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Sy
Administrator (NYC Fat Cap)
Cyprus
3975 Posts |
 Posted - 03/17/2008 : 2:08:13 PM
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I Have been thinking about doing this for awhile and thought it would be cool asking oldschool writers some basic questions on how they got started,what they tag,lines they rocked etc. After some consultation I decided to move forward with it..so here you go........
First up is:
1.Please state your name:Take2 ABC
2.When and where and how did you start writing?
Started writing in 1979 after seeing the movie “The Warriors”. I started putting up spray paint tags around the neighborhood, mostly along the freight lines that ran through my neighborhood (Six Corners)
3.What lines did you rock?
I’ve been in yards on every line, but I hit the Congress, Douglas O’Hare line the most.
4.Did you consider yourself a graffiti artist or graffiti bomber?
I would have to say that I’m an artist. I tried to bomb, but I never succeeded as much as VANDAL, FATE, HATE, CURLEY, SCARCE, FEAR, SEVERE, etc from my era. Those guys were bombers. Even though I'm considered more of an artist, I went on more strictly ‘bombing’ raids in the yards. I wanted to see all the cars rocked instead of just a piece here or there.
5.Can you remember the first tag or piece you saw in the chi?
The first tag I saw, non-gang banger, was PLEE FRESH TCP in 1983.
6.Descibe the graff scene in the golden era of the early 80's.
In the golden era you tried to hit as much CTA property as possible. Stations, Buses, Trains, Tunnels, etc. You could ride the lines and meet writers every day and go bombing with them. When you ran the tunnels, there was a good chance that you would meet another writer down there. Everything was new, so we had to invent or reinvent everything as we went along. We didn’t have any mentors to guide us, so we had to learn many things ourselves.
7.Who were your partners in crime thru the years?
Pepo was my first partner in crime. We had a Breaking crew together and he would go with me to the yards. I didn’t know anyone else who did graff back in 1983, so we just did what we did in a vacuum. Then we both joined ABC and SEEN became my partner.
8.ABC was a dominate crew back then can you tell us when and how you got down with them?
I got with ABC on New Years eve 1984 into 1985. I was recruited by BBoyB after someone from Schurz High School saw my pieces near six corners and through breaking contacts we hooked up. I met the ABCs at the Rainbow Roller Rink and SEEN said do you want to hook up with ABC, and I was like hades yeah. SEEN had done a throw up in Logan Square by the Mega Mall and I had peeped the ABC Joey piece many times on the rooftop near Logan Square. The ABCs all had dope denim jackets and I knew they had skills and were deep. I was proud to join the crew.
9.Any crews you wared or had competition with?
Our biggest rival was CTA. ABC and CTA were rivals since we were both early crews on the scene and the CTAs and ABCs hit the same neighborhoods. Its all love now. I’ve got mad respect for those guys. Nick and I have had plenty of disagreements to this day on the message boards. But I genuinely respect what he did back then and he brought together a very good crew.
10. In your opinion what oldschool writers dont get the credit they deserve?
Too many to list. I’ll pick 2. I still don’t think that TRIXTER gets enough respect. He is Chicago graffiti. He was here in its infancy and throughout the years. He’s paid his dues over and over again. DZINE??? The Aerosoul crew pushed the art form and everyone else had to work harder. I know many old school cats that in my opinion deserve much more respect than DZINE, such as ZORE, RAVEN, SLANG, RISK, etc. but I think that we put DZINE way too far down. He, and others in Aerosoul, influenced a whole generation of writers to be better artists.
11.Why do you think so many older writers knew and respected HATE rip. ACW?
HATE (RIP) was the bomber we all wanted to be. He was cocky as hades , and he bombed wherever and whenever he wanted. He has up on buses, trains, tunnels, stations, etc. Everywhere. He pushed us all to bomb more because cats like him were taking up the spotlight. He had a good heart to0. He loved graff and I enjoyed rocking insides with him and getting chased.
12.Do you think graffiti will ever get its due as a legitimate art form?
I don’t know think it will ever get its due as an art form. But who are we trying to impress? The art world? We reach the masses. We put art on the street and in your face.
13.Whats your view on writers that crossover to corporate graff and the gallery scene?
