Alright so thanks for taking the time out to do this interview, can we get a brief run down of who you are and how long have you been in the game? What crew do you rep and how did you get the name El Souls?
Thank you for your time bro.
I go by El Souls and how I got the name you ask? Well it’s a long a story, but I’ll make it short and sweet. I feel like many people use or have tried using the name Soul, it’s not an original name. I could dive into telling you how spiritual I am or how empathetic, but it’s not the reason why the name stuck.
I was a bright eyed, wild kid from the Bronx. I was into breakdancing and graffiti before I was 14, signature staples of the Bronx of course. I can honestly say that I was first influenced by my siblings. My brother Posk who is 90s writer and my sister who thought graffiti letters. She is not a writer, but she just wanted to impress a boy in class. This peaked my interest I became hungry for writing. In high school I started getting connected to other writers of my generation. It was a rap from there, I was really invested in the culture.
Like many I wrote a couple names before Souls. When I began in the streets I was writing Raz inspired by Taz One, then Suav during the years Sen2 had his graff shop “The Bakery”. Where he would sell paint, artist merch, canvases and shared his backyard with students who would practice and a wall on the roof for writers/legends viewable from the train. In the summer I would attend Sen2’s workshops. I would hop off the uptown train and just to watch writers paint whenever I was lucky to catch them on The Bakery Rooftop.
I was inspired by the quote “the soul of the world speaks” by Unknown and began tagging the phrase everywhere. It just spoke to me! Not long after my father and mom dukes passed away and that inspired me to take the name Souls as a tribute to them and their souls. Meres One also really pushed me to adopt the name. I also have to shout out Meres One for giving me access to locations in order to practice my pieces. Also a shout out to Sloke One for helping me with letter structure and Wane One which suggested adding the “EL” making it El Souls.
I’ll make 12 years with the name and 15 years being a writer. I’m in the OTM crew, FFC, and a member of Writers Bench.
You put a lot of your self into your work, your social and political views for example. On your home page you have a great quote by Jackson Pollock ““Painting is self-discovery. Every good artistspaints what he is”. So my question is what do you hope people who view your work get from it and what have you discovered about yourself along this journey?
I hope that people can see me putting my whole soul out there. Being an artist pushes you to expose your vulnerabilities in the most intimate way. I enjoy sharing my work and being authentic in this world through my art. I’ve discovered it’s really realistic to achieve what you desire with practice and patience.
The quote by Jackson Pollock “Painting is self-discovery. Every good artists paints what he is” was shared by Marie 5pointz the homie. Big shout out to her, she helped me out a lot with my career. The quote is a reflection of what my work portrays and who I am as an artist, always learning, and always being as true as can be.
One of my favorite pieces of yours is the one you did of Dr. King at the Fresh Paint Springfields Mural festival, it looks like you collaborated with quite a few artists for this one. Can you give us the rundown on how this piece went down? It seems like you do a lot of community inspired work, do you see graffiti murals playing a role in community work?
Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech “The Beloved Community” was the inspiration. The wall was painted by Nero KMS and I worked on the portrait of MLK. Nero did the flowers and we collaborated beautifully on this piece. We had support from the community of Springfield, who also contributed their time by painting on polytab, it was beautiful to see.
Yea, I see graffiti murals playing a role in the community. In my experience I found that working with spray paint helps kids with cognitive learning and mobile skills. Murals regardless if they’re of public figures from the community, graffiti productions or wild styles pieces add to the environment. They tell stories, everything from the colors, to the images portrayed can influence a community to have something to look forward to and be a part of. Broadening perspectives from what previously was there to something new and inspiring to see everyday.
For someone who hails from the Bronx, how would you say the graffiti world in the Bronx is similar or different to other places that you’ve traveled? When you travel does it inspire you to bring back something new to the Bronx?
The Bronx is a very special place. I remember that at 4 years old growing up in the Bronx in the 90s, in the Grand concourse area of the Bronx. There were tags and throwies everywhere, from one corner of a building to the next. Hand ball courts completely filled, FX crew productions in the area, I even remember wrecked insides of trains.
