Search

The Return of '21 questions on the Writer's Bench' a Sit Down with The Bronx, Style Mast

makindents
Oct 28, 2017
6 min read

When it comes to a True Blue Hip Hop Head to the Core! It's this brother right here!! Mighty BOM5! Straight out the South Bronx! From Gangs to Hip Hop this MAD Writer has lived it, breathe it and still in the mix. He embodies the True Essence of a Writer. and a B-Boy A True Style Master with tons of wisdom and amazing stories of his times growing up and surviving the wild 70's of the Burnt Down Bronx Days. His natural vibrant and love he has for this culture is felt right when you meet him. I'm super blessed to come across this good brother's path in his lifetime. We are in the same crew's and have built a everlasting brotherhood throughout the years. Big Cousin of Crazy LEGS, this Original Bronx Boy has influenced many Hip-Hop Heads worldwide with his style and skills. With cameo appearances in the movie 'Style Wars and 'From Mambo to Hip-Hop' From Then to Now, brother BOM is very active in his community contributing knowledge and style to the world. AGE is Just a Number! My bro won't Stop Rocking until He DROPS! Check out this Brand NEW Interview and Relaunch of

'21 Questions on The Writers Bench-

with BOM5

1. Name and Crew's you rep:

B5- 174Spider,BOM76,BOM005,BOM5-

Crews; M.W. T.B.B. R.S.C.

others crews whom I rep and support along the way

MTA*TCA*PHK*SLICKINC*TEDINC*MGS*MOG*BGA*TBK*NCB*POG*TMD*TBC*7DS*TPA*

PAL*PIC*CYA*TSK*CP*KOD*GAS*TM5*TBI*GND*DOG*TNS*TDS*TFA*ETP*SYB*ESP*RTW*W988*TOC*TD*DBC*LOF

2. City and State your from:

B5-Tha Bronx,BurntDown Bronx, NYCee

3. What year did you start writing and doing graffiti?

B5-1975

4. How would you describe your style? How does it stand out? Who influenced you coming up?

B5-Mechanical Warfare Style! My combo to early mid 70's Style Master's. My Letter's and Neatness,Innovating Letters I combine from early Style Master's I saw and Learned From:CHINOMALO;SMILY149;BILLY167;ELMARKO:SUPERKOOL223:

STITCH1;JAPAN1;NEHI161;PHASE2;RIFF170

5. Tell US briefly about the environment bombing in NYC in the 80's.

B5-Well I just know about the early 80's cause I stopped in '81. It was crazy Fun and out of Control. The Cops and Mayor were getting more serious about stopping graffiti, but at the same time, it was getting a lot of attention in the gallery. It was a great time in some ways, But They forget about the 70's History! Legends From Before!!

6. Coming up in the wild times of the burnt down Bronx, Have you had any one close to you die,, because of graffiti?

B5-YES

7. Tell US how you got down with TBB and RSC.

B5-I got down with TBB from already knowing CASH, I was introduced to BATCH from TRACE2 while playing handball. As far as Rock Steady I got down through Jimmy Lee. As TBB Ended I continued B-Boying with RSC. But I never Dropped my TBB Colors. I rocked for both and also was a Zulu King.

8. Tell Me the importance of being in a graffiti crew? Or should you be in one?

B5- It was important because you was recognized as a DOPE writer. So you would represent your style through the crew. Being in a DOPE crew that had skills meant you had Skills! Also back in the days, Crews'a had your back! You became Brother's in Writing!

9. Around the 80's you moved to Japan, Why?

B5-I traveled to Japan twice before I decide to move there. I was tired and felt NYC was losing that Hip Hop feeling. I was bored and needed to leave, so I left to Japan.

10. Can you briefly explain Style, and the influences other cities around the country like Japan brought to the table regarding graffiti such as, letters,techniques etc..or did they?

B5-Style and Skills separate you from other writer's. After you learn from your mentor, it's up to you to put in work, to make your own style. To Learn and not change isn't me. It's all about learning and innovating your Style! From your mentor, to yourself. ALL Countries brought idea's and Style's to the scene. But ALL had to Learn the basic, and the basic was NYC!! PERIOD!

