Back in 92-93 in El Paso, TX - I got to witness a true master of graffiti - Oiler COi - LOD. For some magical reason he showed up in my home-town and painted the streets of downtown El Paso. Its as if every business owner hired the same exterior decorator - because everywhere you looked - OILER tags and bombs or bubble letters decorated the building walls.
That same year I viewed my first graffiti magazine. A friend that had moved from Los Angeles to El Paso had brought with him a small amount of "graff supplies and merchandise". Flipping through the crisp pages, I saw a piece that would inspire me for years to come - There in the center of the page I was on, was a beautiful portrait of a child. I quickly read the name of the artist which was listed at the bottom of the photo - it read : Man One COi
I knew right there and then that I needed to be in this team that operated on all levels of the graffiti art form - Writing or Tagging, Bombing or Bubble Letters/Block Letters and Artistic / Original talent like no other.
Years later In one of my visits to Los Angeles my good friend Marka 27 introduced me to Man One and Vyal. That year, while I finished a piece next to Vyal, he came up to me and said, "Make sure you put COi next to your signature"
I smiled and was more than happy to do so - It was an honor - they had no clue.
Minutes later a gangster from the neighborhood (East LA) came straight to me with his fists clenched and said, "Where you from homie?!" Out of all the days, I chose to meet this talented gangster - the day I was invited to join the COi Crew. So, knowing that I attracted him to come say hi to me, I clearly and happily said, I am an artist, I am now part of the COi Crew." He looked at me and with good vibes said, "Orale, thats cool homie." And then he turned away and continued walking down the alley. (!!!)
I looked at my friends they looked at me and we all just shrugged and continued to paint.
I've come to the realization that creating with positivity and maintaining a positive attitude towards everything you do - will only give you in return love and light no matter what - even when it looks like you're about to get punched!
That same year I viewed my first graffiti magazine. A friend that had moved from Los Angeles to El Paso had brought with him a small amount of "graff supplies and merchandise". Flipping through the crisp pages, I saw a piece that would inspire me for years to come - There in the center of the page I was on, was a beautiful portrait of a child. I quickly read the name of the artist which was listed at the bottom of the photo - it read : Man One COi
I knew right there and then that I needed to be in this team that operated on all levels of the graffiti art form - Writing or Tagging, Bombing or Bubble Letters/Block Letters and Artistic / Original talent like no other.
Years later In one of my visits to Los Angeles my good friend Marka 27 introduced me to Man One and Vyal. That year, while I finished a piece next to Vyal, he came up to me and said, "Make sure you put COi next to your signature"
I smiled and was more than happy to do so - It was an honor - they had no clue.
Minutes later a gangster from the neighborhood (East LA) came straight to me with his fists clenched and said, "Where you from homie?!" Out of all the days, I chose to meet this talented gangster - the day I was invited to join the COi Crew. So, knowing that I attracted him to come say hi to me, I clearly and happily said, I am an artist, I am now part of the COi Crew." He looked at me and with good vibes said, "Orale, thats cool homie." And then he turned away and continued walking down the alley. (!!!)
I looked at my friends they looked at me and we all just shrugged and continued to paint.
I've come to the realization that creating with positivity and maintaining a positive attitude towards everything you do - will only give you in return love and light no matter what - even when it looks like you're about to get punched!
COi Crew continuing our work at a worldwide level - beautifying communities and sharing power and light wherever we go. At the Silo in San Diego, CA. April 27th 2014 - From L to R: Codak Smith, Vyal Reyes, Isaias Crow, Brisk (invited guest) and Huit.
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