Graffiti writer Alski, one of the first in Los Angeles

Posted by StreetGangs.Com Staff on Oct 31st, 2009 and filed under Street Gangs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

alski_opAlski throw-up at the Rapid Transit District (RTD is now Metro) bus alley near 6th Street and Wilton, 1985.

Alski, is considered to be one of the earliest Los Angeles graffiti writers during a time when tagging was a foreign word. He was born in the Bronx, New York from Puerto Rican parents and moved to Los Angeles in early 1980s . His first tags went up in Los Angeles in 1983 when there were very few taggers. He was consider the most prolific writer in Los Angeles history until a writer named Chaka hit the scene in the late 1980s. Other writers known during the early 1980s included, Davism (later became Miner), Jazz, Geo, Skept, Soon and Legit.

Popularity: 60% [?]

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Twitthis
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • LinkedIn
  • Current
  • Technorati
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • MySpace
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Live
  • Faves
  • blogmarks
  • Turn this article into a PDF!
  • Blogosphere News

Related stories:

  1. Pico Sheriff’s station focuses on graffiti, tagging By Bethania Palma Markus, Staff...
  2. Ben Baeder, writer, exaggerates in article on gangs By Alex Alonso for StreetGangs.com...
  3. Gang map of the Pico Union area of Central Los Angeles By Alex Alonso September...
  4. Freeway Ricky Ross, A Los Angeles Drug King Pin By Alex Alonso for Street...
  5. Avenues gang has a long, violent history in Los Angeles by Bettina Boxall (LA Now/LA...

14 Responses for “Graffiti writer Alski, one of the first in Los Angeles”

  1. stef alonso says:

    I understand that tagging was part of the whole hip hop evolution, but tagging was and continues to be a nuisance in cities. How can be combat this issue?

  2. FUCK YOU says:

    FUCK THE POLICE

  3. ChinoLocc says:

    I hardly see it as a nuisance, in some cases it actually does more to beautify the city than the city govt does, in other cases its “toy” graf heads with no skills just funking everything up.
    In any case I think this new plan to go after graffiti writers and “Taggers” is lame and will only turn to these people harboring more resentment towards law enforcement.
    I’ve known plenty of graf heads from plenty of graf crews who, without the love for the artform and their ability to express it, would have easily been lured into gang life. Some of whom I know personally with older brothers in gangs and the thing that kept them from joining was, yep, graffiti and the culture surrounding it in LA/OC(Underground hip hop, breaking, djing, etc).

    If you want to “combat” the issue how about do like Venice did, or Santa Ana does, and sanction places where graffiti artists can LEGALLY paint in your city, it’s done wonders for both of the aforementioned cities in the way of “combating” illegal graffiti. I mean, sure, you’re always gonna have those heads going for fame trying to “Get up” anywhere and everywhere but at least, if you had somewhere safe they could paint, they’d have some sense of accomplishment and pride in their work on a much larger scale, which could do wonders for their self esteem and potential careers in arts, and thats what we need for their generation.

    peace

  4. ur mom says:

    UR MOMS DNT LOVE U

  5. dnt trip says:

    im with youu on that one !

  6. crush says:

    In some sort of sense I think It is a form of lifestyle. Its more like looking for something to be accepted by your friends. . Its a rush pumping trill to get away with crime and famous for it. I my self in younger days consider my self a tagger, mobber, bombmer what ever best explains it. How ever I dont take pride in that but its something that has long stayed within me for some wrong reason. I still catch my self reading graffitti off the walls. Not to mention tagging on paper like when I am bored at work. So I dont hate the taggers but I hate our crime.

    • stef says:

      It is certainly a youth thing. One uses various avenues to release their energies, and to be known among their peers. Peers is a thing that drives youths to do things, may it be in a good way or not. It is important in these times that we are aware of the youth and the things they need to build a better self esteem. If they are not getting what they need at home, from parents, father, mothers. etc. they will reach out and act out. Tagging is a way to release these stresses, but we can improve our teens and lead them to other things that EMPOWER them. Got to love the kids. Crime is wrong and there is a price to pay, when caught. Teach them well.

  7. crusheristeristik says:

    KEEP ON MOBBING YEAH. WBL CRUSH 1NE

  8. babyG. says:

    FUCK POLICES TAGGING IS THE BEST THERE IS

  9. Tagging Is Self-Aggrandizing NONSENSE says:

    Tagging is ridiculous. ANY idiot can write his name on the wall. Self
    promoting the individual is the same senseless philosophy this
    country was built on, manifest destiny. The perpetuation and sustenance
    of the ‘rugged individual’ neglects the power of community and glorifies
    the empty achievements of the individual. If you’re going to write something,
    write something with meaning and substance. Anything besides glorifying
    an individual accomplishment. Graffiti is a true artform that involves
    storytelling and purposeful recognition of the human condition. Life and
    death.

  10. Sweetness says:

    the police can’t stop us!!!

Leave a Reply

Log in | Contact | Shop Street Gangs | Gang DVDs | Gang Books | Copy Rights | Disclaimer | Mission Statement