“Letters are really fresh to me. I also like how its a big, fuck you to the system!”

-PERVE

Introduce yourself, What do you write and where are you from?

I write Perve and I’am from Atlanta,Ga

How long have you been painting? What got you started?

I’ve been painting for 30+ years and what got me started was driving down the highways and streets of Rhode Island/Mass(where I’m originally from), as a young kid with my Mom dukes and Pops and seeing it up. Playing on the train tracks as a kid was also a big influence on my beginnings.

What does “graffiti” mean to you?

Graffiti means everything to me. It’s my love, life, and world. Everyday of my life, graffiti is involved in some aspect. Letters are really fresh to me. I find it fascinating how so many different writers can transform the same letter in all sorts of different variations. I also like how its a big, fuck you to the system.

How do you define “Style”?

Style in my opinion is letter structure and balance. Sometimes being unbalanced with letters is a good thing too. Unorthodox can look fresh as well. Breaking the rules of the norm can be a good thing. It’s a personal expression of yourself. Your style is who you are. Style is something to strive for in graffiti.

What is your proudest achievement (number of spots, something massive etc)?

A couple things off the head I’ll say are my proudest achievements would probably be going all city in Atlanta and Rhode Island. Making a name for myself. Putting in work. Getting down with the crews you’ve looked up to and becoming friends with folks you looked up to from the beginning.

What's your Dream paint spot?

My dream paint spot would be the famous Oakland tracks out in Cali. An early VHS graff video called “Aerosol Warriors” made a big impact on me when I was younger and have always wanted to rock there since.

What keeps you motivated through creative burnout/slumps?

Other writers and DMT

How has graffiti affected your mental health? (finances, relationships, career etc)

Mentally, graffiti is my getaway. A break from the daily routine of work and reality. Graffiti has payed me good and also has broke me with court cases and lawyers. Its ruined probably 97% of my relationships. A real writer is a hard person to be with tbh. Late nights, arrests, missing timeframes with family/friends/gf’s, beefs, and all that fun stuff that comes with it.

Any chase stories or strange encounters while out painting?

The chase story I usually go with is getting hit by the car on rt.85 in Atlanta. Yes. That happened. Lol. The homey Wage had a dope house party one night and the homeys from Chicago were in town. We all got hammer timed and thought it’d be a great idea to roll to this retainer wall right on 85 here in Atl. The retainer wall itself was cramped, so my dumbass decides to hop down right on the highway and do 3 filled in straight letters.

I’m finishing up my 3rd one and I hear the homeys yelling on top of the wall to me. I thought they were on some, “ Yo, you’re crazy type shit.” Wrong. It was loud on the highway and I get to the last line of my last E. My arm goes towards the right to outline and my face meets a cop car with its lights turned off literally next to me. Maybe 3-5 feet away from my legs. They were yelling for me to bounce, not cheering me on! I turn to run across the highway and I get a few lanes in and a car comes around the bend and smacks me. The cop told me later when I woke up in the ambulance on the way to Grady Hospital that a car hit me while running across. I got pics to prove it. No bueno.

I get to the hospital and its a 16 hour wait for a room the staff tells the cop. The cop says fuck that and uncuffs me and says if I can make it home, go. Hands me a card with a date on it and goes. My gf at the time picks me up and starts crying as she turns the corner and first sees me. I looked skinned alive and bumped up and bruised etc. I get home and take a shower. I get to the bed to finally get sleep and start the recovery. My head hits the pillow and there’s a knock on the door. My gf answers the door and tells them Im in bed and cant move. They come into my room and say, “sorry Mr.(my last name), you have to go to jail. I was like you got to be kidding me. “You have to get processed” they say, “We’ll have you in and out so you can get home.” 3 days later…🫤

How do you balance Graffiti with your day to day life?

When its time for work, I work. If its spending time with my gf or fam, I do. When its graffiti time its graffiti time. While doing all those things, graff is still on my mind of course but you gotta figure out your day to day priorities.

What kind of affect has this practice had on your life? Positive or negative? Explain*

Positively it has introduced me to some of my best friends in my life. It has taken me places I probably would never of gone and after years of practice, has given me a talent that the majority of people out there cant do. Negatively it has sent me to jail a bunch, costs me 1000’s and 1000’s of dollars for lawyers and have lost alot of friends in the game.

Where do you hope to see the future of Graffiti?

I hope graffiti becomes more underground and secretive like it used to be before the internet.

If you could give your younger self, day 1 writer any advice.. What would you tell yourself?

Don’t pick a tag named Perve.😉

Who's your favorite writer(s)? Additionally- Any slept on writers we should know about?

My favorite writers that come to mind are Bates, Goser TDK, Kaisy, Wiz, Themo, Wand, Ces, Roler, Stem, FBA Crew, Sever, Ash TC-5, Tich, anything FC. I could go on and on. All the bombers really putting in that work. Props.

Shoutouts:

Shout outs to my graffiti crews, friends, family, enemies, my lady, my puppers, and everyone I met/will meet along this crazy journey.

Bonus: Dream paint session with what writer(s) dead or alive?

Bates, Phase 2, Dondi, Wiot TM7, Drew, Taiko, Kilroy

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Behind the scenes with ATL’s very own: PERVE

“Letters are really fresh to me. I also like how its a big, fuck you to the system!”

-PERVE