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note that the Bronx lives in my heart, I am a product of the Boggie Down! Graffiti was brought to my house by my oldest brother FDT 56. That's how I became interested . The number 56 became a house hold name back in the early 70's. My best friend and cousin MOUSEY even took on the legendary 56 logo. The earliest writers I looked up to, beside my brother... there were so many, but here are a list of few and if I left anyone out during the mentioned era, I apologize. FDT 56, LSD 3, HOY 56, YAZ 56, TINE 1, TRACY 168, IN, CLIFF 159, P-NUT 2, KING 2, KROME 100, WASP 1, ( The whole 12 O'CLOCK CREW ), RAT 1, MITCH 77, NOC 167, REE 2, CHAIN 3 ( the whole TMT crew ) ,  LEE and the FABULOUS FIVE, Also crews like ... THE 3 YARD BOYS & THE DEATH SQUAD, Etc. The name KID 56 was a suggestion from a partner of mine, say, around 1975 ( I was 10 years old ). My first choice was lefty, for obvious reasons. I started tagging in my neighborhood projects, which the tenants

 from MOUSEY 56 to M.56. I joined in and went from KID 56 to K56. The first lay-up I hit was on the 4-line the MT.EDEN lay-up. Hitting lay-ups was never an easy task. Always had to duck when a passing train came by. And you needed a key to get the insides. So sharing the bedroom in a cramped apartment for 8 with the famous FDT 56, I had access to his keys. At that time I had already became good friends with younger Brother of LSD 3. Who was known as APS 167 ( may he rest in peace.) So together we plotted to go out one night on our own and do our own thing. Successful we were. We bombed the 4 line lay up one week night as soon it was got dark. The following morning when those trains pulled out for the morning rush

that I did! ) APS 167 was my first writing partner but he did not last long. More like a one night stand, I really can not consider him a partner. I have always been an extremist. So allot of dudes were not willing to go the distance. So I danced around for a while until I made a connection with FACT  ( aka DR.PEPPER aka CODE ONE. ) Graffiti became my life. I ate and drunk Flo-master ink and red devil spray paint. I lived on the subways in fact I knew the subway system better the staff employed by the MTA. I often found myself correcting them when they made incorrect public announcements. In order to become a successful Graffiti artist you have to be a successful rack up artist. The two go together like hand in pocket. I'll say this - I supported my own habit. I took king of the following lines; 2's, 4's, 5's, 7's, CC's, D's and a few Queens bus lines. I also supplied a few other artist with some of their own documented pieces. I'll let them come to the plate on that subject. DONDI may he rest in piece, gladly had the honor to shape my good fortune with (so to speak.) I place emphasis on the fact that I always had my own and some. From the beginning because of my size and age no one took me serious, so I had to step up in a big way. Peer pressure played a big part in my decision making.

 KM, RASTA, THE ROLLING THUNDER WRITERS, BAN 2 / DELI 167, FACT / DR.PEPPER / CODE, DURO & KIST. There were so many more. There was a time when I had to catch the insides as soon as they rolled out of the buffing yard. There was so much competition with the insides artist. The insides just got messy, so to speak. There's an old friend of my brother named Tito ( also known as ZEST 1) from queens. This is a true story, he pulled me to the side one day because he seen me doing some reckless tagging and he tells me - you know why your brother is so well known in the game, your brother tags his name where people, " all people people will notice his tag. For me that was like a lesson in Graffiti 101. From then on I tagged my name in places that was visible to human beings. One of my greatest moments is standing on a platform and watching my tags go by. ( visible from a distance )

lines on lock down; 2's, 5's, 4's, and CC line. I put my work in, so I stepped to RAT 1 who was one of the cofounders of TCA. And he came up some lame excuse about he would have to bring it up with P-BODY 170.  I mean I had the 4 line on lock which was run by TCA at the time, so I took that diss and moved on. So my attitude was like fuck all these half stepp'n crews. I'm going to do my own thing. That's when THE KOOL ARTIST was born. I was president and FACT ( DR.PEPPER ) I always considered vice president. He immediately stepped to me and demanded to be down! I have also painted with DONDI and his crew CIA. And his crew it  was! DONDI was a natural born leader and his peers had his undivided attention and respect. earlier I mentioned not being a down with any crew beside my own. Due allow me to say that coming from the south Bronx and traveling to Brooklyn, I was always welcomed with open arms. Me and DR PEPPER was always made at home when fraternizing with the CIA crew. DONDI, RASTA CIA, AERON aka LOVIN 2, EDDIE CIA, KIST , and so many others to mention that I credit for allowing me and DR PEPPER not only in their

before a major game. Black books and  markers spread out for individual use. Shopping bags of Rust-o-leum, Kraylon and red devil being lined up and coordinated accordingly. Always top shelf paint and hard to find colors, myself and DR PEPPER made sure of that! Brooklyn's East New York was the trey bag haven at that time. The CIA crew introduced the EL PRODUCTO blunt to us young Bronx bombers And that we always did plenty of. Along with the Old English 800 or Coqui 900, in retrospect I am still BUZZ'NNN! Time to roll out  was always DONDI's call.  The new lots 2 and 5 yard was right in DONDI's back yard ( so to speak. ) And we only rolled ( successfully ) when he said it's time. And it was cool like that with everyone. Any time of the day or evening, no matter how long practice took, we waited for that call.  And we were kids with big hearts and ball to match, walking in prime time ghetto with bags full. But no matter what route we chose, someone was always hollering- " What up DONDI!" The CIA crew always treated me like family all the time is the description I want to emphasize! I will always love you dudes for that. 

considering the dangers the yard was known for. This had to be our best opportunity. Holiday weekend, early-rainy Monday morning, most people are home recuperating from a long BBQ weekend, our supplied are well stocked. I cant remember another tagging plan more perfected than that morning, the funny part about this story is that I supplying the ink and when we get to the yard, we forgot to to open / cut the nozzle of the ink can to refill. I always hated when this happen because I usually would end up biting the tip off which would, in some cases splash ink in your mouth. So here we are both thirsty for a refill and I tell MOUSEY , - you either bite the tip off , or you get no ink. In the middle of one of the Hottest yards in New York city if MOUSEY would have had a gun, I would be unable to be telling this story right now. as for FUZZONE and FLAME, my boys till the end. I remember lots of good times with them, in and outside of  Graffiti, FUZZ was always a bag full of laughs. I like to remember him as the RODNEY DANGERFIELD of our time together,  FLAME, my brother in art as music. A very talented "D.J" who I always encouraged  to hit

For more on Writers of the past, check out www.Paid3.com . A great site for art and major Graff events, Make sure not to miss it.