Mike Giant: 1996 interview: "If it doesn't have letters, it's not graffiti."

I spent a lot of time with pre-tattooed Mike Giant in the late 90's working on a graffiti documentary, which was never widely released.This was filmed in San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles. It features stills, doodles, stickers from Mike's sketchbooks, some classic skateboard graphics, live painting with Persue in SD, collabs with Felon and Sope in SF. And a couple shots of Giant's beef with Kept. The main interview was filmed during a wander through SF Chinatown, after a long night hallucinating at a rave. SF was a graffiti wonderland at the time and there are background pieces from legends like Twist, KR, Rem, Bles and a bunch more if you keep your eyes peeled.

[@jt______]

Got to meet Mike Giant when he toured to Australia with the Rebel 8 crew, he blessed my blackbook with the 'Gi' throw and also signed his 'Eternal' book of his that i racked the year previous to meeting him. True graff fashion, no diss, peace to King GIANT!

[@shamm249]

So many styles. Holy shit, dude is nice

[@John-mf6ky]

Probably one of my most favorite writers. Always loved how dude showed love to Chicano culture as well.

[@jaysonstinson9458]

unfortunately my people show way too much love to non-Whites, it never ever goes both ways.

[@Randomizer92mx]

"If it doesn't have letters, it's not graffiti" - nobody should forget that

[@ItsMuddles]

nah thats not true you telling me the reader skull isnt fuckin graffiti?

[@whinipooh8021]

Dillon Jacobson no its not

[@woahitstheillusion9749]

hobo monikers aren't necessarily graffiti my guy

[@joshbarth9469]

Just because it has letters, doesn't mean it's graffiti.

[@thomaswombat4182]

Toys

[@Seamo57]

"Flaming Heterosexual" HA! Classic!! Damn, I feel old now!! I remember that beef w/ Kept! He burned him hard! So dope to see these old flicks! Brings back memories. I'm also from Albuquerque, it's such a dope & extremely rough city, but SF, (especially during the 90's), really had some of the best writers at that time. Many of which were also transplants but, brought so much flavor to SF. FELON, JASE, TWIST, KR, & so many others! Phenomenal time period! Great video!! Mike is such a talented, laid back dude. He's still rockin' letters... maybe less in the streets these days but, incorporating many elements into his work & really having a unique style. He's been doing such sick black-work for years! He should be sponsored by Sharpie yo! I'm not sure if he's still tattooing much these days, but his work translated perfectly to that medium. I think he was really inspired by it & Cholo fonts... they were impossible to miss in "The Burque!" He was a huge inspiration back in the day. The work he did for THINK, etc., & of course in the streets! Honestly, looking back, I think TWIST & GIANT probably had the largest impact on me in the 90's, I loved letters, but I was in love with character art too.

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

I'm not a graffiti guy but I'm pretty good friends with FELON, he's having some rough times but he's still up.

[@SuperDonez]

what was the beef about?

[@sb-qw9mb]

Best graff interview ever made

[@dariuspavlich6575]

this is one of the most interesting I and personally believe one of the most important things about graff......the dude looks like he'd work at a fucken vacuum repair shop or put together computers. But guarantee back in the day I'd I said "yo let's go bombing" he'd be right there

[@thomaswombat4182]

Big call

[@Nick-ny1zq]

vacuum repair shop😂

[@CaidanceDubstep]

Please release the full documentary! Like traveling back in time watching this...

[@air142009]

What’s the name of this doc ?

[@raiden306]

Graffiti is generally defined as writings, drawings, or markings that are created illicitly on public surfaces, such as walls, buildings, or trains, often using spray paint or markers. It originated as a form of street expression and rebellion, particularly in urban environments. Traditionally, graffiti focuses on stylized lettering, tags, and symbols, but it can also include murals, characters, and abstract designs. The key element of graffiti is its often unsanctioned nature and its roots in public or visible spaces, though it has since evolved to include legal works and recognition as an art form in certain contexts.

[@rubenlopez6656]

Seen alot of Giant pieces he's fresh and dope!!much respect 👍👍🔥🔥

[@boblazar9720]

And not a horseshit Banksy piece in sight, ah the good 'ol days....

[@dalazo]

Stencils aren't pieces but I get what you mean fuck Wanksy the RAT.

[@Seamo57]

RIP SOPE!!! Mike has been a phenominal artist for a long FVCKING time! Dayum.. He had mad beef w/ Kept. He ragged that piece hard. Love seeing all this mid 90's SF graff.. TWIST, FELON... mmm mmm good!

