Blen 167 BNA, KD, GOD, FUA Interview
What do you write and what crews are you in?
I write Blen 167. Crews, wow a whole bunch! [Laughs] let me let them loose BNA which is my crew, FUA, KD since 1988, GOD since 92 which is copes older writers crew. COD, TPA, XMEN, AK, NST, TCU, Fresh DWA......theres tons more.
How did you get into graffiti and who are some of your major influences?
I got into writin' in 1979 because of my older brother Buck TMA, but my influences are many. The most that made impact were old NYC train writers I would see growin' up in the BX. Bear 167, MG Boys, Fuzz, Mitch 77, Dero, 2 Draw, Rac 7, Duster, Billy 167, there's a whole bunch, I feed off my dudes. The "graffiti" world has changed a lot theres some monsters out there but I always fall back on looking at what i grew up with. NYC BABY!
You are from Puerto Rico, what is the scene like out there on the island?
I'm Originaly from the Bronx! But I have been here in PR for a couple of years. When I first got here, oh my god, it was bombers paradise. No graff no where. There were maybe 10 writers on the whole island whom I look up to for real! It's not easy being a writer from PR. Supplies are limited so we made the best of anything. Time has passed and things have gotten better. But I think like any other place theres mad toys, but the ignorant kind, that cross you out when you do a fill over a tag. Dumb fucks for real. Other than that, theres mad crews doin it! Respects to my boys killin the streets.
Recently the All-Star weekend went down in San Juan, did you consider that event a success?
It's crazy we are on our 9th year and people didn't know that, but I think it was a success. In the begining it was really more a Bboy battle and local writers did their thing. But it was more ego then anything else, and eveybody wanted to do there own thing before the event. So it kinda clicked a nerve and Rex Jay, Bad 6 and myself decided to 3 it 3 days. Bring down some cool writers and rocked out some bad ass walls. Our next event is gonna be sick, on april 18, 19, 20, with NYC's TC5 crew, NY FUA crew, and more. I do this event for the fun of rockin' walls with some dope dudes, you feel me. There's no money involved. I just want to paint! The event was also done because Puerto Rico is lackin' recognition in the world. So we put together the who's who in PR that are rockin the streets. No politics, and put them on. It's always been hard to shine being here. So I give cats that oppurtunity to shine with the big dogs.
What were some of the highlights from the weekend?
For me it was rockin a wall with an old friend Cope 2, and just seein' how graffiti created a fan club for this guy for real. We had over 1000 people go to the event which was a plus, and just giving the tourist a tour of island food and night life.
You are also a tattoo artist, how long have you been doing that?
For 12 years . It's an amazing craft it's the longest job I've ever had [laughs].
If you could only tattoo or only paint, what would you do?
Wow you got me, but I would say both like I'm doing now . Tattooing is another level of cool for me. I sit and politic with my clients and meet diferent people. It's a great job. I love it sometimes you get some arrogant dumb fucks, but in everything there's gonna be an asshole. You just have to learn to smile and forget. Graff, well, it's in my blood since I was 11 years old. I'll bomb and do pieces. I'ts all gravy. Love it!
Have you had a close call you can tell us about?
There are many but my most memorable was in 1991 on the 4 line in the BX. Me and Rine were doin' a power house and we left our girls on the platform. We told them that if any cops showed up to whistle. Before hand the girls said they were gonna fuck with us. So when we were almost finished we heard a whistle we looked out, didn't see nothing but the girls. So we kept walking on the tracks towards the platform. so as our eyes were focusing we noticed 2 dudes with the girls. When we got closer the girls screamed "run"!! We jetted in the other direction to see that there were 2 plain clothed cops comin'. There was no where out but down! But with no stairs, shit! I look at Rine and he said, "yo, I'm not getting locked up!" When we look down we see Alroc KD and he yells, "jump, nigga, jump!" I started to climb down one of the beams, and while I'm comin' down I see the fattest nigga just fall on top of a toyota. Rine jumped 2 stories down and fell on his back. BLAM! Windows blew up. It was funny for real. There were 2 cop cars comin' down the ave so we had to run. We jetted, and I'm histeracle, laughin' my ass off. I'm tellin you, you had to see, it was funny! Anyway we ran for like 7 blocks til' we got to a safe spot. We had to chill in the bushes for like an hour till we saw less cops. Fucked up thing was that it was like 20 degrees, so I'm tired, pissed, and freezing. Thanks Alroc!
What are your top 3 albums of all time?
KRS "criminal minded", Nas "illmatic", WUTANG "36 chambers", and to add to that BNA crew has a music section check them out!
Thank you for your time, any shout outs or fuck yous?
They go out to, BNA CREW, Chicago, Germany, Colorado, NY, Thialand, London, Cali, Miami, Brasil, KD, GOD, FUA Crew, Those are my dudes in NY! My boy Spec in Orlando, everybody old school that put in the work. My big bro Buck TMA, Rine, Anomie1.com for hookin me up. Our KD queen Zori4, CDT, BAEZ RIVERA, TAMMY 787, PITO. Sorry there's mad dudes that are cool but I can't forget my dude Break TPA and Stress! For any info on the next events just email me: blen167@hotmail.com, www.myspace.com/167bna1979.