11. You were really apart of the graffiti movement in NYC, watching it grow over the years, Do you think Graffiti has become over exposed?

B5- Not Overexposed, but Abused, meaning.....you didn't have to Rack, have a teacher (mentor) show you the ropes. Now, it's all about biting from the internet, and books. Reading about and acting like you know or was there. Low Pressure Paint makes your ART nicer and easier. It's time to take it easy on Legal Walls.

12. Have you done much or any commercial work, tell the masses about your accomplishments as a Graffiti writer or b-boy?

B5- YES! I help teach other writers to Rock and in turn, they become Famous, also in B-Boying. I worked and did ART for Coco Cola. I've traveled and taught the elements in many different countries

.

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

B5-My Favorite is ALL!! From the Good,the Bad, the Ugly. Because I did it my way, My style, OFF Days, ON Days! I was there, that's that!

14. Truly being apart of the Hip-Hop New York City graffiti movement & bombing the MTA's, BUS routes etc. If you could teach or tell the new generation of graffiti writers, what would it be?

B5-YOU have to Rock Illegals and even Try to Rack. That's the True OLD rules of writing! I know time's have change, but that's what a True Writer Does! If YOU Don't then You just a Artist, PERIOD! Not a Writer..

15. Do you still have to deal with a lot of politic's within the graffiti world? Since We know you can't always make people happy, even graff writer's.

B5-Of Course! It's Called Haters!! Back then, there wasn't much hate on each other, it was Kool! Everyone knew each other, and what was what. Now people Act like they don't even know you, cause they selling their ART or become Famous. Internet FAME is Not Street FAME, So STEP OFF!

16. 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.

B5-YES!! But they never left their Name or Crew! Didn't happen much, just jealousy. ALL Good I keep it moving.....In the 90's PJAY Went Over me, but it was for a Corny Reason. After that I went over his shit also. He was Kool with me in the early 80's. I really never had beef, if I did, like I said, it was for a corny reason. Everything works out afterwards. I don't go over Anyone, unless they disrespect me first. I'm not into Beef, but I'm NO sucker either. We don't need Beef, WE Are Writers! Let's just Write and GET UP for the Love of Graffiti! Respect Each Other!

17. What are your thoughts about the current graffiti scene here in your city?

B5-TOO Many Writer's with NO Skills getting up, but at least they doing illegals! Then you got ALL the fake writer's doing it Legally. Meaning, The wanna be Internet Biting 'WEB KINGS' Toys in Living Colors to me! Street ART is NOT Graffiti

18. You still are very relevant and active in your graffiti community in the Bronx. Do you think, a lot of Old Skool writer's have been over looked due to their accomplishments?

B5-YES!

19. Tell Me about your cameo in the movie's 'Style Wars' and 'From Mambo to Hip-Hop' what were your thoughts?

B5- I didn't want to be in Style Wars, but LEGS wanted me there because I was a Original B-Boy and make sure HE represented Right For our B-Boy Culture. I didn't want to talk!!! As Far as 'From Mambo to Hip Hop' it was time to bless the media with some BOM info!

20. Who's your favorite graffiti artist currently?

B5- My Favorite Writer's are the ones that are rocking the letters! Cause that's what Graffiti is ALL About! ALL About Letter's, NOT Character's and Street ART. And The One's Rocking Illegal's!!!

21. Any Last words? Shout out's?

B5-This Interview is dedicated to my mentors!! CHINOMALO-STITCH1-BILLY167 (RIP), SMILY149,BEAR167,STAYHIGH149,ELMARKO174-SUPERKOOL223-PHASE2-RIFF170- I Write for the LOVE of Writing, Nothing More, Nothing Less. WRITER'S ARE RESPECTED! GRAFFITI IS NOT A CRIME. I have NO AGE, I'll ROCK Till I'll DROP! Thank you My Brother DENT, for always having LOVE for the Old School!

-Peace

BOM005

Check Out Some Classic Burners From -BOM005- throughout the years!