Azone - Graffiti Artist Interview

August 2009

Interview with Azone, a graffiti artist from Texas who is a member of the 666 Crew, UPN Crew and TFK Crew.

How old are you?

I'm 19.

Where are you based?

Currently in Pasadena, TX.

When did you begin painting graffiti?

Around 2004.

How did you get into graffiti and what made you start painting?

I was introduced into it by a couple friends. I was doing shit before then, mostly bombing and other shit, but after being introduced to several older writers I fell in love with piecing, murals and other aspects of graffiti. I grew looking up to Dondi, Vizie, Color, Nekst and BK Krew.

Where did you paint your first piece?

The first piece I can remember would be in spot we had called "THE SLUMS"… spent a couple of hours since I had stock caps only. The first actual detailed piece I painted was with my friend and mentor Pilot One over at the ptown walls.

How would you describe your style?

Take some seamonsters, put in a blender with some car parts, add some demon blood, sacrifice a virgin, gut out a bear then throw in the guts, pour in some bullets, rounds, grenades then finally mix in some high-tech parts and voila! Bon appetit!

How did you choose the name Azone?

I was at "Autozone" buying car parts and when I walked out I looked up and was like hmmmmmm… "Autozone" = Azone, I like it and so that's how I got that name. Since then I've worked on building my rep with the name Azone.

Do you write under any other names?

Yes, Greed or Greedy, The Dark Lord, Killa Kid, Karas… he who smites thee with fear and despair!

Do you write with any crews and if so which ones?

Yes, I write for:

• 666 Crew
• TFK Crew
• UPN Crew
• DB Crew
• EDA Crew
• 77 Crew
• WS Crew

Have you done many collaborations with artists overseas or travelled abroad for your art and if so then where is the most exciting or interesting place you have painted?

Yes, I have been to New York, Mexico, California, Chicago and painted with several kats such as Pilot, Per (FX Crew), Mack (TATS Crew) and Exes (TKB Crew). The most interesting palce was here in Waco, Texas painting in a yard with cows and goats then waking up to see a mutilated cow the next day!

Where is the most obscure place you have ever left a tag or piece?

In a space about 3ft apart between two warehouses where there were fuckin' snakes and all kinds of critters everywhere and on one side the fence is clear plastic facing a city center, it was the gayest time of my life.

Texas itself has some diverse styles, I've met some crazy motherfuckers! We ride dirty in our cowboy boots son… and shank scallywags with our horseshoes!

Azone

What are you feelings on the graffiti and street art scenes in America and Texas at present?

I think we have a diverse amount of styles and we're able to compete with any one else. The individuality of different personalities gives the flavor and styles to each persons lettering. Texas itself has some diverse styles, I've met some crazy motherfuckers! We ride dirty in our cowboy boots son… and shank scallywags with our horseshoes!

Have you ever done any commercial work and if so what would you say was your most well known piece?

Um… I've done mostly work for "Live Clothing" so I'd have to say the most recognisable work is the "Sgar Skull Ladies" I've done for the gear.

Has graffiti become a full-time career for you now and if so was it a long journey to get to this stage?

Long journey and I still think I've got a long way to go, depending on if I don't end up in jail or I get me a sugamama.

Is there any one point in your career you would class as 'your big break'?

Not really, I haven't got it yet!

What do you see as your greatest achievement to date?

Having the longest running spot in my hometown.

What is the biggest risk you have ever taken for your art?

Being shanked, getting bit by a dog, being shot at, getting chased by several troopers and mosquito bites… hundreds of 'em!

What are your thoughts on graffiti being just a likely to be found in a gallery as on the streets these days?

The streets themselves are a gallery, a free gallery showcasing writers work so in contrast to going to a fine arts gallery to see paintings to see some urban art you can just walk or drive down the streets and see the art on walls for free and you might even catch a writer in the act of doing it. In a sense it's the same, except for a few things, such as exposure to the commerial or art market and the money being made but in my opinion graffiti in general belongs on the streets.

