Something that I loved from the 80s wasn’t the stereotypical fashions associated with mainstream Hip Hop, but the classic army cap New York style of Futura for example. There were people who took this look, old unknown first generation graffiti artists who went into professional careers in other fields into the future. I would literally see one dude who really looked after himself sporting that stylish 80s look when my daughter was around 7 years old.

He lived in the area at the time and he was what my daughter and friends would call these days full of ‘swag’ lol. To me he was the epitome of a long gone era and I remembered seeing him in big money traps in the 90s that I could only frequent when my Austudy arrived. I saw him in the late 80s too at clubs. That look to me is timeless and it isn’t tacky. I am probably quite a bit younger than him and I don’t know his history. He was just a classic stylish dude.

I want to be him but still painting walls, funnily enough that admiration I always had of him and that finesse arrived in the post lol. It was like the finishing touch to what I feel has been a difficult but beautiful life. When I was still firing on all cylinders I had a grudge that heaps of my old school  heroes gave up graffiti. I was like what are you guys too good for us plebs still in the game? I didn’t understand the challenges that some people face.

I had plenty of challenges in the past and I developed schizophrenia at the peak of my life. I was basically fucked but through hanging on to the little I had I managed to build something over time. I basically worked and kept cash flow so I could keep being creative. I was a wage slave and probably still am but instead of overseas holidays I at least bought a property out of Sydney. I have learned a lot of skills in different fields, not for money but just to learn and grow. I think knowledge is never wasted.

Since getting out of illegal graffiti some time ago I understand that life is pretty complex and has a lot of surprises. I am lucky that if I get a pain or blockage for example I know what Qigong moves and dietary change will fix it. Some full body sets of moves are very sweaty and I sometimes try to avoid and live with the blockage if it’s not too annoying. Then I will cave and just sweat it out and make the changes. I have spent thousands of dollars to learn Qigong over thirteen years. Some expensive books have knowledge you won’t get outside of an institution. Invest in knowledge and yourself.