[@sergioduenas2583]

Wen I was 16 I usto see he's murals in San-Francisco I really like he's art. He's one my favorite writer's of all time I bought he's clothing rebel8!!!

[@BIGgamez78]

lol he was battling Kept. He went over one of Kept’s pieces early in the video then wrote f*ck Kept. Then around the 7:20 mark in the video he capped another Kept piece and wrote I’m done when you are. lol

[@headcold7250]

I started writing in Albuquerque. Funny how now a "writer" who just posts videos on social media gets worshipped and this guy was just talking about dope photos and jobs he earned. Graffiti used to be so esoteric and personal pride was shown merely through skill and ups, now it's just subscribers and bullshit.

[@attentionwarrior3632]

headcoLd 7 lol its only subscribers and bullshit if you hang out on youtube and social media, your fault?

[@WalterWhite-qp2iq]

What you writee

[@thomaswombat4182]

@@attentionwarrior3632 lol he's that dumb he's complaining about how dumb he is.

[@Oldf0x]

I hung and painted with Giant the following year (I think) in London. Such a flashback!

[@Rockmanz_Worldz]

Mike is an old homie from Albuquerque..... GIANT 4 LIFE!!! Hells yeah, this is great.

[@cam4617]

seems like a chill dude

[@gutierrezp49]

Cam I love dirty rotten imbeciles

[@raiden306]

Every definition of graffiti includes drawings so i dont know what yall are talking about.

[@bryantvaldez1430]

the twisto in the background at 4:28

[@SethHesio]

Who's Twisto?

[@blakedixon6775]

The fuck mate

[@TrainOp213]

Not to mention kr and bles

[@whoizyou2047]

wasabi flavored i

[@rust-0hspray156]

@@TrainOp213 yup but giant burned that wall compared to the other guys right next to the bank of America tower wooo

[@dillwill1813]

always on of my favorite writers.

[@BLAZENYCBLACKOPS]

Absolute beast, mad love from NYC.

[@denoske5776]

yo this guy seems so chill and big nerd I love it I want him as a partner

[@ashlong3855]

Mad to see what this guys like now

[@airsofter2247]

Awesome rare video, nice work

[@millhouseforever]

This dude in San Diego now. Real cool cat

[@BucksawBoushh]

He’s a funny dude. Mad personality.

[@raiden306]

writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place.

[@BlackThoughtsTV]

I wish i was old enough during this time i missed out.

[@jdoc9790]

skillz with the letters and style🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@raiden306]

usually unlawful writing or drawing on a public surface. Graffiti.

[@zew1414]

Man yo back in those days I fucking hated that prototypical West Coast style that almost everyone seemed to copy and paste (and that was a big problem in graffiti then) but dudes like Giant and Twister always just rose above. They def had more of a NJ, especially Jersey City NJ flare to their styles. And I think that was one of the main reason he was universally respected! He never ever painted like anyone else but many tried and failed to paint like him that's for fucking sure! Zew1 FR/OUT/CTYC/666 Newark, NJ ✌️

[@novelaego2404]

whats the nj style?

[@qb8799]

Back when you were actually required to have skill to do graffiti

[@natethekidd9355]

Frfr

[@kadeenmadeit1069]

still do

[@Respect13874]

I don’t understand? Not much has changed

[@tyrone1dotcalm]

Nice Work

[@jessecockrum5273]

Look at his 90s skater pants

[@cristianleon2452]

Always on top

[@jamesnavarrete2039]

TheeLegendaryPenis aaaaaa

[@romerockrok-boi5563]

Graffity artist make the hood look buetiful

[@braksuper]

cool archives

[@mastaroshi23]

Nakey jakey as a writter Just jokes, Giants a living legend 🔥

[@tonysegal288]

I remember those skateboard decks.

[@hugo7762]

very inspiring style

[@gavinbalke9139]

Andrea the giant right in the beginning

[@CursetheVandal]

This guys demeanour is awesome ahaha

[@brettnaegele158]

I know Giant from Albuquerque back in the day

[@biosfearmag]

Towards the end of SF's golden era. Would love to see Reminisce get more attention.

[@TrainOp213]

I miss this SF

[@justinsalum]

who woulda' thought Ryan Phillippe would grow up to be Mike Giant

[@robserrano8971]

Hahahahahahaha

[@anthonydavis1894]

Big ups Giant... Writers Worldwide

[@LSDEM0N]

Yooo so this is one of the guys painting in the first baker video

[@mediaexplosion]

I don’t remember that, but Strickland and I are tight and he sampled some footage. I don’t recall which clips anymore.

[@oldlongjahnsen5884]

this is so awesome. any way to get a copy of that documentary?

