Keso ICS GSB TVT MP

 

Today, Wriders travels to the New England section of the States to bring you our first chat with a Massachusetts-area skater & writer: Keso. From riding for his favorite skate company, to completing several hundred full-color panel pieces in under a year, Keso is unquestionably accomplished on the board and with the paint. And despite sustaining a serious injury, Keso is determined to maintain his presence in both cultures. We have no doubt that he will.      

 

What did you get into first, skating or graffiti?

Skateboarding. I have an elephant memory (long term) and I remember the first time seeing both skating and graffiti - it was at the same time . There was an old, abandoned gas station in the town I’m from. Skaters would skate the pump island curb and the building had graffiti all over it. Apparently looking outside the car window at a red light had enough impact on me to change the course of my life because since that day, those two things have been my entire life. 

I started skating in '92/'93; I was very young when I started. I started painting graffiti around maybe '98. I had zero knowledge, so I was just doing toy things/toy letters. Before social media and internet being accessible, I had zero reference. I consider my real start to be 2003. That’s when I did my first piece on a freight. I still walk by it in yards here and there it’s super cool to come across that. It has dicks toyed over it. 

 

Keso's first piece on a freight.

Who were you psyched on in your early days of skating?

Boston scene, for sure. Robbie Gangemi, Mike Graham, Vanik Hacobian. A lot of New York skaters, Zoo York Mixtape had a big impact. Trilogy, obviously. Lavar, Creager, Gino, etc.

Who were you psyched on in your early days of graffiti?

I grew up in close proximity to Boston and Providence. As far as Boston, at the time Flush, Aroe77, Rjay, among others, had the city smashed. They were all skaters, as well, so I was always looking up to them. Providence back then had a small but really good scene with writers like Lead, Seaz, Hence, User, Juner etc., crushing shit. Both cities had more writers than I mentioned getting after it but those stood out and had big impacts on me. 

What would you say are the differences between Boston/MA graffiti verses NYC graffiti?

Up until maybe 15 years ago, there were regional style differences. Boston is just a lot smaller, and they take it seriously. It’s a felony and they will charge you. A few writers have gotten caught in other states and they send them right to Boston. Some writers have done up to a few years for graffiti. 

 

How did you get your tag?

I wrote Seak as a toy. Caught a juvenile case that I beat, but I didn’t want to write the same name, so I wrote it backwards and dropped the A. Originally I wrote Kes, then just added the 'O' as a lot of writers will do.

 

How did you get on Western Edition?

Since they started, Western has always been my favorite company. Loved Ian’s artwork, the whole jazz vibe etc. Many years later I ended up in SF staying with Jabari (Pendleton), who introduced me to everyone at FTC. I became friends with all those guys and I guess maybe Ian asked me (to ride for WE). It was natural and although it doesn’t seem like a big deal as an adult, when I think of it, having a board on my all time favorite company is pretty awesome. I’m grateful, and thankful that Ian, Ando, and Kent allowed me that opportunity. 

 

 

Keso with a 5-0

What happened to your eye?

It’s a legal matter so I don’t want to say much, but I had an over-pressurized can of Rusto that was jammed. Shaking it did nothing. So I was tapping it against a railroad tie and the bottom blew out, which created a rocket that went into my eye. Basically obliterated my eye. They did emergency surgery but it was a wrap. The cone of the can was flattened by skull. It’s the same old story: Rustoleum quality has drastically gotten worse; they cut corners to make more profit. That all-American Greed. It was the worst couple months up until surgery - really can’t explain but excruciating. Mentally gnarly because as accepting of things I can’t change as I am, it’s gnarly looking into the mirror and there’s a hole in your face. I have a fake eye now. I had a great surgeon. I adapt. Took a bit with painting, being a depth perception issue, but I figured it out. Ended up being my most productive year painting - I was just on a marathon of mayhem. I painted just shy of 500 full-color panels in a year while losing an eye. I don’t go down easy. Skating is next to get back on. This year I want to focus more on that. I miss it a lot.  

Photo by Bobshirt

What is it about these two cultures that they attract a lot of the same people?

It’s different now, but years back they both  seemed to attract the type of people that were kind of anti-norms, or outcasts in a way. Just maybe people that thought outside of the box and thought for themselves. Nowadays... It’s a lot different, everything’s watered down, woke, and pretty corny to be honest. 

 

In skating it's not cool to film at skateparks. In graffiti it's not cool to paint legal walls. So are legal walls the graff equivalent of skatepark footage/what are your thoughts on these two "rules"?

I would never have painted a legal wall up until recently, or walls in general (I do very little). My association with graffiti has to do with my love for trains. For the most part I have zero interest in most of what comes with graffiti other than freights and the act. The gossip, politics, or meeting writers, beef - don’t care for it. The majority of writers are cornballs with insecurity complexes. As I get older though, I can enjoy a wall, legal or not, and relax for once without looking over your shoulder. Plus, I still paint illegally on a daily basis, so street cred can’t be questioned. If you only paint legal walls, do you. I think it’s corny, personally, but who cares what I thin? Do what makes you happy; it doesn’t bother me.

Any skaters or companies you're psyched on right now?

I pay almost zero attention to current skaters, but I still watch the old classics. I try to stay up on a few of the younger Boston skaters: Will Mazzarri, Ben Tenner, Sway, Brian Reid - all kill it. I try to keep up on Dick Rizzo and Zack May. I don’t pay attention to much currently as far as skating. Too much to keep up with.

 

What writers are you seeing up who you like?

I see a lot of AMFM stuff, all quality writers. Always enjoy seeing any NSF stuff: Dever, Enue, Arek, Pear, Stoe - that whole crew. My Queens boys Dego, Mesk, and the GTK crew crush it for sure. Blasting out end-2-ends. Pier & Grisle, all of the GFR guys put out exceptional graffiti. Gravy has been continuously crushing it for years under multiple different names. Lead & Vism. Anything AOK or RIS is a treat. Always like seeing Altr from Canada. For the most part I pay attention to the real hardcore freight guys that we’re doing it before it was popular. There’s tons of dog shit out there but it just makes the classic styles  stand out more. 

 

 

Any shout outs?

Shout out to anyone that’s ever showed me love, patience, forgiveness, gratitude, appreciativeness, and was genuine to me.  I’ve been very fortunate to have met some really awesome people in my life within my hobbies, and as well as outside them. I’m very grateful for that. Shout out Pope, Ian Johnson, Ando, and all the FTC guys. And my crews ICS, GSB, TVT, MP. Peace.