Whiz 3 Interview @149st

WHIZ 3 INTERVIEW

©2004 @149st Do not republish without permission.

Where and what year did you start writing on trains?
I began writing in November 1975 on the 4 line lay-ups in 176th Street with BOC 707.

What inspired you to become involved in writing?
STAY HIGH 149! I seen him tagging in a 3rd Avenue line car while the train was in motion.

Did you have a mentor?
Well BOC was the guy that I thought had alot of style and HIP 1.

Who influenced your style?
BOC, SCHICK and WASP 1. Although, I wasn't the burner type artist like BOC, SCHICK and WASP were, I did have over 200 pieces.

How did you get your name and number?
I took the name Whiz because of the Z in Whiz. The number (3) is short for 183rd.

List all the other names under which you have painted?
WHIZ 3, and HENRY.

What borough are you originally from and what area?
I am originally from Manhattan, Spanish Harlem 119th and Pleasant Avenue. Moved in the mid Ô60s to the Bronx.

What made your area of the city special?
The people in the neighborhood and my crew, the 12 O'clock Crew, for which we had great times. I was also DJ WHIZ for the crew.and look out soon for my T12OCC Web site coming soon.

What lines have you hit?
I hit of course the 4, 2, 5, 1, 3, 6 and the PATH Trains I did a top-to-bottom on the 33rd Street train with my buddy KOOL-BIRD and I've done window downs as well and the buses in The Bronx, I bombed the buses with mini throw-ups on the side.

Tell us about the first time you went to a yard or lay-up.
I remember going with BOC and doing my first piece then the next day was excited to see my name running past me on the 4 line and I was hooked.

Who were your most successful partners?
KOOL BIRD and WASP1.

What crews have you written for?
The 12 O'clock Crew, Salsa, The Crazy Artist, Latin Action.

Did you have any memorable conflicts with other writers on the subway?
Yes with my ex-friend MITCH 77, he swore I went over his name on the side of some building. I found out then who were my real partners.

Where were your favorite locations to paint?
My favorite places were the 4 line near Kingsbridge, Fordham and 176th Street lay-ups.

Any good raid stories?
I remember I was with RAT and KOOL BIRD were at the Kingsidge lay-up when all of a sudden here came Hickey and Ski and they called out our names we went sliding down the poles then waved at them when we reached the streets.It turned out PEABODY 170 dropped a dime on us.

Who were the main cops when you were writing?
Hickey and Ski. I got to meet them thanks to PEABODY 170 when he set me up for a second time.

Did you go to Atlantic Avenue, 149th Street or any of the other writers benches and if so do you have any interesting memories?
When I went, I usually would stop by at 149th Street.

Who were the top writers from your area?
It was WASP 1, EDDIE 80, TRACY 168, NOC 167, BLUE BEARD 183, SCHICK, KOOL BIRD, TUE, FDT-56, KID 56, BEST 149, LI, CRASH and DAZE.

Are there any writers of your era that you feel need more acknowledgement in history?
EDDIE 80, KOOL BIRD, A writer which LEE introduced me to SEC which was kicking ass and RAT 1,and don't forget the bus boys and the guys that I remember that were LEE's neighborhood projects, friends and artist those guys had style.

When did you quit painting trains?
September 1978 with a piece called HENRY and besides it was taking away from my DJing time.

How do you feel about the state of writing today?
I still doodle graffiti and I feel it looks nice on canvas and art paper but not all over buildings although I went to Las Vegas and seen what LEE did over in the New York, New York Casino.

Any closing words?
Graffiti was nice while it lasted on the trains, but then came Rap music and graffiti seemed to have died.

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