Writer Interviews

 

PHAT1 : TMD SUK TPA F1C

 

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

Well well, here I go with the background stuff. I write PHAT1 yes Phat1 and have been doing graffiti now for 16 years. Started writing graffiti in 1991 on the backs of buses, bus stops and anything we could on the way to intermediate school with my man HEDGEHOG and at the time I wrote METRIC. It was an awesome time for me and my man hedgehog we were the only cats at our school that did graffiti so we felt special. Now today as years have moved forward I am now a part of the WRITE FOR GOLD graffiti world champions 'TMD crew' also 'STICK UP KIDS' and 'THE PUBLIC ANIMALS' who are a crew from the original home of graffiti NYC.

 

How did you choose your tag, any special meaning?

Well why I choose to write PHAT1 as my graffiti name is because I have always been a pretty big dude with a bit of fat hanging here and there you can call it muscle if you want but that's how I got it. My first name was METRIC, then to PRECIOUS, PANDA, FAT BOY, 2FAT, then FATSO, PHAT then PHAT1 which to me has the hardest letters possible. But the meaning to me is pretty much nothing to do with body fat because im more on the losing weight tip ha ha. So I hope that answers any random theories.

 

How did you get in to graffiti?

Here we go....i started in 1991 and the reason why is because I loved the mystery of graffiti especially TAGS. What got me hooked was the tagging especially where I lived there weren't too many burners around my area that would capture me, it was the tagging on the way to school.  Its pretty rare how I got into it because my start wasn't from seeing STYLEWARS or BEATSTREET because I didn't get to see those documentaries until later on into my graff career, I was captured by what I saw on the way to school each morning and afternoon.  I lived on the other side of the city so it would take 40 minutes each morning to go to school and on the way back I would see the tags and styles and be so into it and I guess once I tried after being so influenced from the street tags it steam rolled me to the writer I am today.

 

What is it that you love about graffiti that keeps you writing?

Nice question brother, so what keeps me going. There are so many answers but the main answer to me is the art, friendship and the fruits from it. What I mean by fruits is the good things that come from graffiti for me its travel, culture, new friends, food, props, adventure, pressure, stress, laughter, sadness, stories, shopping and so much more and it gives life so many more reasons to enjoy. There is also one more reason I never get satisfied with myself so I am always hungry to do better which keeps me going week in week out year in year out.

 

Tell us about your style and how it has developed over the years.

The style I rock is NEW YORK STYLE. It strains down from writers such as Dondi, Skeme, Seen, Duster and more. Plus new school guys like Can2, Bates, Smash and the boys in my crew Askew, Exist, Acre..... sssooo I hope that answer helps squeeze that in ya brain. It has been NEW YORK style from the start and will be to the end I have tried 3D and other styles through the years but that's a part of my development as an artist I guess. But yeah NEW YORK the original the best.

 

Who have been your major influences?

To me now as my major influences for life first overall would be GOD. I am a spiritual man and I have a strong belief in GOD being the father, son and holy spirit which to me is my all not just a Sunday ceremony but a daily lifestyle of living which brings me total satisfaction more so than graff but in saying that the goodness strains down to my art anyways so that ends up being even phatter .....ha haha ha I hope that makes sense...

 

Paint brand of choice

IRONLAK

 

Cap of choice

SKINNY CAP = white with beige tip......... FAT CAP = pink dot

 

What music motivates you to paint?

Reggae, soul music, funk, house, conscious hip hop...mellow tunes.

 

Memorable mission moment

Probably our Germany-Switzerland trip for the WRITE4GOLD world finals....1 month, 19 pieces, $4 Montana cans, millions of kilometres,so many stories and winning the WRITE FOR GOLD world finals the maddest and baddest buzz ever.

 

Any tips you're willing to share to the next generation of writers?

BE TEACHABLE IN ALL AREAS.

 

Anything else to add?

For more PHAT1 news, stuff, photos check www.stick-up-kids.de and www.myspace.com/realphat1....ALL GLORY TO GOD thanks so much for the skills you give me, my family LADY DIVA, IZAIAH, KEZIAH, AZARIAH, and MICIAIAH love you guys so much,,,, my boys in TMD SUK,,,, ASKEW, EXIST, SAVES aka DYLE52, ACRE, ADDICT, SIRUM, CAN2, ATOM, SINAE, WOW123, PEST 5, DSKYES, DEUS, RYZE, DEAP......and JOEY TPA CREW WHAT WHAT.....and the boys at IRONLAK HEATH AND YESMA WWWAAASSSUUPP and those who I have forgotten sorry....peace out....P Diddy

 

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