#21QuestionsOnTheWritersBench with DENT- a Q&A With Brooklyn's Own, REPS-KD-

The History of: the Writer's Bench Throughout the history of the New York City subway's aerosol art movement there were meeting places for writers known as writer's corners or writer's benches. The majority of these meeting places were in the subway system.

The last active location was the 149th Street Grand Concourse subway station in The Bronx, on the 2 and 5 IRT lines. It was active from the 1970s until the decline of subway painting in the late 1980s.

Writers from all over the city congregated at a bench located at the back of the uptown platform. They came to meet, make plans, sign black books and settle disputes. The main activity was watching art on the passing trains (known as benching). The writers would admire and criticize the latest paintings.

This station was an ideal location for a writer's bench for several reasons. It was a station where the 2 and 5 lines converged. The 2 and 5 lines featured some of the most artistic works in the city. The fact that many lay-ups and train yards for the 2s and 5s were located in both the Bronx and Brooklyn made creativity on these lines extremely competitive. An overpass connecting the uptown and downtown platforms was an ideal vantage point from which to view the passing trains.

Since paintings rarely if ever run on trains today, this bench is no longer frequented by writers. Old school New York writers occasionally visit the site for the sake of nostalgia. Writers post 1989 and writers from outside New York City occasionally visit it as a historical location.

(infomation obtain from: The Writer's Bench:)

-REPS-KD-TMR-LOF-

One of The Coolest Cat's on the block! A Brooklyn Bomber, livin' in Denver! A legendary, loyal, good hearted man, who has been payin' dues coast to coast with his incredible graffiti styles. I'm blessed to call him my friend, and grateful to be connected to him. Come take a seat on Our Denver's Writer's Bench and check out this Fresh Interview, with this LORD from Brooklyn! The Almighty REPS, the people's Graffiti Champ!

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DENT: How would you describe your style? How does it stand out? Who influenced you coming up?

REPS: I call it semi mechanical… I’m still trying to figure it out I’ve come a long way to master it….. im trying to evolve with it….. a lot of writers influenced me… writers Like Dmane, Chocoloco, Pgism, Jozone, Jezagod, Kerz, King Bee, Vet Tmc, Muse, Themo and acet…. The most……. Through my years now I am influenced by my friends like Pistoe, Robin Dread, Spen, Serone, Kite, Greed and Ka tkk… I love the ideas in peoples head they inspire me to paint Kite especially he has great concepts…..

DENT: How did you start making art? Why do you make art?

REPS: I started writing graffiti in the late 80’s with the kids in my block AMK crew… since we was young and after a while it inspire me to do pieces watching Choco loco drawing and a few murals in the neighborhood…. I started with a black book by the 90’s I started to paint walls with a lot of writers and piercers….. News Ink heads was the biggest inspiration….. why do I make art….. art made me…. It free my mind…. The one thing no one can take away from me… ever…

DENT: How did you develop your painting/ drawing skills?

REPS: Believe me when I tell you I used to draw a lot…. Every group of guys I paint with I’ve learned so much til I find something I like I ran with it…. I learn a lot from everybody….. my biggest lesson learned was with Jive Df he made me see what I was missing Emit, East, Reks 63 and Kite all this guys help me developed my skills…. All of them very skilled and great painters….

DENT: How did Graffiti ART change your life & what is the importance of being in a crew, at the age that your at, as you reflect back?

REPS: My childhood wasn’t peaches and creme and tagging was a little more real when I was a kid… but believe it’s all I had… I didn’t fit in with most of the other heads… I try tagging was my door to the real world… I tell you one thing im glad to have graff in my life…. There was times in my life I hated graff too… a lot of my homies that know me well… they know….. But im glad I can do what I do now…. God bless… As far as a crew…. Im down for my crew no matter what but ive learned so much growing up with most of my bros… a lot grew up and left the paint behind and the rest of us live so far away I am happy for those that still paint….( Cauts, raep, jezagod, nico, Chocoloco, Akue, Kash, Ice187, Nep, Min, Own, Quest, Robin, Pistoe, Elbs, Kite, Fienz, Arse, Greed and serone) this guys are more than crew to me they family… Some of them has carried the cross for me…. There is sad times too like losing my boy Dgone NWC…. My boy Lex don’t write much but he crew….

