FDT 56
DATE OF INTERVIEW:
October 8, 2003
1- NAMES USED:
FDT 56 SALSA
2- YEAR STARTED WRITING? YEAR RETIRED?
Started late 71 hitting my neighbor hood. Retire in 83
3- AGE WHEN YOU STARTED WRITING?
14 Years old
4- WHERE IN NYC?
South Bronx
5- WHY DID YOU START WRITING?
For the fun of it
6- WHO WERE YOUR WRITING PARTNERS (IF ANY) ? STILL IN TOUCH WITH THEM TODAY?
First partners was YAZ56, TINE1, HOY56, CLYDE, KROME100, M56, KID56. The only one I have kept in touch with in all these years is HOY56, but I have to keep in touch with kid and MOUSEY because one is my brother and the other is my cousin.
7- WRITING GROUPS YOU FOUNDED OR CO-FOUNDED?
The Writing Group I help form was "SALSA", here is the original 5, FDT56, KROME100, GAME5, SCHICK1, and GAME5
8- WRITING GROUPS YOU BELONGED TO?
First was WAR, then WANTED, this Group had a lot of legends in it, then 3 YARD BOYS, then SALSA.
9- YOU WROTE YOUR FIRST TIME ON A WALL, BUS, TRAIN OR TRUCK?
On a wall in the South Bronx
10- YOUR FIRST HIT EVER - WHICH MEDIUM DID YOU USE, i.e. MARKER, SPRAY PAINT, PEN, ETC.?
Before this graffiti fad came to be know, I hit my first tag with an near empty paint can. I was with my 3 buddies. I did my initials, HOY was R.M., YAZ was R.G., TINE was T.G.
11- WHERE DID YOUR NAME COME FROM?
From my Puerto Rican mother and my Cuban father.
12- WHICH WAS THE FIRST SUBWAY LINE YOU HIT? (IF YOU HIT SUBWAYS)
The old Third Ave El. That El was taken down in 73
12A- WHAT OTHER SUBWAY LINES DID YOU HIT?
All Lines , I was not bashful. I wanted my tag everywhere.
14- WHAT YARDS & LAYUPS DID YOU WORK AT?
The 4 Yard and Layup, New Lots, a Yard at Euclid Ave., 1 Yard up in Riverdale and the 1 Lay-Up in the One Tunnel between 137 and 145TH. ST., Kingstons Layups, RR Lay-Ups in Astoria, the Bowery Layup and a whole lot more.
15- WHERE YOU 'KING' OF ANY PARTICULAR SUBWAY LINE(S)?
On the outside never but I had a lot of Pieces. People said that I was the King of the Broadway Line on the inside at one period. I never brag, if they said I was a King for that time, I took it as an honor.
16- WHO WAS YOUR MENTOR? (IF APPLICABLE) DID YOU MENTOR ANY OTHER WRITERS?
Had none.
17- WHICH WRITERS DID YOU LOOK UP TO? WHY?
I don't want it to sound like I am bragging, but I look up to no one, I don't know why, I would love to meet other Writers but I never and I mean never was going to kiss your ass but I would show you respect. That is why a lot of people love to hang out with me. Because respect is important
18- DID YOU INTRODUCE ANYTHING NEW TO THE WRITING MOVEMENT?
IF 'YES,' WHAT WAS IT? WHAT YEAR?
It was not new, but the thing I brought to the game was trying to hit my name at all the train station that I could get. I used to love hitting my name at the bottom where it was solid concrete. When they used to clean the white tiles my name would still be there for years.
19- HOW LONG WOULD YOU GUESSTIMATE THAT EACH GENERATION OF WRITERS LASTED?
Maybe 3 to 4 Years.
20- WHICH WERE YOUR FAVORITE COLORS TO WORK WITH?
Since I was a Bomber, my favorite was black. Cause when I use red and I would come back to that spot a year later I see that it faded so I stuck with black.
21- WHICH BRAND OF SPRAY PAINT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TO WORK WITH?
Black and silver.
22- WHICH MARKER WAS YOUR FAVORITE?
The Un-Wide. The things you could do with that.
23- WHICH WAS YOUR FAVORITE SPOT TO HIT YOUR NAME AT
IN THE SUBWAY SYSTEM? (IF APPLICABLE)
On the inside the side panel by the Conductor's door. I use to love hitting between cars.
24- DO YOU HAVE IN MEMORY A "FAVORITE" MASTERPIECE THAT YOU DID? IF 'YES,' WHICH ONE? WHEN? WHERE? WHY?
Not really
25- WERE YOU EVER ARRESTED FOR WRITING? IF 'YES,' WHEN? WHERE? WITH WHOM? BY WHOM?
Don't want to talk about it.
26- WHICH WAS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO 'RACK UP' AT?
Any store, did not have a favorite.
27- WHICH IS THE CORRECT NAME FOR THIS ART FORM:
GRAFFITI ART? AEROSOL ART? WRITING? GRAFFITI? WHY?
For me is Writing, because that is what I was. I could not draw so all I did was write all around the City and beyond.
28- ARE YOU STILL WRITING / PAINTING TODAY? IF YOU USE CANVAS, YOUR FEELINGS ON STEEL -VS- CANVAS?
No comment.
29- WHAT DO YOU DO PROFESSIONALLY TODAY?
Let's just say it has nothing to do with Art.
30- ANY ADVICE TO YOUNG WRITERS WORLDWIDE TODAY?
Always know your History. Don't say you were there when you know you weren't.
31- ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
Just want to say I miss the Old Days, when Writing was fun when it wasn't a business. I do miss all the old Writers I came in contact during those days. When I do bump into the ones that I have not seen
in years, it surprise me how different we look. Most of us are all marry now. Then comes the sad part when I hear hour many of our Brothers have pass away, that really kicks me in the ass. I just want to say is that I would never trade those days for nothing
in the world. I want to thank you MICO for letting your reader know about me. Peace everyone.
32- YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION?
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Yo Frankie! You're right, you were a "Writer," a helluva a Writer during the First Generation.
Thanx for the memories. - MICO
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