In our recent installment of the ‘Hip Hop is 50’ series on Hard Knock Radio, we had the incredible opportunity to interview the legendary Hip Hop icon and aerosol art pioneer, Shirt King Phade. During our conversation, we delved into a wide range of subjects surrounding the history of graffiti and Phade’s profound influence on street fashion and aerosol art.
Phade eloquently articulated the inherent connection between graffiti and Hip Hop, refuting the misconception that graffiti was not initially a part of the early block party scene that birthed the Hip Hop culture. He shed light on the racial dynamics present in the early Hip Hop scene, highlighting the existence of white kids who were involved in graffiti but not necessarily connected to the Hip Hop movement. Moreover, he emphasized the multicultural aspect of graffiti, where individuals from diverse backgrounds aligned themselves with Hip Hop. Phade also shared his personal relationship with Hip Hop pioneer Phase 2 and the lineage of Black writers he inspired and nurtured.
Our discussion with Phade also covered the contributions of legendary artists who surrounded him throughout the years. He emphasized the significance of the infamous Writers Bench on 149th Street and Grand Concourse, which served as a hub for graffiti artists, elevating their craft and fostering creativity. Phade vividly described the typical nights spent bombing trains, reminiscing about an era without cellphones and advanced technology.
Furthermore, Phade provided insight into the process of assembling a design team, highlighting the specific roles individuals played and how they acquired their paint supplies. He touched upon the innovative techniques they employed to scale up their outlines from paper to trains. Phade emphasized the importance of technical skills combined with free-flowing creativity and the dues one had to pay to paint with legendary artists.
Phade shared his personal journey of starting as an airbrush artist on t-shirts, which eventually evolved into a thriving business, earning him the moniker ‘Shirt King.’ Drawing from his experiences in street hustling, Phade applied lessons learned to the business realm. He credited Andrew Cole, the owner of an art gallery, as a pivotal influence in his understanding of business mechanics. Phade recounted how Cole’s assembly-line approach, where different artists contributed to the replication of paintings for sale, inspired him to establish his own successful business. Initially rooted in Harlem, Shirt King Phade firmly established himself on Jamaica Avenue in Queens.
Refa 1, a legendary graffiti artist from the Bay Area, praised Shirt King Phade’s influence beyond New York City, expressing personal inspiration derived from Phade’s work. Refa 1 mentioned how he, too, began incorporating artwork onto clothing for his friends and individuals in the Bay Area, inspired by Shirt King Phade’s pioneering efforts.
In conclusion, our conversation with Shirt King Phade left us in awe of his immense impact on the world of Hip Hop fashion. It also shed light on the rich history of graffiti and its intrinsic ties to the Hip Hop movement. Phade’s story, chronicled in his book ‘Shirt Kings: Pioneers of Hip Hop Fashion,’ serves as a testament to his enduring legacy and contributions to the culture that continues to thrive today.
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