Miami Graffiti

 July 2009
1) What do you write and what crews do you represent?

Rage and Heinz. I'm with the art collective group "INKHEADS". (The crew that put Miami on the map worldwide). I'm also the president of RB (Risky Business). In previous years, I rocked crews such as COF (Choking On Fumes), SMB (South Miami Bombers), INC. (Illustrators Not Criminals), USA (Un-Stoppable Artists), ATOM & HOT (Artist Taking Over Miami / Hands Of Talent), TPB (Team Publix Boy), STV (Specialized To Vandalized), and FA (Free Agents).

2) Where did you get your tag? Any special meaning behind it?

I had a very bad anger problem as a kid. I hated life. Smashing windows, watch out son! No, just kidding. I took the name Rage in 1988 from my best friend that I grew up with. He was over the whole graff thing around 1988. So when he retired the name, that's when I took over. He used to write it back in 1984. At that time I wrote Snag and Jinx - (everyone wanted a tag that started with the letter 'S'). So I came up with Snag, but before that I wrote KID KOOL AID. It's a pretty funny name and it shows how young I was. Still drinking that sugar and water. Yummy...

3) When did you start writing and what were some of your early influences?

I started writing in late 1983/early 1984. I was 12 years of age, just moving from the ghetto of Richmond Heights (Perrine) to the other side of the tracks called Pine Crest. I still went to school over there, so I was still exposed to writers such as Icey, See and Say, Mega, Renner, Name 189, and Glove. The neighborhood I mostly chilled at was the Arvida/Devon Aire area because my parents friends lived over there and that's where I got into most of my trouble.

4) What was your favorite Penit/Wall/Spot and why?

Malibu Penit was the most convenient Penit for me, and it had fresh clean walls (ABOMB & JINX found it). But the Fountainbleau Penit was pretty much a place where you could see the new phenomena called Graffiti at its best. Good Memories.

5) Is there any crazy story that sticks out in your mind from days at that Spot?

So...so... many.

6) Name a Miami writers work that you respect a lot (thats not in your crew/associated crews) and why?

I'm definitely feeling the FDC CREW especially REKAL. He's rockin very nice pieces. JUNK, QUAKE, and ATOMIK are doing their thing. As bombing goes, I give it to DUNCE. Hes got a certain oldschool flair when he gets busy. And EDGE for having big balls and having great letters in his name. Haha...

For the oldschool I have to say GLOVE FA for his wildstyle productions and on the street bombing tip it would be MERO, ICEY, NAME189, and KING MEER. Mostly Perrine and Cutler Ridge writers. I wish I could meet that dude NAME189.

Ps. And The award for the most all around b-boy goes to MEGA ATBO.

7) Any good stories about a time you got chased or busted?

Yeah!!! Being followed by Undercover cops from Kendall station 5 for months. When they finally caught me jumping from a two story building on US1, where Peaches Record & Tapes was. They took me into the station and threw a big party and had me pose for photos with them. (Kind of like when a fisherman catches a fish). Smile!!! Say Cheese! The main copper in charge actually arrested my dad when he was in high school as well. His name was Henry Wright. No joke!! Crazy!!

8) Whats the biggest problem with Toys nowadays?

Nothing, just inexperience. Patience my friends...

9) Tell me about the buff crew named after you?

R- RESIDENCE
A- AGAINST
G- GRAFFITI
E- EVERYWHERE

I was killing it pretty good in the late 1980's and early 1990's. This dude Bill Spiegel started an ANTI-Graffiti Company named after me. They even had orange cones with the stencil R.A.G.E. on it, plus a full on wrapped graphic van as well. If anyone has photos of that. I'll pay $$$!!!

10) What do you think of the Graf Scene in South Florida and Where do you think its headed?

Man... I live in NYC now, but when I come down to visit I'm like "Damn... the city of Miami finally won." There's barely any street bombing going on and I know if you wreck shit they'll be at your front door. It's sad to say.

R.I.P. - SAR/A5, SCAN/ATA, AND ENER/TKO/WOW...

www.ragejohnson.com
www.ragejohnson.blogspot.com
www.miamibass.com


Some feature flicks of Rage:


Rage 1985


Rage Article 1990


Rage NYC Rooftop


Rage 2004


Rage 2007


Rage


Inkheads


Miami Bass