Hello My Name Is: MinOne [RTW]

Name: MinOne aka (NE)
Crew: President of RTW (Roc the World/Roc the Women/Rolling Thunder Writers)
City/Country: New York City, U.S.A.

When did you start writing: I started writing in 1977 when I was 12 years old. Growing up, I rode the trains with my father and was intrigued by the tags featured on the insides.

What’s graffiti for you: Graffiti has always been a means of self-expression. It was always amazing to me that my artwork would travel all over the city for people to see. Additionally, I left home at a very early age and graffiti (plus the people involved) became my family and the yards were my home.

Influences: Writers like JESTER ONE, LSD OM, ROTO were a big influence on me and inspired me to get my start. Also, many of my friends who I looked up to (who have now passed on) were big influences like SHY 147, IZ THE WIZ and DONDI CIA to name a few.

Quantity vs quality:  Back in the day it was about doing everything—insides, outsides, throw ups, wild styles, top to bottom end to end straight letters and window down end to end straight letters. I used to do between 250-400 throw ups a night till I officially retired on New Years Eve 1985.

What keeps you writing: These days I don’t do anything illegal—everything is commissioned artwork on canvas, tags in black books, drawings and pieces for art shows.

Future plans: I’ve been working on a lot of canvases for fans around the world and am most excited about my book, MIN ONE: 2nd TO NONE ALL TIME TRUE LEGEND coming out later this year.

Instagram: @minonetruelegend