Have you ever had your work displayed in a galleries and if so is there any one exhibition that stands out from all the rest?

Yes at the i-45 Ink Show, the SJC Gallery, the G Gallery. Me and several friends hosted and organized the i-45 Ink Show, it was a blast but it was more of a party than a show!

The media and corporate world wants to profit off our culture and they see the high profits they can receive by mass producing some cookie cutting graffiti on merchandise and selling it to suburban kids.

Azone

There seems to have been a sudden surge of interest in graffiti and street art recently, why do you think this is?

The media and corporate world wants to profit off our culture and they see the high profits they can receive by mass producing some cookie cutting graffiti on merchandise and selling it to suburban kids. In doing this the corps are taking a sense of culture we have and mainstreaming it to these kids by making it seem "cool" and in return the game gets a bunch of new jacks, who have no sense of respect towards the culture or knowledge of the history, tagging and painting everything in sight and crossing out old skool cats.

There is a very fine line between those who see graffiti as art and those who see it as vandalism, what are your views on this?

I consider graffiti vandalism… that's the point of it… to get up! There is an artisy side so as you paint more and more your technicality grows and your pieces turn into burners, then then burners turn into murals which the people appreciate and seems to give community a sense of culture. In the full extent it belongs on the streets as it should be, a written expression of the letter forms flowing through the minds of the writers to express our thoughts, ideas, schemes, names, etc, through the written word.

Do you prefer doing legal or illegal pieces?

More illegal, the rush and adrenaline you get from it is worth the trouble! It's a beautiful crime.

Have you ever 'felt the long arm of the law' because of your art and if so can you tell us about it?

Yes, several times. Twice I've been snitched on and the third time I was caught red handed but luckly I have friends in high places.

Do you try to keep your identity anonymous where possible?

In a sense but I mean obviously people will know and word gets around. Big mouth bitches do the wet lip talk.

Do you see yourself as an artist or a graffiti writer?

A bit of both, but mostly as a graffiti artist. I've grown up doing countless bad things, graffiti being the main one. As a repercussion of the laws heavy hand I've had to find other ways to relieve my mind and painting canvases, boards or watever is my new outlet.

Which other artists work do you admire?

• Pilot One (Good friend of mine)
• Augor
• Herakut
• Pysa
• Color one

Which other graffiti or street artists artists would you most like to work with if given the chance?

I'd like to work with:

• Dondi (RIP)
• Wets
• Versus
• Atlas
• Sofles
• Vizie
• Greas
• Norm
• Herakut

Those are the artist I'd favor the most to work with.

What is your preferred medium for making marks with?

Spray paint. More technical… a flat black or any black can with a NY fat, or a MTN black with a astro cap.

What is your colour of choice?

Flat black or sublime.

What is your favourite surface to paint on?

Brick or ridged places.

Do you have a favourite piece of all time?

Yes, the piece I dropped in my friend Jueshots house… fun times, fun times.

What kind of music are you into?

• hardcore
• punk
• hip-hop
• classical
• downtempo

Bascically anythig that moves to paint and has a great beat.

What is the last album you bought?

"The Mouse And The Mask" by Danger Doom

What are you working on currently and what plans do you have for the future?

I'm currently working on some new designs for "Live Clothing" and gearing up to start traveling more often, I'm painting more canvases with a view to have them showcased in more galleries. I'm setting up more walls to paint in the near future and work on some collabs with sevral artists.

Anything else you would like to add?

Yeah, shouts out to:

• Phoenix Crew
• Puppet
• Pacman
• Kimbo
• Alexia
• Josie
• Cornpuffs
• Gesus
• Dier59
• Kubee
• Wets
• Serkit
• Tahoe
• Ace
• Pilot
• Sowut
• Norsk One
• DJ Dynamik
• ACK Krew
• King Waaster 12 (RIP)
• King Pac 2 (RIP)
• Munik (RIP)

peep out www.myspace.com/2liveclothing for the new gear coming out.

Peace.

For further information about Azone please visit:

Azone Profile

Azone MySpace Page

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