Artist interview with Bazooka77

 

 1. Usually I start by asking someone what they write, but you’ve mainly been filming the graffiti scene, am I right?

I go by bazookafilms77 and yes I only film the graffiti scene. 

2. Where are you from? When did you originally get into graffiti?

I was born and raised in Chicago but now live in Oakland. I was introduced to graffiti in Chicago through the gang things you would see in the area. But as far as doing a graff video it was a writer from Texas who had asked me to film him because at the time I was only doing music videos once he asked like I've always been a nerd to my craft I remember searching graff videos and honestly seeing the Ironlak videos is what blow my mind and knew then that I wanted to adventure more. 

 

3. Your videos are pretty iconic in the community, how does that make you feel? Did you expect this much support?

 

I'm honored that people feel that way but honestly I always think that people don't see my work like that so when I get comments about my work it surprises me but always grateful to hear how people feel. I would say that my only exception was that I just wanted to make sure that I can make an impact through my film's. In working and doing the best that I can, that's why I feel that the support that I've gotten is because of what I've shown through my dedication to this culture. 

4. Do you have a favorite story from any of your graffiti adventures? 

 

One of my favorite adventures was my first metro mission with my crewmates ANTE & HEKS back home in Chicago. I remember how nervous I was because of the whole third rail thing. But at the same time excited because of the adventure with 2 people I love like family. I think what hit me the most about this adventure was standing next to the train alone at some point as I walked away to take flicks and what made it special was remembering how this train took us away for a bit from the things I grew up with in Chicago and the family adventures as well it was a deeper thing then just graffiti on this mission for me.  

 

5. As far as film goes, were you always adept as a videographer? Or did you learn by filming graffiti? How have you developed your craft over the years?

 

Yes, prior to making graff films I was making music videos. But I feel overall that graff really open my doors more to improve a lot in my craft, one example before all these fancy cameras it was hard for me to get nighttime action shots omg it sucked lol. But I kept looking up methods of shooting at night. I practice a lot and I also started getting more of an understanding of motion. This is just an example of what I did to get better at shooting at night but I also study lots of film to make those adaptations for my films. 

6. Who are some of your influences? Are there certain directors or artists that have inspired you a lot along the way?

 

Some my influences besides artists have been people who've made an impact on me like ma my crewmate HEKS, SKOMP my students my community my family these things fuel me they help me to create they help me tell my story but as far as directors Orson Welles Spike Jonze Micheal Gondry George Lucas these directors for sure influenced me alot in how I approached film. 

7. What advice would you give to young artists who are just starting out?

 

Advice: don't rush, enjoy learning, grow and find what fuels you. Show respect for yourself and others honestly, have fun and see how you can be you in a sea of many.  

 

 

 

8. You’ve filmed some pretty influential names, how has that experience been for you? What’s it like to meet and work with so many talented artists?

It's been an honor to work with such amazing artists and truthly I'm grateful because I'm not famous or anything. To have had so many opportunities to work with such talented artists it means so much that I've gotten to have this experience.  

 

9. Are there any upcoming projects that you have in the works? Is there anything you want to plug or anyone you want to give a shout-out to? 

 

Yes, I'm going to be dropping a film with CENO & Spraydaily. I would love to give a big shout out to my MA, my crews AIR & ST6, my students and my community The fam at WRBT. And definitely a shout out to 14th Street Supply.

Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoyed the interview with BAZOOKA77!! Check out more videos on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/c/BazookaFilms77 and on Instagram as well!! Also be sure to follow @Derp_Taggz2 remember our original account was removed from IG likely due to haters! But we do not give up! Sty tuned for more documentation of the Graffiti Culture in the Bay Area, CA!!!

Artist Interview With Micro

 

1. What do you write, where are you from and how long you been in the game?

I write Micro sometimes with an E at the end. originally from mexico but grew up in hayward since inwas around 9-10 yrs old. Started writing in 2010, I was hitting shit tough 'til about 2012 then from like 2013-2017 i would just paint a few times a year. Started writing heavy again around 2019 when I moved to Oakland.

2. How did you get your name? Did you have other names before?

I wrote Ezi for the first couple months of my graff career then they gave me the name micro. They called me micro because I would always be the youngest one in the crew. I was like 15-16 yrs old everyone else was in their 20s.

3. What’s your favorite part of doing graffiti? Why is it an art form that speaks to you?

Kinda deep, I'd rather not speak on it too detailed, but I can say it makes me feel better about myself.

4. Do you have any epic bombing stories you want to tell us?

I've have interesting stories but I dont think any of them are worth calling epic lol

5. What kinds of changes have you seen over your time doing graff? In the scene?

I've noticed these new after Covid [19] writers don't be having OGs to show them 'bout the graff game and graff rules and it shows.

 

 

6. What advice would you give to young writers who are just starting out?

Make sure your life is straight before anything else, love those who love you, get a job, sell your drugs, scam or whatever you do but make sure you make your money first, take care of your family, and focus on making sure your life and future is straight. Graffiti is second! These walls aren't going anywhere, your life is passing right by you...

7. Do you have any other forms of art that you do as well? Have you ever had gallery shows or are you more so out here in these streets?

I also make rugs, canvases, custom art pieces, plywood cut outs, and whatever to be honest. Follow my art page @The8thday.Art on IG.

8. What part of the art form have you spent the most time on? Tags, throws, pieces or all of the above maybe? Do you have a favorite style?