I dislike corporate graff that is done by non-writers. If a writer does graff for a company, gets paid and can sleep at night, then go ahead. I’ve turned down some commercial work because if I did it, I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the mirror. As long as you don’t sell your soul, its cool by me.
14.Favorite bombing tools and enamel to paint with?
Bombing tools. A Pilot marker, preferably blue. I really like the Spanish Montanas to paint with. The German Montanas are a bit more watery. Belton is like butter, but its too hard to get. But the only paint in my collection that I keep and never paint with are the old original Krylon colors like Aqua Turquoise.
15.Any advice to the new generation of graffiti writers?
Can control comes from putting paint on the wall. It takes time to develop, so start practicing. Sketch in your books. Bite from the best guys out there so you can learn. Bite now in your sketch books, so you can learn, but don’t put anything on the walls or steel if it’s bitten.
16.Can you think of any do's and dont's when doing a piece?
When creating a piece, I like to sketch the outline first, then most of the 3D (helps to see the piece), then background before you fill in and complete the 3D. Finally, do your outline and then final outline. This order prevents your background work from coloring the piece and your 3d from getting on the fill in and finally keeps your outlines crisp.
17.Is it true you got chased right out of your sneakers by the graff squad?
Yes its true. I had on a brand spanking new pair of Blue Suede Pumas. With Big fat laces. I was bombing with the ABCs in the pedestrian connection tunnel at Washington between the Howard and Congress/Douglas/Ohare line. B-BoyB and I were breaking and I took off my shoes to do a helicopter. I put them back on, but I hadn’t tightened them yet. I looked up the stairs and saw a lady pointing down at us saying “they’re down there”. I then saw two uniformed cops start running down the stairs. I yelled to the crew “cops” and we all started running from the Congress side to the Howard side. I quickly fell to the back of the pack and the cops were gaining on me because I was having a hard time running with loosely tied shoes. As the cops were about to grab me, I just let my shoes fly off of my feet and I started to leave the cops in the dust. They couldn’t catch up with us and we ran out onto the street. One of our crew members played civilian when the cops started chasing us and he told us later that the cops were laughing saying that I ran so fast that I ran out of my shoes. I took three buses to get home that night, all while wearing no shoes.
18.Any shout outs?
FLASH, SEEN, BBOYB, SEVERE, SIVEL, JEL, TRIXTER, KEEP, RISK, KATO, CHUMBLY, FEAR, RUDE, OMEN, SCARCE, AERO, SHAME, FLY105, STANE, TSEL, DJ3RDAIL, NYKE, C3PO, GREVE, PLEE, NICK SALSA, LAB RAT, TRANE, SHAGGY, WARP, SCORPIO, VANDAL (RIP), HATE (RIP), DEPT (RIP), TRIPLE (RIP)
Thanks TK!
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pageone
Gold Dot
139 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2008 : 2:00:44 PM
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| THAT WAS A DOPE INTERVIEW MR TAKE2 MAD PROPS TO YOU AND YOUR CREW YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT TO GIVE A BIGG SHOUT OUT TO MY CREW MY MAN ''SY'' AND TO ALL CHI-TOWN GRAFF JUNKIES PUTTING IN WORK TO MAKE ARE CITY LOOK FRESH....PEACE STAY UP AND MOST OF ALL STAY FRESH.... |
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MIME
Banana Skinny
Uzbekistan
262 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2008 : 11:18:57 AM
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| LOVE THIS THREAD!!! |
This message is approved by: President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho. |
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meniz2society
Gold Dot
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2008 : 4:08:54 PM
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| PEACE 2 DA BROTHERS THAT BUILD DA OLD AND NEWSKOOL,BUT ALWAYS DA OLDSKOOL!!! MENIZ2SOCIETY BORN2BOMB,DEF CRIME UNIT,ZULUNATION!!!!!! |
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meniz2society
Gold Dot
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2008 : 4:13:47 PM
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| BORN2BOMB SQUAD ORIGINATORS SINCE 1984 FROM DA LITTLE VILLAGE AREA WEST SIDE DEF 5.4 THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW NOW YOU KNOW!!!!! OLDSKOOL 4 EVER. |
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Sy
Administrator (NYC Fat Cap)
Cyprus
3975 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2008 : 1:36:12 PM
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THANKS FOR THE PROPS MR.PAGE(check you email)AND MIME...STILL WORKING ON A FEW MORE INTERVIEWS HOPEFULLY I WILL GET TO POST SOON.
