GOTEM

1:What do you write , how long have you been writing for (year started), and why did you get involved in it ?

i write GOTEM WKT, started writing when i was seventeen years old, back in 2014, my boys sfari, nsure and prada put me on game.

2:How did you get your name?

i used to write radar, one day my boy nsure gave me the name gotem cause i would say it often in certain situations, “HA! GOTEM!”, and i guess i can handle myself quite well so it fit, everyone started calling me gotem instead from there on so i just ran with it.

3: Who were your biggest influences and why?

swerv and wire were an influence, pemex and 3ayem, enuf and orible, and of course my boys i painted with often such as eones and spade.

4: What's your Favorite type of graffiti? bombing is my favorite part of graffiti, quality throws and streetside straights.

5: Do you consider graffiti Hip Hop? and if not where did you pick it up from and what group do you think it falls in?

yeah graffiti is one of the four elements of hip hop.

6: What's your favorite type of music?

i like all kinds of music, top genres are probably rap, country, r&b, and oldies.

7: What's the difference between Graffiti and Gang graffiti to you?

well i believe the graffiti concept came from the gang tags or hit ups back in the day and they just evolved it into what it is now, there are hipster graff writers and there are writers that are from the street, so there’s different types of people in graffiti.

8: Fruity pebbles or coco pebbles?

i’ll go fruity pebbles cause coco puffs over coco pebbles if i’m craving chocolate.

9: Are you in your prime as of right now? And if not, when do you think your prime was?

haha nah i think my prime in graffiti was before i went to prison, caught two strikes so i have to move a lot different now, still gotta year left on parole.

10: What's your favorite city that you have painted and why is it your favorite?

i’ma probably have to go with my hometown oakland, california, or san francisco cause the vibes and the graffiti history.

11: What do you think of people getting jail time for graffiti ?

i mean it is a crime and we know what we’re doing at the end of the day, i don’t feel it should be as serious but it is what it is.

12: Do you still drink 40’s and if so what's your favorite brand to drink?

not 40’s but i do drink beer and a super chavela with pacifico and shrimp always hits the spot haha.

13: How do you feel about the graffiti trend and as well as being used for everything now a days (clothing,lunch boxes , hats , etc…..)

i think it’s cool, especially if the artists are getting paid.

14: Do you have a chase story that people would like to hear one that you almost shit your self during?

i got chased by a berkeley cop and i heard his belt and all his shit rattling and the sound was getting closer and closer until he tackled me haha, they ended up letting me go.