Anyone Recognize this artist?

Cope2“I was born in the South Bronx.

The home, the motherland, the Mecca of hip hop. I started writing graffiti back in 78-79. Influenced by my

cousin Chris. He tagged Chico. He wasn’t a huge writer, just a local. I

remember him always having a huge marker called a Pilot. He always had it in his drawer. At times I would take it when he wasn’t home, go under the

stairs or the rooftop of my grandmothers building and just tag

my nickname (Nano). Then in 1979-80 my cousin took me on the

subways… “

Cope2

Cope2

Bronx Mural 2010

Cope2

Cope2 and Buff MonsterMiami 2011

Cope2

Cope2The 4 train was in my neighborhood. I remember taking the

back car from Mosholou Parkway to the last stop (Woodlawn Rd). As soon as the doors would close he would make sure

the last car was empty and just start tagging all over the train. On the ceilings, the doors even the subway maps. I remember seeing other tags on the insides. Writers like Ban2, 2Rape, Ojab, Die, Lie, Duro, Dondi, Duel, Base2, Zephyr, Fuzz

one, just to name a few…

Cope2My mother and I traveled quite a bit on the subways and I was always looking at the outsides, seeing huge names really blew my head. The writers I remember were Fritos, Mark198, Dr. Pepper,

Killer56, Comet, Blade, Popeye, Tracy168,

Deli167 (who was Ban2), Lee, Seen, Pjay,P-nut2, Medisco92 and my idol Mitch77. That’s what

really inspired me to get deeper into graffiti

Cope2 installing his work at El Museo

The artist

One of his artist assistants

An Assistant

Cope2 - the mural progresses

In Progress

Cope2…still going…

The Artist again