PEACE. |
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think
Gold Dot
55 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2008 : 1:38:09 PM
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| Dope answers there. Maybe next interview has some pictures to digest the time travel??? |
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n/a
deleted
349 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2008 : 7:33:54 PM
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| PRETTY DOPE SY,,,, BACK AT YA TAKE KEEP IT GRIMEY KID.....ONE |
CREATIVE TEAM ARTIST
TILL CHICAGOS KILLED
KILLN TOYS STYLES
CAGUAS CHAPTER |
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Sy
Administrator (NYC Fat Cap)
Cyprus
3975 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 10:42:10 AM
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| ^GOOD LOOKIN OUT GUYS GLAD YOU ENJOY THE INTERVIEWS...AND GOOD IDEA THINKSTER ABOUT POSTIN PICS MAYBE DOWN THE ROAD I'LL HAVE MORE TIME TO MESS WITH IT. |
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Sy
Administrator (NYC Fat Cap)
Cyprus
3975 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 10:50:54 AM
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1.Please state your name?
Fine39, or Deface if you are from the old school. My friends and family call me Paul.
2.When and where did you start writing?
I started writing in 1985.
3.Was Fine39 the first name you tagged?
No, I was Deface first. I got busted by the graf squad and had to change my name and there had been a couple other dudes try to put up Deface, so I wanted a more original name and came up with Fine39.
4.Name all the crews you got down with?
I started FCK with Scarce's brother Cause. (Scarce came up with the name). I started AIDS(Artists Inventing Def Style) with Save. (Trixter came up with the name). I started NARCS with Telly (Chase came up with the name). I was always part of the UAC and X-Men family, which back then was pretty much just Telly, Flee, Fluke, Page and Heckle. I also was down with PUMA.
5.Can you tell us how PUMA crew got started and all its members?
Most people don't know this, but the same guy that started PUMA also started UAC. His name is Diz. PUMA, which has always stood for Please Understand My Art (which is my all-time favorite name for a crew along with The Crowd Pleasers) was started in 1984 and I actually didn't get down until 1987. I don't know all the original members because some didn't get up that much but when I was down with the crew it consisted of Diz, Whiz (R.I.P.), Kapri, Elem, Seize, Juke, P-Caso, Stream , Naskie,Cash and me.
6.What lines did you guys rock?
We mostly rocked the Howard line (red). It was a crew started in Evanston, so obviously we rocked Evanston hard (purple line).
7.Who was your partner in crime?
My main partner in crime was Shaggy. After that it was Kapri (Smokie). I also bombed a lot with Telly.
8.Did you consider yourself a Graffiti Bomber or Graffiti Artist?
Unfortunately, I never practiced piecing so I was mostly just a bomber (I think we called it "writer" back then). The main thing I used to do back then was bomb and take pictures of everyone's work. I used to go all city looking for graf. Any neighborhood, any line. It helped me to learn a lot of crews and names.
9.Your favorite year in Graff?
My favorite year in graf would be 1986, but 1987 was close.
10.Whats your favorite piece, production or master blaster of the early 80's?
My favorite early '80's master piece was "We Hold it Down" by Trixter and Clean near the Wilson station. My all-time favorite was "The Midwest Masters" (1987) by Trixter and Orko. "The Unstoppable Ones" (also 1987) by Slang and Clean is way up there too.
11.Can you describe for us what is like back then at the "Wall of Fame"?
The wall of fame was amazing! Trixter and Orko really did their thing. But Slang, Reveal, Comet, Teasel, Upski, Kep and P-Caso did their thing too! Incredible collection of non-permission art that looked great until crews started going over each other and then the gangs went over everyone.
12.Whos idea was it to start the Chicago Oldschool Graffiti web site and what motivated you to do so?
It was my idea to start the site. I started the site in 2003 and Page joined me in running the site in 2004. Basically I was looking for Chicago graf on the internet and couIdn't find any. I decided to share my pictures and my knowledge with the world. In the beginning all the crew names and artist names came from my memory. All the pics came from my albums. Then Page added many more. Then Flash, and so on.
