WritersDelight.co.uk

Vibes n Dasr

Posted By The Monkee on February 10th, 2010

One of our main men popped along to get some progress shots of Vibes and Dasr in action… heres a few flicks…

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Dasr Interview :The Catch Up:

Posted By The Monkee on September 3rd, 2009

Last time we spoke it was DAZ, now DASR? Where did the R come from!

For pretty much 15 years its been Das-Daz… Then came Dasone and a couple years back I did a Dasr piece. Put a bit more power in the name and 4 letters is better than 3… I love R’s also, strong letter and good to finish on.

So since the last interview what have you been up to? I hear your not in Brighton any more?

Yeah, basically had to come home, been missing London for a while and had to find a way to come home. I signed a short lease with the Chrome & Black boys and gave it ago. RareKind London.. Only gallery shows, which was quite a change to the shop/gallery I had in Brighton. After 5 months after spending an awful lot of money on rent and shows I had to do the right thing and close, the recession is a bloody killer.. RareKind London will not be a full time gallery anymore and will put on shows every two months in different locations. It also frees me up to spend more time on my art and run RareKind commissions. Putting shows on in new locations keeps things fresh, East London is flooded and people are already showing signs of wanting something different.

What is Chrome&Black?

C&B really has noting to do with RK. They are a separate business run by two good friends of mine. This is the best Graffiti Shop in London if not the UK. Run by writers for writers, something RK has been pushing for years, C&B offer an amazing array of graffiti goodies, there are 4 racks of paint fully stocked at all times, books, magazines, and the amount of pens and ink make your mouth drool. It’s a large shop and very interesting, with yard fence installed, barbed wire, one of my tube doors, photos and other bits adorning the walls, as well as a wall in the entrance painted regularly by a prominent and famous London writers..

Your opening night looked mad! Good turn out?

The opening night was immense. About 400+ turned up and checked out what RK had on offer.. We filled the walls of the gallery with about 36 different artists work, gave people free booze and watched the merriness. The only down side, it was bloody baking, we brought in fans for the following shows..

Downstairs, a gallery? What artists can we look forward to seeing?

The first show {as above} had an amazing line up. To name a few… Zomby, Crept, Mr. Wany, Hunto, Tizer, Shucks, InkFet, John Hammer, Roid, Vibes, ATG and more. The space was massive about 1000sqft. Shame people were not spending much, it was not good sense to stay open, the bi-monthly shows will be a good way to keep these artists on show.

What’s it like to be back in London, London is where it all began for you right? You enjoying it?

I’m loving it. I have been gone for 8 years, nearly 9. Brighton has been very good to me, helped me open RareKind and has a great graffiti scene, but London, well its LONDON. I fucking love it. My Girlfriend and I walked 14 miles yesterday, putting up tags and placing stickers on the whole bop… You cant do that in Brighton, you’d be in the sticks in and hour.. I’ve been painting loads and hooking up with people. I’m in east now but grew up in Kilburn. Its great to be back, also my son lives in Kings X and he is over the moon that I’m here.

Why the move to London? More opportunities in London?

Yeah business is better {apart from in a recession} friends and family are closer. I kind of got to old for Brighton, it’s a student place, I’m 29 now. I miss my people still in B-Town… I’m egging them on to come to London too..

Do you still own RareKind, what happened with your Btown shop?

RareKind Brighton is now a record shop, I’m still on the lease, but as long a the rents paid I’m free of it.
RareKind is my business, no matter what, RareKind Records is owned by Brighton Rapper HP. A great man!

How is London’s scene currently, or if you had to compare it to brightens scene just before you left?

The scenes are completely different. I think the fact that there is tubes running under the city, it puts you on your toes as a writer here.
You always crave that running panel. There are the hardcore here that are still doing it, but what happens in my mind is that makes the legal writers paint absolute bangers! London has an amazing scene, I do wish though that our Hall of Fames could be in better condition. Loads of toys, more now than ever are destroying great pieces. Also the buff is immense, it kills your heart knowing pieces on the tracks and streets and rooftops don’t last long. Its basically a battle for everyone no matter legal or illegal to keep stuff up. But that’s just for now, not forever! We have a strong scene here, full of history and the promise of a bright future, the public are more accepting of graffiti and the LU wont always have enough money to keep the buff up.. Keep it coming people.. London keep standing!

Last interview you mentioned an RK movie, fair to say this is over now or is it still happening? Or can we look forward to bigger and better things?

Yeah, the RK movie is on its way. Its kind of a documentary. Roser is making it, and cause I moved back home it got put on the back burner, but its going ahead. I got to finish my interview, grab a little more footage and we are done. The crew is now 12 years old, we wanted to show what happened over those years. Its mainly focused on the shop, and all the people who are / were involved. Its been crazy! Keep your eyes peeled.
RareKind has changed a business model. I’ve been living proof of this for pretty much 8 years, and its always changing. I’m now concentrating on putting on shows, getting Graffiti Writers their just deserts in terms of this art world. These street artists have taken our limelight, I’m taking it back. Slowly but surely. it’s a shame we cant have the full time gallery at the min, but the shows will happen in different locations and maybe in a year or so there will be another full time gallery. RK- Represent Kulture!

Not long ago we saw Meeting Of Styles 2009 come to London, were the C&B team involved in helping at all?

Meeting Of Styles was ok. We kind of pushed our way in, I don’t think C&B or RK were offered a great space, we just took that wall, no permission note, nothing.. The jam was happening round the corner. I think the organiser should have thought about who they invited and not left it to the last minute to ask the shop if they wanted to be involved. The bonus of this though is that now all of Scatler St off Brick Lane is now pretty much a Hall of Fame, the Police give some people a hard time but mostly its got someone painting everyday.

C&B and HQ are cool. It’s a great thing for London to have two graf shops, it can only make the scene stronger.