besk

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Introduce yourself.

I write “BeskUno” an Immigrant from El Salvador and a product of the streets of Los Angeles.

When did you start painting?

I started tagging on walls in 83 (that’s when my toy years began, LMAO), started my own crew (LATT) in 84, but I have too much respect for those that came before me to claim those years, so I’m going to say 85.

What made you want to start painting graffiti? Did you get inspired by someone or a mural you saw at the time?

I’ve been drawing since I was a young kid and I remember every time my parents would drive around the city, I would see glimpses of graff and it caught my attention. I can’t honestly say what, or who influenced me as far as style, but I was blessed to have met writers that were on top of their game and thought me the graffiti ropes. “Make” and “Shandu” in particular. 

How would you describe your style?

Simple but hard. Legible letters with mad flavor, but I also like to get crazy with some wild style once in a while.

Do you belong to any crews

LATT (L.A. Tag Team), UCA (Under Cover Artist), LOD (Loks On Dope) and AM7 (Angels of Madness) 

What are your thoughts on graffiti and how popular it has gotten in mainstream culture while being consider art more than vandalism?

“GET YOUR MONEY.” I believe if you put in the work, reap the rewards, get that corporate cheese. 

What I don’t like is when fools that haven’t put in the “work” get jobs over guys that have, but maybe don’t have the connections. Another thing, here in L.A. I see a lot of walls being painted by fools from out-of-town, that should be painted by locals. The sad part of that is that a lot of those walls are controlled by L.A. heads that for some reason prefer to show love to out of towners. As far as graffiti being art? yes I think it is, but graffiti by definition is vandalism and illegal. So, if you never painted anything illegal, NO, you don’t do GRAFFITI. You’re an artist that uses spray paint to exploit our culture. Enough about my rant. LOL. 

Do you notice differences in old school and new school styles?

Styles have definitely evolved. There’s a ton more color choices, paint manufactures, cans with different air pressure and a million different tips. But at the end of the day, graffiti is about letters and I’m a true believer that you have to have letter structure. If your letters look bad ass without all that make-up, then you have letter structure. That’s why I started doing “The Silver Battles” so you can’t hide behind all those colors. Silvers, your letters and lets go!!!

Before you did the "SILVER BATTLE", you did something that we imagine was a monumental task, the famous "TIME LINE" at the World Famous Belmont Tunnel, tell us about that.

Wow, where do I start. Ive painted or hung out at the Tunnel since my years at Belmont High School. When I heard they were going to demolish it and build a housing community, I felt there was something I needed to do. I came up with this idea, where I would get everyone that constantly painted there and create this historical time line of when they first started painting there. Let me tell you something, EVERYONE that I approached was super into the idea, but just imagine, trying to get ALL those heavy hitters on the same page and schedule, was something I don't think I would ever try and do again. At the end of the day (weekend) everyone came through the the rest is history.

Who is a new artist that you have high respect for? Why? What about their work that you like?

New? Fuck, I’m not out there enough to spot the up-and-coming talent, but I can tell you this, in LA I see a huge resurgence of bombing. And in my eyes “OTR” is leading the way, just killing the cities and not just L.A.

If you could start over and get in the game now, is there something you would do differently and why?

I wouldn’t want to start now, that would mean I would have never painted the World-Famous Belmont Tunnel. 

Is there one piece you’ve painted that’s your favorite?

Yes, “Make” and myself did a piece in 91 at the Belmont Tunnel that said “Rockin91”, where we paid homage to past and present writers. It wasn’t the best piece I ever did, but it was the one that means the most to me. Other than that, they’re all my babies and love them all the same.

If you could paint with someone now, who would it be and why?

My friends, that’s when I have the most fun. Paint, beer, food and no drama. 

Do you have a favorite graffiti writer?

That’s an easy one. Revok to me is the epitome of what we do, hands down. And he’s still killing shit. And I don’t mean at a yard either. 

The wall is yours, speak your last words.

Family, crew, friends and graffiti, that’s the order I live my life. 

All you new to the game, PLEASE, learn your history, those that paved the way for you deserve that respect.

Paint for fun and respect the craft. Mad regards to those that came before me, I owe you so much. 

Monsters Of Graffiti is who we are.