Artist Interview with Boper WKT UP

1. What do you write and where are you from?

I write Boper WKT UP, I’m from the V, Vallejo California! 707 North Bayer. The East Bay has definitely become like a second home for me though, I’m out there more than the North Bay it seems like these days.

2. How did you decide on a name to use for graffiti?

I’m super indecisive when it comes to just about anything. I didn’t really choose my name it was sort of given to me. Back in like 2008ish I was like 13 going through my rocker kid/skater phase and I was at a skatepark in Benicia Ca, this older dude comes up to me and tell me I look like a lil scenie bopper, like a scene kid. I told my older homegirls about it and they thought it was the cutest thing so the name sort of just stuck, when I started writing I said fuck it I’m Boper.

3. How long have you been doing graffitti and how has the scene changed since you began?

I’ve been doing graffiti on and off since 2008 just tagging on shit. I saw my older friends doing it and said fuck it I can do it just like them, I felt like I had something to prove. Started taking it more seriously around 2010-2014 actually going out with my big homies and spraying shit. I had a few people I know pass away during that time period and I wasn’t doing it for the love of art or even Graff. I just figured I wouldn’t live to long myself and wanted to get as up as I could so I’d always be there, my friends would always have me around. The love for graffiti and art came later. 

The scene between when I first painted Oakland/SF in 2013 or the Bay Area in general has without a doubt changed. For one everyone does it now, everybody’s a writer apparently (thanks ig). Before anyone with a big name were almost like these godly, legendary figures atleast to a kid like me. Now with social media you can reach out to anyone, your only a person or two away from knowing anybody, or trying to anyway. You have funk, hit em on ig, wanna dick ride, hit em on ig. Things were more mysterious before. Also then gentrification of SF that slowly spread throughout the East Bay, and is becoming more apparent in the North Bay everyday. The same people that will call the cops on you for spraying will cash out for a canvas from a street artist. There’s a lot of people wanting to cash in on the culture.

4. Is grafffiti the only art you do or do you also dabble in other mediums? If so which ones?

I’ll sometimes paint characters on canvas or something when I feel like I need to draw something besides letters for a while, I tried getting into photorealistic drawing a little bit and did a few things but letters, letters will always be my thing, my go to.

5. Who have been some of your main inspirations over the years as far as graffiti goes?

All my big homies first off. My boy use to write Lier, he was AMCK briefly and writes Dmoe now, taught me a lot of what I know, was one of the first guys to take me out to paint and influenced my styles probably more than anyone. My boys Bekue TFN WRC, Noner BTR. Hint (Rip) who was one of the nicest humblest guys I’ve met aside from Kava. Hint would always call and check in even though I honestly didn’t know him all that well, I met him through Naver and he’d always tell me just keep painting with the homies you’ll be crew in no time. Glad I was given the chance to make that a reality. My Crew, WKT! The AMC’s The UND’s, Keep in particular. TFN crew for sure, all of them. 

6. Who do you see out getting active in the bay right now? Who are some of your favorites?

It’s hard to choose especially with so many writers these days and so many people killin it. I can’t really speak on SF since I’m just starting to try and get my foot in the door in that scene. As far as Oakland to Sacramento, my boys Berg 45 and Gover off top, everywhere. Suenos, Steak, Thor, Ishue, Cumrag, Poplock, Cesoh, Baer & Gkode, Stax and Ion, Fells for sure, The homie Luni, Camel & Baby, you’ll catch Ceaver tags in every city. I can name names forever the list goes on and on, I’m a little biased because my crew will always be my favorite I think they all kill it and are forever my favorites, User, Shear, Enuf, Rukoe stay killin it and that just to name a few. 

7. Do you have any epic or crazy stories from doing graffiti that you want to tell us about?

The craziest can never be spoken on hahah. Some of the most epic I’d have to say are the chases whether your doing the dash on the cops or runnin down a hater. There’s one that will always stick with me. I was doing my first fill in ever by myself in Vallejo in some school on this fence, I’m thinkin I’m all goo md who cares, finish up and start leaving. A cop car pulls up out front so I turn around go to hop the back fence and another one is just chillin. Idk if you know anything about VPD but Mac Dre wasn’t lying when he said the biggest gangsters are on the VPD i don’t care what I did I’ll forever run from them hahah. Anyway I end up in a dumpster cover myself up with trash bags, most disgusting shit ever, besides this tunnel in San Louis Obispo but that’s a story for another time. I remember maggots crawling around and I hear one of the cops go “I know your in there don’t make me come and drag you out”. At this point I’m all in so I’m thinkin “bitch you better come in here and get me”. A couple hours pass and they never did, I was nervous as fuck poking my head out to see if I was good. Popped out walked home like nothing ever happened.

8. What advice would you give writers who are just starting out in the graff game? 

To all the upcoming writers, don’t make an ig lol. Nah but seriously just do you and everything will come with it. You can’t be perfect in this game, you’ll never please everyone. As long as your content with what your doing thats all that matters. There will always be someone hating on you whether it’s some random stranger or your closest homie jealousy and envy are always a factor. Sometimes you gotta feed your best friend with a long spoon ya know. Watch out for the snakes and people that want to eat off your plate. People will watch you starve then hold their hand out when your eatin. Never back down ever, under any circumstance. Never leave ya boy behind. If you said it or did it you gotta stand on your decision. I always say consequences don’t makes decisions for me but know what comes with your actions and be smart. And like my big homies told me, don’t let nobody call you no bitch, or punk, get over on you anything like that and this goes without saying, don’t be a snitch. 

9. Do you have any upcoming projects you want to plug or anyone you want to give a shout out to?

The only project I’m working on is myself and my art. Everybody has their demons and Its a full time job just keeping myself together sometimes lol. Putting on for my crew is No. 1 objective right now. Shoutout to everybody I mentioned in this interview, Dmoe, Bekue, Noner, y’all forever have my gratitude for giving me my start and teaching me to be a man. Shoutout All My Dubs and everyone in Up trying to make WKT ya’ll got this, everybody in my crew who I’ve met so far and those I haven’t, every chapter is doing their thing right now all across the country. Hi Opres! (Inside joke). Shoutout my boy Gover a big inspiration in getting things done for me as well as for giving me the opportunity to be in UP and prove myself. Free all the goons, especially my guy Gotem, you know we got you. And to Avoe also. And lastly to all the dead homies, the fallen soldiers, the ones I met and didn’t, the ones that last before I was coming around or since I have been. Rip Keep, Ymig, Prada, Ukon, Terms, Ceks, Mr, Lazer, Hint, 4sho, Kalso, Ants, Denny Bo and Rip Flunk TFN WRC, and RIP Ghost51! Sorry if I missed anyone we keep it lit for all you, we miss you, but the World Keeps Turning. 

Stay tuned to the blog for more interviews, product reviews and everything related to graffiti culture! Follow us on Instagram @derp_taggz and give Bop a follow @sockemboper as well! Thanks for reading!