[@mediaexplosion]

August Williams Sorry for the late reply. You can download it on Vimeo or use a video converter (youtuberipper). Thank you for your interest.

[@mediaexplosion]

August Williams The full video was never released or finished. The majority of the segments are on my YT or Vimeo, a couple were pulled for music violations.

[@strayanvoyager1373]

get the full shit done maneee

[@brandobee3932]

90s shit is the best shit

[@evilskwerl]

Mikey got tired of selling those encyclopedia brittanicas. True legend right here

[@John-mf6ky]

Giant has some of the sickest hands and throws

[@neildelacruz5729]

Mike's mannerisms and looks remind me a lot of David Cross. Is the original documentary up anywhere online in it's entirety?

[@mikebe9919]

Very nice.

[@Bafangool_Fool]

Frisco shit hella dope

[@doobtubes]

Raw af hella dope

[@andrewbellavie795]

I am also fond of muff Giant

[@mickeydiesel]

Rip Sope

[@persue1919]

WOW!

[@jonalvy9126]

Ur a very talented graffiti artist/vandal great pieces love the giantone block letter love to see west coast doing easy coast CEO1 BXNYC ☠️

[@thefishisraw117]

4:29 TWISTO

[@r.dylanevans59]

Dope video.

[@obeekrow7295]

ALBUQUERQUE, NM!!!!!!!!!!!

[@qwerteken]

He has beef with Kepts?

[@joaopaulovieirachu6022]

did not know much liked the style showed talent ... Does anyone know when this recording is?

[@weace8466]

"i am uhh qquite fond of muff" lol

[@mrjoe6257]

respect

[@elijahmiller6187]

How did the beef with kept start

[@fishead99]

Kept went over his tags

[@brandobee2264]

Shepard Fairy crying in the corner somewhere 😂😂

[@sirzippy3043]

Did Shepard fairy steal giant?

[@gypsytears1785]

Love Giant …. Big ups Burque 505 ;)

[@michal_hajduk]

May I ask what camera did you use it this time? Thank you!

[@mediaexplosion]

Hahahahaha. Why do you want to know? The interview was shot in San Francisco on a consumer level Sony Hi-8 camera with a cheap fisheye. The opening scene and the closer were shot in San Diego on a Canon Elura Mini-DV with a better fisheye. Some of the the pieces were shot in SF, LA, SD, Denver, etc. Eventually I had a PD-150 with a Century Optics deathlens. I did a lot of work in FCP to make it widescreen, and enhance the color, frame rate, etc. Tech talk over.

[@michal_hajduk]

Thank you :D I was just curious because love the looks of that era graffiti and skate vidoes and such, and I do my own little camera research :D hope there will be some more materials from you here

[@StonySoprano420]

can control on point

[@graffaholics198]

Bay Area Legend Giant!

[@zjygkmatt]

pretty dope song -from America.

[@D1rty.Throwz]

Best type of righter

[@air142009]

What’s the name of this doc ?

[@azumanguy]

Don't let anybody tell you you're a fool--you probably are

[@chetrok1]

dope

[@mattmatthew]

sounds like asia born on the soundtrack there

[@diegopadilla5623]

he has dope peacing styles

[@domnickjoe505t4]

Albuquerque nm s/o to the giant one!

[@unratedtidepods5901]

Clean

[@illagen1]

Top legend Giant !!

[@m.oldani]

Dont try and take out a shottie!. Peace.

[@rust-0hspray156]

I wouldn't mind having some k mart paint haha

[@dontcomply5008]

Dudes fresh yo.

[@lowbrow_industriez]

💯🔥🖌️🤘💀😎

[@potrebitelskoime8286]

What is that documentary

[@Jack-nn6gn]

why he look like freddie dredd

[@theicebergs1]

Rad!!!!

[@3Sblood]

whato movie is this

[@mickeyshuman723]

Music??

[@mediaexplosion]

Latryx "Burnt Pride" Check out Shazam sometime.

[@DR-xt9ux]

1:50 you know you’re in San Fran

[@docmobster618]

is there any way you put it on a usb and sell it to me?

[@mediaexplosion]

Burqueno gangsteR Sorry for the late reply. You can download it on Vimeo.

[@coopsone5509]

💯

[@NineteenEighty8]

He's not wrong.

[@ELCAS619]

I’m not a graffiti artist 👨‍🎨 I’m a damn street vandal 💯🤷‍♂️

[@Gretathunbergsfart]

My shit is a character, fight me if you don’t like it.

[@dalazo]

Do whatever but don't get salty when writers go over it. Characters are fine its just not Graff.

[@leftysouthpawofdetttth7340]

👑👑👑👑👑