DENT: Is a Graffiti crew a gang? How do you pay dues within your crew? I'd like your insight on Tagbanging.

REPS: My crews will never be a gang…. By any means…. Some like Crush Proof we more like a family…… HDM is more like a lifestyle… most of us grew up together… Tmr…. If you asked me ive never met a group of guys that stand for each other…… Lob cru…. That’s a crew I grew up looking up to…. My boy skope 2, Mars, Once and Mister Kaves…. Dude is a monster….. a lot of respect… for many years I rep God/Kd a lot of talented brothers….. Tm7/Pfe…. This 2 crews are so talented top notch writers… (Roler, Ivory and Themo)…… my insight in tag banging…. Never cross tag bangers respect their hood…. And they respect your space…. I live in colorado now so I learn to adapt to my surroundings…… it’s a lifestyle… and I respect everyone…

DENT: Have you had any one close to you die,, because of graffiti?

REPS: Yes I’ve lost a lot of friends in the graff game…. Drugs… and once I can ever explain for I wasn’t there…. Jason Dg wulf was one of my last friends to pass…. Mad love to Elo sorry for your loss…. And jason’s family….. my boy Joey Tombs…. Miss you fam….. Semz rip….. Poke miss you bro…. Little Oiler…. You are missed….. and yes its part of the lifestyle….

DENT: Can you briefly explain Style, and the influences other cities around the country brought to the table regarding graffiti such as, letters,techniq ues etc As we know now graff is worldwide….

REPS: We all know everywhere you go theres heads that stand out… Europe has real talent, Puerto rico has power….. so many techniques can 2 and Bates….. look at Ske and Blen …. My old friend Rime msk or Tkid Tnb…… Colorado has a lot of talent different styles…. Taste fua or even Pistoe 156…. We have Jher 451 and Pheud Lof….. raw talents different styles… from wildstyle to spaghetti style to bubble letters and font style burners to photorealism.

DENT: What's the difference between Street ART & Graffiti Art?

REPS: I try not to involve in that drama…. But we was here first……. And when is all over we still be here… Are there certain traits every artist must have to be considered a Graffiti writer? Bombing….. having a tag and a bubble letter…. That’s the trade to a bomber…Pieicing becomes part of the evolution….

DENT: Please tell Me, what a TOY is? Does Every graffiti writer start off as a TOY?

REPS: To me is a mentality… a lot of heads make their own rules…. And swear up and down to be something they are not…. Than the old school HOT 110, no skill writer….. but if you ask me that has changed you can bomb be wack and still get props…. So wack…… What are your thoughts about the current graffiti scene where you currently live? Mixed feelings… I learned not to give props……. Paint with my crew….. and graff is fun…. And to those that hate me…. Fuck you……..

DENT: Have you done much or any commercial work, tell the masses about your accomplishments as a Graffiti writer?

REPS: I’ve done a lot of Commercial work…. But im not here to brag…. I can tell you the biggest check I’ve gotten had Robert Deniro signature on it.

DENT: Do you think Graffiti has become over exposed?

REPS: I think graff is not for everyone but everyone think they graff… for example Instagram all this toys attacking legends because some idiot think is cool to be a dildo….. no skills what so ever…. The media for sure ruined graffiti…. So fucking over that…….

DENT: Where are you finding ideas for your work these days? Whats inspiring you!?

REPS: When I was a younger Iz The Wiz told me look at the sky and the sunsets that would inspire him the most…… me I’m a sneaker head so I get influenced by my kicks color schemes….. im a simple person so I keep it simple for people to see my stilo flow…… I get inspired by looking a t a good Themo burner and my boy Era….. this 2 dudes kill it…. My tm7 bros inspire me too… Vesh, Culpa, Roler, Ivory……. Greed…. Jos…and my Lob bros too Kaves and Skope 2….. raw talent….