13.Your Graffiti pix collection has been describe as a Chi-town graff achieve to the past, did you ever think that one-day these pictures would be worth so much?
We need to set the record straight on that one. I do have a very nice collection of pics that 90% were taken by me and Shaggy. But most of the pics on the site have either come from Page, Teasel, Labrat, Flash or some other source. I started the site but the pics are from all over. It's a collective thing meant for everyone to post and everyone to enjoy. As far as the pics being worth a lot, they're just pieces of glossy paper to me. The enjoyment for me is in my memories of the old days. Those pictures are permanently etched in my mind.
14.With a lot writers going to your H.S back then can you describe what the scene was like there?
I actually went to two high schools, Gordon Tech and Sullivan. Gordon Tech had a lot of graf heads, but I think Lane and Senn had more. It seemed to me that Gordon was where most of the MAD crew went to high school. We also had a few members of CAR and of course Trane and Shaggy went there. Sullivan had barely any writers. But it is a tiny school. They had some members from OTR before I got there and after I got there most of the members of FCK were from there.
15."Trane" and "Shaggy" were really rocking the lines hard back then can you tell us what type of bombers they were?
Trane was a loner and Shaggy was outgoing. Two totally different styles. Even different crews. Trane was an original member of MPC (part of the FEDS) and Shaggy was in TCP, then TAC (also FEDS). They were kind of like Scarce, they bombed every day everywhere. Trane and Defski (the founder of MPC and co-founder of the FEDS) were the guys that mentored me and schooled me on the graf game. Most people didn't know this at the time but Trane was IAN and he was the one who made scratch bombing big in Chicago. I was with him the first time he did it and he told me it would blow up. I thought he was nuts. He got the idea from Street Art. There was an article about an old lady named Prey or something like that and she used to scratch bomb on phone booths all over New York.
16.What OldSchool writers in your opinion don't get mention a lot but put in a lot of work?
I would say two old school artists that don't get enough attention are Clean and Nerd. Another one is Sivel. He's not old school to those of us from the eighties but he has been around long enough that I think you can call him old school. Clean was there with Trixter and Slang doing some of the more famous old school masterpieces. Nerd has been in the game since about '89 and has not stopped to this day. Sivel went all-world during the mid-nineties and got up in more cities and countries than just about anyone ever has.
17.Whats your take on the Graff being put out today both locally and overseas?
Graf is a worldwide phenomenon. It is one of the original three components of Hip-Hop and was spread to the world by the "real" old-school pioneers from New York. Chicago was just one of the many cities that caught the graf fever and never let go.
18.Is there any advice you can give to the new generation of Graff heads in the Chi.?
Yeah, stop bombing and scratching on windows. We never did that in the old days and I think that is whack. Also, try hard to be original. To pattern your style after someone else is a compliment. To copy their work (or their name) is laziness.
19.How many piece books do you own or once owned?
I never was much of a piecer. I had one black book. I spent most of my time looking at Chase's black book in those days. He is one of the top five character artists I have ever seen to this day.
Last question:Any shout outs?
Shout outs to: Page, Heckle, Telly, Flee, Fluke, Trane, Shaggy, Defski, Trixter, Clean, Upski, Chase, Kapri, Elem, Seize, Juke, Dose, Jerk, Reveal (R.I.P.), Fun (R.I.P.), Whiz (R.I.P.), Prove, T-Sel and my neighbor Kato (how weird is it that two old school Chicago graf heads live a couple miles apart in Arizona?)
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts. This interview thread is a great idea Sy.
Piece,
Fine39
THANK YOU!
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TYDEUNO
Blue Dot
Liechtenstein
770 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 10:01:13 PM
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good thread sy.....propps.
class is now in session!
