TOKEN & PAS - Interview
Paso is the big homie both figuratively and literally. I’ve known him ever since we were little piss ant kids (well, he was never really little) and though I always thought he was one dude that would never eclipse me in graffiti, in the last few years he has become a complete savage and has quadrupled the meager amount of damage I’ve done. I don’t have any hate for him though, nothing but love. I remember one time a few years back he stood up his parents around Christmas time to go paint trains with me; you gotta admire the kid’s dedication.
In the sickly world of graffiti he is one dude that I can genuinely say has a heart of gold. He is one dude that I know would never snake me and can always expect him to really tell it how it is even if I don’t want to hear it. We’ve been known to give the big mofo hell on occasion but that’s only because we love him so much (and because he’s got a set of hinges tatted on the inside of his elbows). He gave me my favorite tattoo and has spotted me countless cans of paint on many different missions. You know what they say: friends who vomit together stay together. Hell, he even inspires me to get a real job. His M.O. is raw destruction, and he doesn’t care if you don’t like it.
Token is the man as well, and I’ve big upped him on here before but thought that he could join us for this little interview too.
- KAI
KAI1: What do you write? What crews?
Pas: My name is Paso. I write for TKO, DVR, and UK.
Token: I write Token (aka Cuate) and my crews…oh man so many! STM, FBI, LBO, and CWA were my crews in the early 90's. I got into F2 with Repel and he also introduced me to UK which Kai put down with. I also write BY a southwest crew. Strike put me in Desert Blazers and Little Man from Philly put me down with WAB. I’m also in WH (another freight crew).
K: Any other names as toys?
P: I started off writing Pas. My first crew gave me the "O" and it just stuck.
T: I’ve tried them all…shits funny when you look back.
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K: What is the last thing that you stole? How long ago was it?
P: The last thing I stole was some gold shakers and a handful of sharpie markers from the Walgreens up the street the other day. Hahahaha, I wish it was something better.
T: Spray paint in 2003, I try not to steal no more because I have too much to lose!
K: Do you consider yourself to have an over inflated ego?
P: No, I'm humble. I hate everything I've ever created as soon as it’s done. My lady would though.
T: No way, I’m a cool ass mofo.
K: Is graffiti worse than doing drugs? Why?
P: They're a similar line. Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
T: Drugs fuck you up. They make you all stupid in the head. Except weed and beer.
K: Which is more fun? Why?
P: Graffiti always made me feel higher than drugs, but I never smoked crack before so who knows right. I never wanted to find out.
T: If I was younger, they would both be fun.
K: Do you believe that God exists? Why or why not?
P: I’m an atheist. Carbon dating.
T: I do believe in God, it’s a good feeling I get in my heart. There’s also the devil, don’t let him into your heart.
K: Do you think that God hates graffiti?
P: Probably.
T: He’s cool with it.
K: Why do you keep painting?
P: Boredom. Chasing the high.
T: It’s just something I love to do.
K: Aren’t you too old to be doing this shit?
P: Definitely, but no one likes a quitter. Naw, how old is too old? Some lady had a kid at 63.
T: I hate that question, it doesn’t make sense.
K: Do you participate in any of the other 4 elements?
P: 4 elements? Earth, wind, fire, and water? Graffiti doesn’t have much to do with Hip Hop these days I don’t think. Shit look at half of these writers, do they look Hip Hop to you?
T: No, but they’re cool.
K: GG Allin or NWA?
P: Both!!!! But GG over Eazy all damn day.
Token: Who is GG Allin? NWA was fun to listen to. Even better with bass in your car.
K: Whiskey or beer?
P: I’m a Jameson man.
T: Beer, then some whiskey to top it off.
K: When was the last time you slept in the street?
P: I’ve slept in a car before but never on some park bench... I got a lot of friends.
T: I never have. That sucks.
K: Have you ever beat anyone’s ass over graffiti?
P: Hahaha, most people don’t want to fight me. (Pas is a gigantic human being)
T: That was shit we did in the tag banger days. Nothing they didn’t ask for though.
K: What about getting your ass beat?
P: I've been beaten up, but not down.
T: No way, we all had respect. If they tried to get brave I’d just make the devil face and they would back down.
K: Do you believe that graffiti is morally wrong?
P: Whose morals?
T: Hell no.
K: Is graffiti a symptom of underlying emotional problems?
P: Probably.
T: Not for me.
K: Is it wrong to tag on someone’s house?
P: I have.
T: It depends.
K: Is it wrong to tag on a church?
P: Only if it doesn't have a pentagram or a goat's head hanging on it.
T: Well, if the back of it is facing the freeway…
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K: Have you?
P: I've painted an abandoned church before, does that count? The cross was ripped down though.
T: The back was facing the freeway!!!
K: Do you pay taxes?
P: Yeah, I got a real job too.
T: I sure do, not by choice though, it comes out automatically.
K: Do you hope that your kids end up doing graffiti or do you hope they find a real hobby?
P: I don’t know... I hope my kids don’t kill me in my sleep.
T: What ever makes them happy.
K: What artists do you admire?
P: Sam Keith, Tiger, Masamune Shiro… shit, that’s like a few in a list of thousands off the top.
T: My friends and anyone else whose stuff makes me go “Wow, that’s nice”.
K: Anything else?
P: A toast, CHAMPAGNE TO MY REAL FRIENDS AND REAL PAIN TO MY SHAM FRIENDS!
