the moment, a curiosity thing. Like “I can spray paint on things? That’s nuts.” The paint we used was different, too. Back then, we had garden paint—red, green, and black. I’ve saved and collected some of the gem colors because they were so revered, like if you found a blue or a purple.
Did you get into stealing, too? Was that part of the trouble you caused?
I used to buy paint back in the day. Yeah I stole it when I needed to. I’m not the biggest guy on robbing. It’s bad enough you’re vandalizing. (laughs) I didn’t like robbing these mom and pop shops, but it’s part of process. I lived it. When I could buy a can of paint for a buck, I did it.
Did you meet a lot of other writers in those days?
I grew up with SHARP. He was in my brother’s class, and they were best friends. We didn’t see each other for years when one day we happened to bump into each other. I might have had ink on my hands, so he asked me if I wrote graffiti. He told me what he wrote and I told him that I had seen his name everywhere. So, back then, SHARP and DELTA2 were a big part of my life. Then with my roommate LUST, I put him on. I ended up meeting everybody through certain angles. DUSTER and I were friends for a long time. I would always be somewhere where you’d meet somebody. We all got along.
What was your most memorable spot that you hit back then?
I don’t care if you wouldn’t call it a famous spot, but any and all train yards. To me, that rings out in my mind—to have the balls to go to the train yard and do that. I like that I have that on my resume, not that anybody gives a fuck except other graffiti writers. (laughs) I’m not one to brag about a certain spot, really.
