We were talking shit in a group chat, usually the chat is primarily comprised of shit talking and meme sharing, but sometimes once in a while actual chatting happens. The topic of discussion was Ice Cube. For one reason or another. I wanted to reply to my friend Cevallos with a gif. I searched “Are We There Yet?” I wanted to respond quickly with something moderately humorous. I found a most unusual and rather awesome search engine result.

This is an appreciation post. This is me giving some of my buds their flowers. Props where props are due. There are a lot of writers out there, specifically Queens writers from the 90s, that don’t seem to always be involved in the conversation, but absolutely should be, and not just because they’re team, but because they put in the work.

I saw this gif and was like, “Oh, shit.” Cool.

There is an OG fill in and an ID tag and I appreciate that. I noticed a new ID tag on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint recently. I still pay attention to graffiti, though I’m not necessarily a fan of majority of the stuff up these days. But the focus, the thing that made me happy about the gif were the three MEND “M face” fills, and the partially buffed or ragged, I’m not quite sure exactly but whatever it’s still legible to me, the LOCO “LO!” fill in. Fuck yeah, dudes.

These men educated me when I was a wee lad and instilled what I believe graffiti should be. Highly regarded. Why do I do a face in my “R”? Hmm. The answer is MEND. My style was directly inspired by copying LOCO and ROOK, and taking pointers from other writers in our crew, and some cues from other dudes from around the neighborhood. I practiced for hours in my crumby bedroom, studying the output I saw on every stroll and car ride, and the Home Runs on my favorite handball court, while trying my hardest to make something of my own, even if it was only a derivative.

All this makes me want to pick a can of Rustoleum, but I’ll most likely just doodle in my kid’s drawing pad.

Big praise to the team and all the humble Queens dudes who inspired generations. Sláinte.