Here in New York, most of us grew up in hoods with gang influences all around that took ahold of friends and school mates. The influence of gang culture in many ways set a tone for NYC kids. We walk and talk with a certain demeanor as New Yorkers, in general we can be a little big headed. This is definitely the Mecca and we are very proud. We have a lot of heart, and I can only relate.
Many artist don’t receive their flowers or aren’t given the resources they deserve by the city. A select few do, which is great, but I wish to see a more united front.
In many places when your in the culture – the “hip hop movement” you’re one of them! Even if you’re a toy.
In my experience traveling to Brazil I learned that painting in the streets is legally allowed with out permission from the authorities. Writers get commissioned to paint buildings and are given resources by the government. Not just a street artist.
I would want to bring back that type of unity and embrace to the Bronx and all of NYC.
What is your favorite documentary or book that covers the history or major players of graffiti and why?
The iconic documentary Style Wars. I watched it over and over again. Looking at the pieces and trying to mimic the styles. As a b-boy it drove me to find out more about the b-boys seen in the film. Learning of iconic style writers and pioneers before my time, gave me hope. Even as a kid coming from nothing you can engulf yourself in to your craft and find your own identity. While society is telling you what you can and can’t amount to. A lot of the people in the film “Trail Blazed” found a destiny for themselves, like many others. So much turmoil that came from depriving bipoc/poor communities. Many of which paved a road and are still paving it setting the bar higher and higher.
Btw I still love watching it till this day!
I assume from the amount of work you do that you do this full time, so I’m curious what kind of a mental shift did you have to make to go after this for a full time career? Would you say it is all a matter of faith?
Thank you. I’m close to being full time. I know a lot of work gets put in to it and I’m enjoying the journey. I also teach which is another passion of mine. I feel it’s a must to give back to the youth.
Yes, it’s a matter of faith, believing in yourself plays a big part. I always say if you practice on style writing (straight letters, tags…), bombing, and getting a wild style down. Your painting is what you created over and over again. In my opinion I believe you’ll be able to paint anything if you try. You have to try! It’s almost as if your eyes become the projector. Be open to learning from others, there’s so many styles and pioneers that are alive. Pick someones brain and do the work.
Painting with spray paint is very technical, it definitely enhances cognitive skill, while killing your brain cells and other organs if you never wear a mask. Hehehehe. – When you paint you are working on both sides of the brain, the analytical and the creative. Besides building your creativity the brain is measuring distance from the wall, pressure you put on the nozzle, and the sound of the spritz; is all put in to play.
What’s your go-to hip hop artist to listen to while you’re working? Who would you say is underappreciated in either hip hop or graffiti that deserves more recognition?
Maaagn! I really listen to a lot of music, but I love throwing on Gucci Mane – 16 fever, Gang Starr ft (Nice and Smooth) – Dwynk, and Clipes – Grindin! Bro, I really go around the board and another must when painting is “I Love Music” by Ahmad Jamal, which was sampled by Nas and my salsa music especially in the summer.
Underrated artists that deserves more recognition are people like My Spot, Hef from KMS Crew. Bt Crew members such as Sade, Ovie, Jew, Abe, Soze from Tats Crew, OZBE, MRS HEL GANG, 2Esae, Wen One, Dek2, Andre Trenier, and many more bro. I believe every writer has a place in history.
Thanks again for taking the time out to chat, Any shout outs you would like to give? Where can people follow you and purchase your work?
Thank you my brother! Shout to Meres all of OTM, Wane One/ all of COD, my funky fresh brothers/partners in paint; Image, Modus Lt1st COD , Cro, Smack ONT, 2Esae, the homies from Brasil, Enivo , Binho One, Mono, Mes3, Joabil, PMA and everyone putting in the work bombing and progressing!
I’ll have shirts out soon, along with a fun collectible which you can purchase on my site SoulsNYC.com. So look out for that. You can follow me on IG and Twitter @ SoulsNYC.
Interview by Wesley Edwards