DENT: Have you have any moments where you were hassled by the police?

REPS: Yea…. But we get our way….. I miss the chase missions when I was a kid…… shout out to Thomas Hanley……

DENT: If you could teach or tell the new generation of graffiti writers, what would it be?

REPS: Don’t even bother……. Istagram will ruin you..

DENT: What’s your favorite piece of work that you have created? (Including a link and/or photo would be great!)

REPS: I did this piece with Kite on Colorado Crush about 2 years ago Black with rgb colors to match my acg sneakers………. It came out wicked……

DENT: What's your Graffiti Art-world pet peeve?

REPS: No toys!!!!

DENT: Know any good jokes?

REPS: What did the Puerto rican kid got for Christmas? My bike…..LOL, HAHA!

DENT: Respect is everything in Graffiti, has anyone capped you? (went over your piece) & been disrespectful? What is your thoughts of going over other artists on the wall? & Beef in the Graffiti world.

REPS: Graff beef is lame…… most heads that gone over me have been wack… not even on my level…. But that goes to you…… your not on m y level…..

DENT: Who's your favorite living graffiti artist?

REPS: You mean artists… Themo Tm7, RolerTm, Acet Tm7, Vet Tmc, Kerz Fx, Cope 2, Nev Uw and King Bee Uw Bombers like Ka Tkk, Cs Tfk, Pg3 Tpa, Boltism Loc, Kp Wr, Dmane Nok, Jozone, Saint Tmr, Chino Byi, Trim tnc and Mque Dms…

DENT: What is the importance of graffiti/ street art within society?

REPS: Respect each other space…. Life is short…..

DENT: Any Last words? Shout out's?

REPS: Mad props to those who help me through my life…. Rest in Peace Helen Pisciotto , I love my kids Amy, Ryan, Wawa, Xander and chris… Love my lady Amber…..

Shotouts……. AMK crew , Jhonny Awol, Chocoloco, Akew, Kash, Ice187, Cauts, Gener , Slanky, Nev, Raep, Ader, Katkk, Robin, Elbs, Pistoe, Jezagod, Jenny Ranks, Own, Charlie Stae, The Vandal Hour, Shoe, Crims, Jae9,Themo, Acet, Lordz of Finesse, Kite, Arse, Mz, Rf, Raze, Tas, Je, Saint, Scan, Sphere, Pest, Stane, Hoacs , Jive, East, Emit, Reks63, Giz, 4saken, Era, Greed, Kaves, Samp, Paul Nugent, Trim, Chino, Skope 2, Air 3, Fienz, Mars, Snatch, Smash,2il Sic, Pepe, Mutz, Crack Daniels, Queens Finest Inc, Serone, Sast, Mike, Boltism¸ Loud, Bm, Gapster, Cs, Ry, Phyme, Muse, Soco, Demer, Riot. Nep, Klame, Snob, Exile, Theme, Ribs, Zim, Muse, Bis, Spot, Sa, Such, Os501, Fogs, Danp, Mec, Drama, Skevs, Kept, ScS, Fraez, Spen, Stef, Coma, Mq, Rebel, Ce Top, Dmane, Ri Bsk, Nuke, Stae2, Jee, Gusto, Ryno, Roler, Culpa, Minster, Hops, FBoom, Sire, Sero, Trave, U5 crew (Ice, Audie , Rated, Kiac, Arion, Nash) Byezer, Vic 2, Cheo, Az, Riar, Nest, Nes, Art, Post, Little Heck, Saul, Zel, Criz, Malik, Nev, Bom005, King Bee,Tec, Sa, Wep, Nock718, Tease, Yens, Both Dtfradio.com, Tmr Gwear, Bpla (Below Poverty Level), Cist…

Rest in power Dg, Lc, Dose, Pg3 Checo…Tombs, Poke, Oiler/Crude Miss you guys… Thank you Dent……

#therobreps #tmrbros #crushproof #156allstarz #tm7 #lordzofbrooklyn #rocnonstop #tnc #thevandalhour

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