INTERVIEW BY HECKSTAR

HECK: WHAT DO YOU WRITE AND HOW DID YOU GET YOUR NAME/TAG?

RIST: MY TAG WAS RIST (Rocking In Side Transit). AT THE TIME KIST WAS ROCKING THE LINES, SO THAT MADE ME WANT TO ROCK THE LINES, WHICH IS HOW I CAME UP WITH THE NAME. TODAY I WISH I HAD TAKEN UP A BETTER NAME, LIKE NASTY 1 OR SMART 1.

HECK: WHAT CREWS DO YOU PUSH?

RIST: MY FIRST CREW WAS TBC, THE BAMBU CREW, THEN CAME THE GLENMORE CREW, THE PUBLIC ANIMALS, THE KILLER FOUR AND MANY MANY MORE.

HECK: WHEN DID YOU START WRITING?

RIST: MY FIRST TAG NAME WAS, (CAB) GIVEN TO ME BY VINNY. THIS WAS AROUND 78-79 BUT I DIDN'T START WRITING TILL 1980.

HECK: WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD DID YOU START WRITING IN?

RIST: EAST New York (BK)

HECK: WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THE FIRST TIME YOU DID YOUR FIRST FILLIN, BURNER, OR PEICE?

RIST: I WAS WHACK, COULDN'T PIECE FOR SHIT, BUT I IMPROVED WITH THE YEARS.

HECK: WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A LEGEND IN YOUR EYES?

RIST: THOSE CATS I REMEMBER FROM THE EARLY 70'S WHO BOMBED.

HECK: WOULD YOU SAY YOU GOT INTO GRAFF FOR THE FAME, RESPECT OR SENSE OF SELF-ACHIEVEMENT?

RIST: IT WAS A WAY TO AVOID JOINING OUT LAW GANGS AT THE TIME, SO I DID IT FOR THE POPULARITY AS WELL AS THE FUN OF GOING AGAINST THE NYC TRANSIT SYSTEM.

HECK: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO MAKE PEOPLE RESPECT GRAFF AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU?

RIST: JUST CONTINUE TO BRING IT TO THE PUBLIC AS AN URBAN ART FORM.

HECK: WHO WOULD YOU SAY INFLUENCED YOU TO START BOMBING?

RIST: VINNY & SAINTOP, BAD BID.

HECK: FINAL THOUGHTS?

RIST: I GOT TIRED OF WRITING....LOL

Thanks for taking time to check out the site. Here you will find pics of names you know and names you don't. I just want to thank all those who have sent in pictures, and played a key role in contributing to the site. Hope you enjoy it!