Straights for sure, I wasn't allowed to do throws when I was starting off or I'd be kicked out the crew so I did straights for years

9. Are there any shout outs you wanna give or projects that you wanna plug?

I just want to shout myself out, I'm proud of myself. Not so sound selfish or cocky, I'm a humble person in my opinion, but I set goals and I've been reaching them  just want to congratulate myself one time.

As of projects, I have been practicing some new techniques of hitting heaven spots. Including rope climbing and rappelling, I got some dope ass spots I'm gon' paint in the upcoming months. 

As I told you, Derp Taggz is back! Our IG may have been pulled but nobody can stop the culture!!! I wanted to thank the readers and followers as we are back over 1k followers on IG and the support means a lot! I hope you enjoyed our artist profile of MICRO, stay tuned for more reviews, artist interviews and graffiti culture!

Artist Interview with Deir One (GFC x CMF x IJS)

 

 

1. Where are you from and what do you write?

    Born and raised in Oakland, California. Deir One GFC, CMF, IJS. Specifically from the East but it’s love to the West and North.

2. How did you choose your name? Did you always have the same one? Or did your name find you as it does for many of us?

 

    Maaan, I been writing deir since like 2014. I been through another name I wrote from 2009-2014. If you know what I wrote, then you know. I aint tellin nobodyyy. Also I found the name by looking for something more indigenous or semetic. I wanted something that wasn’t an English word basically.

3. How long have u been writing and how has the scene progressed since you have been involved?

 

    Been writing since 09, kinda hinted at that in the last question. Really the big difference is there’s so many writers from out of town and so many toys nowadays. Back then there was just a local scene and we respected the town cuz we from here. Our OGs taught us hit the books first. We wasnt able to just do throws everywhere our OGs would clown us and all this shit wasn’t runnin'. I would say more shit is running, theres no more locals, and people put to much pride in these damn bubble letters (laughs).

4. How do you choose your color schemes? Do you have a favorite color combo?

 

    I like to stand out, I love golds, coppers, and chrome. I like shinin' I'm from the town foreal! Also I be using different colors to outline black and white is classic but I'm on a different typa time.

5. Who have been some of your biggest influences in graffiti?

 

    Biggest influences the OGs, My OGs are some of the originals. TMT, MBT, TDK, and BSK. On the style shit, I look up to Kufue, Vogue, Dream, Phresh, Poem, Chain3, Skeme, Slave, and my big brother Prize 6.. rest in paint.

 

    Back in the day comin' up it was KOD, TNS, BTW,640, NBS, D2M, and shit, our crew CMF. Wait nah TBS, NGH, them was the days when it was local niggas just tryna get up harder than each other. Crazy beef between CMF and BTW against AUK. If you know, you know.

 

 

6. Where’s your favorite place to paint? Do you like trains, day spots, street bombing etc? If you had to choose one what would it be?

 

    I love construction sites, fresh gates, and freeways. Also I like cutty spots and prime spots, like I'm hittin' spots by all the fast food joints. I don't really hit many spots in the hood. It's hella moms and pop shops “immigrants” and other local folks who got it out the mud and people just be etchin' the windows and shit. That's lowkey hatin,' folks swear they attackin' the system but the whole time they just in our neighborhoods terrorizin' shit take that shit to y'all cities, but y'all cant cause they be from the suburbs (laughs).

7. What lead you to become a graffiti writer? Do you have any epic stories from your days as a bomber that you could tell us?

 

    This Hip Hop shit in my blood for real. I used to write my name on the walls at my granny's house. Crazy story I'm with the homie, hit a fence on the 880. [The one] on Hegenberger, razor wire slices my hand, my bone was showin'. It took 39 stitches. We walkin' around Hegenberger with my hand leaking blood. Had to call moms, because we was on foot back then. Teenage shit too, just walkin' the whole town on foot at 14 years old and in 2009 around that time the town was more violent. I  don't know how we made it but we did. 

 

Runnin' from the police, “sex workers” pullin' up on us offerin' sevices. Me and my homies whoopin' on other writers. Hella shit. Town Shit!

8. What advice would you give to writers who are just starting out in graffiti?

 

    Practice, get you a solid tag and learn the streets. Get yo' styles right, because u can hit a million spots, but be weak. I only hit a few spots a night, but I think my shit stands out. It's why people notice me... Also don't post your face on IG. Stick to the weed, don't allow outta-towners to take yo' spots, get on yo' shit and be dedicated. 

9. Do you have any projects, gallery showings or anyone you want to shout out? Anything you want to plug?

    Man not really at the moment, I have my hands in other fields I'm more than just a tagger. So the other shit I do, real ones know. I want to say thanks for offering me this opportunity, I'm just grateful. GFC shit rest up to all our comrades. Oh yeah CMF might be one of the last town crews around right now all local cats too. We stood the test of time I 'member they hated on us.

 

    Kztom, Pops, Kork, Kufue, Arkoe, Cha2, Revo, Damnear, Yeet, Snuf. Can't think of eveybody else right now. Shout-out to the city too, I love Frisco!

 

 

Thanks for reading! Keep coming back as we are going to be having more artist interviews, new product reviews and more upcoming in 2022! Derp Taggz is back! Follow us on Instagram on our new account @Derp_Taggz2 since IG saw fit to pull down my old account. I think it was all haters trying to report the shit, but we wont ever stop! The graffiti scene at this historic time in Oakland needs to be remembered properly and through the eyes of those of us who are here. We will not be censored. Shout out to Deir for the dope interview, make sure and follow him on Instagram @burymyheartineso and thanks to y'all for supporting us here at Derp Taggz through the years!!!