Priz One Interview
What do you write and what crews are you with?
PRIZ-ONE: I write PRIZ-ONE. The crews I presently represent are TSF/TS5 (The Spanish 5ive), CAC/CACITY (Cool Art-Creators), TMT (The Magnificent Team), TDS (The Death Squad), OTB (Out to Bomb), BYB (Bad Yard Boys), MAFIA (Master Administration for Incredible Artist), POG (Prisoners- Of Graffiti), TAP (The Public Animals), NOGA (Nation of Graffiti Artists) and TFP (The Fantastic- Partners).
Where are you from?
PRIZ-ONE: I was originally from the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I lived on Broadway and 137th Street in the late 60’s. Because of the crime rate in that vicinity, my family then moved downtown to 83rd Street and Riverside.
How long have you been doing graffiti for?
PRIZ-ONE: I officially started writing PRIZ-ONE in 1980. In 1979, I was experimenting and doodling with different pseudonyms, aliases andinitials like SWAN, T.L.D (Trains Lodging Destruction), T.U.A. (Trains Undergoing Attack), MR/RM, PHIZ,PRISMA/PRIZMA and PRISM/PRIZM on the neighborhood walls and playgrounds above and below (Freedom-Tunnels)Riverside Park. By1981, I ventured out with my first “Bombays” bought uni-wide, a tin of green Flo-master ink with my then partner SPHINX/SPINKS SSB (Sal-Soul Brothers), BIC (Brothers In Crime)practicing our toy tags inside subway cars and subway stations on the Broadway IRT No. 1 line.
How did you first get into doing graffiti?
PRIZ-ONE: When I was a kid growing up in the early 70’s, I saw graffiti tags when I rode the trains to school and was also introduced to writers and their black book work. I observed the tags and pieces of “up” writers onthe96th street (The Warriors) park walls. RASTA aka WORK, REVOLT aka YES-ONE, BIL (BIL-ROCK) aka SAGE, SAHARA, ZEPYHR aka HEIST, DARKSTARAND MACKIE aka HYPER.
One of the writers and friend who inspired and got me interested in doing pieces was JEAN-13 BYBwho was painting all these detailedwall murals on P.S. 9. and the Brandeis handball courts of Amsterdam and 84th street. JEAN was doing outer space futuristic backgrounds, pieces and charactersand then coming back and highlighting the details with a white Pentyl marker. I recently had the privilege of painting several walls with him.
Have you traveled with your graffiti? Where all have you painted?
PRIZ-ONE: I’ve painted in Washington, Miami, Toronto, Upstate New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Do you have a favorite city you like to paint?
PRIZ-ONE: I would like to paint subway cars in Germany, Italy, London and Spain.
Who’s graffiti are you feeling lately?
PRIZ-ONE: Any old timer from the 70’s or 80’s which have come out of retirement. I’ve had the pleasure of painting with STAN-ONE TS5, SLAVE TF5, NOC-167 OTB, SUEY CAC, JEAN-13 BYB, ROZ-ONE TC5, DE-DONE TSF, CRANE TMT and SNO 7DS.
How do you feel the internet has helped graffiti or has it hurt graffiti?
PRIZ-ONE: In my opinion, one of the many helpful internet advantages is the proper recognition of many overlooked graffiti writers and their crews through proof of photography and interviews. The flip side of this is the internet sites that allow forums to post fabricated, unresearched hearsay about writers. Then to add insult to injury, the same sites encourage their members to spew negativity behind made up internet names.
What influences you to keep writing?
PRIZ-ONE: My memories and good times of the never forgotten old school subway graffiti era of the late 70’s and early 80’s. The ingenuity and dexterity of letter form and style in hand style and piecing under pressure. Finally, the present unsung writers who “get up” on clean stainless steel trains.
If you could only have two cans of paint, what would they be?
PRIZ-ONE: Fortunately, I already own these flavors. However, I would never pass up on a six pack case of Krylon Jungle Green, Aqua- Turquoise paper label with the plastic intact condom.
Can you share any chase stories with us?
PRIZ-ONE: In the late 80’s, I went solo to the 1 tunnel on a Sunday morning. As I walked up to the first subway car in the uptown side set and climbed in,I unexpectedly heard the distant static and crackle of a 5-0’s walkie-talkie further down the cars. Several minutes later, with bag of paint in tow, I would almost end up being chased into an upcoming downtown train on the downtown side. I bounced up onto the downtown station as the train shot into the station behind me. Luckily, I was younger and much faster then they were. I literally flew over the turnstiles and pass the token booth. I didn’t look back until I arrived at 125th street and Riverside.
Next weekend, I would be back down there again standing on top of the third rail………
Do you have a favorite spot to paint?
PRIZ-ONE: Many available spots on the Upper Westside of Manhattan.
What can we expect to see from you in the future?
PRIZ-ONE: More and more pieces along with colorful productions by TSF, BYB, CAC and TMT crews.
Do you have any last words to share with the Senses Lost readers?
PRIZ-ONE: Thanks Ryan from Senses Lost for giving me the opportunity to reminisce and to all past and present writers who continue to stay steady to the Graff game, never slack always mack and keep painting and always innovating……. Much Respect
PRIZ-ONE