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tck tmr wrs |
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julio
Gold Dot
USA
82 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 11:34:48 PM
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i think this thread was a great idea props to sy,take2, and fine39
thanks for the wisdom i hope there will b more
stay up yall
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Edited by - julio on 04/02/2008 11:35:36 PM |
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REEM
Orange Dot
USA
660 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2008 : 10:10:22 AM
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GOOD JOB ON THIS THREAD SY.EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT US OLD TIMERS. AND YES, MOST OF US MAD CREW DID GO TO GORDON TECH, OR AT LEAST DID SOME "TIME" THERE. FAZE 1, KATO, PROVE, KEEP, FATE, ANIMATION, PEST, HEX AND CHASE. LOTS OF WRITERS WERE IN THERE. SHAGGY, TRANE, CASPER, SNAKE 1, FUSE, RAVE, DEFY. WE ALL WOULD SHARE OUR BLACK BOOKS AT THE LUNCH TABLE. TELL STORIES ABOUT TUNNEL RUNNING ON THE WEEKEND, BOMBING THIS THAT AND THE OTHER THING. AND FINE, COME BACK WITH KATO. I THINK HE IS COMING BACK HERE IN THE SUMMER. WOULD BE COOL TO PAINT WITH YOU. I WAS NEVER REALLY A PIECER EITHER,BUT I DID A FEW AND STILL DRAW."YOU DO DOODLE". NOTHING LIKE JUST BS'N ON THE PHONE AND DRAWING. KATO BLAMED ME FOR SHOWING HIM STYLE WARS BACK IN THE EARLY 80'S FOR HIS GRAF OBSESSION.WASNT MY FAULT IT WAS CWT'S PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL OLD SCHOOLERS. PEACE TO ALL OLD TIMERS. REMEMBER, THESE SHORTIES LOOK UP TO US. EVEN THOUGH I AM OLD, I AM STILL INTRODUCED TO PEOPLE AS "THIS IS 1 OF TAKES SHORTIES" THANKS FLASH ...REEM/MAD CREW |
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REEM
Orange Dot
USA
660 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2008 : 10:52:11 AM
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| LOL. OOPS. I DIDNT MEAN ALL THE OTHER WRITERS WERE IN MAD. I JUST MEANT THEY WENT TO GORDON. SHAGGY AND TRANE WERE ALL OVER. BUT MOST OF MAD CREW WENT TO GORDON OR SHURZ. REEM/MAD CREW |
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Sine
Blue Dot
USA
989 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2008 : 01:00:03 AM
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| I'm diggin this...anyone know where Smokie ass at?!? |
Dread Mighty Sine
http://myspace.com/dreadmightysine"
312-CAB/Tfo
Tubbs Nitro Tewel Duke Ankh Khalil Fahiym Benz Kise Fene |
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NICKSALSA1
Gold Dot
USA
115 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2008 : 04:56:09 AM
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Great job on these Interviews Mr. Sy! Thanks TakeII for the kind words. Peaceeee
*BAD*NICKSALSA1*08* |
LIVE TO PAINT, PAINT TO LIVE |
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Fine39
Moderator
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2008 : 9:55:16 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Sine
I'm diggin this...anyone know where Smokie ass at?!?
I've been lookin' for that cat myself. Kato told me last weekend that Kapri sent him a message on his Myspace page and asked him for my phone number. As soon as I talk to him, I will tell him you want to hollar at him as well. You can hit me up at finer39er@hotmail.com |
a.k.a. Deface -- PUMA & X-MEN crews. |
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think
Gold Dot
55 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2008 : 10:35:33 PM
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Dope dope again, and I aint old school old school but I think etching mom and pop shops and local neighborhood businesses is super wack too, especially cus its mostly toys doin it. Respect!
etch a McD's.
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FLASH ABC
Administrator (NYC Fat Cap)
USA
7608 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 09:09:16 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by think
Dope dope again, and I aint old school old school but I think etching mom and pop shops and local neighborhood businesses is super wack too, especially cus its mostly toys doin it. Respect!
etch a McD's.
cosign |
  http://projectlogan.tumblr.com/ |
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tselone
Moderator
Netherlands
4271 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 12:22:38 PM
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bout time some writers have someting to say about chicago graffiti...
very good interviews...
here is something to add to the old school mix...
Circa. 1990. Northside. "Skid" NBC, FEDS, TAC crews, standing by tsel piece...that yellow thing was supposed to be a snake or something????...i failed!
gen. tselone
wrs crew |
tselone
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REEM
Orange Dot
USA
660 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2008 : 3:39:00 PM
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| NICE PIC TSEL. LETS KEEP THIS THREAD ALIVE. I LIKE THE INTERVIEWS.I PICTURE US IN LAZY BOY CHAIRS TELLING SHORTIES ABOUT "DEM DAYS". REEM/MAD CREW |
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Old School History (Interviews)