Mike Giant-Handstyle History Lesson

Summer of 2012 had Mike G in NYC for the Klughaus /King Brown show. Mike Giant and I sat down and got personal with his style history. Thanks as always to Mike, the gentle giant, always willing to share.

[@GRIMACEHASH]

Homie pays homage. Much respect

[@kvnvlljo6703]

Xxxxxxx555555555565552wz 0

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

@@kvnvlljo6703 wt actual fuck guy

[@europeanshaman]

Fuckin right. My favorite artist since a kid! Realest to ever do it

[@rafaelchavez5664]

I got emotional watching this. To see Mike Giant reference teen angel magazine and credit the cholo style as a major influence to his art makes me proud. Califasx3

[@baywood213]

Rafael Chavez , carnal I am working on a DOCUMENTARY on PLACAZOS

[@blackandyellow7965]

Rafael Chavez search for Denver graffiti artist

[@narzq]

his name is hick...ers!!!! lmao. teen angel wasn't meant for anyone not living that lifestyle. I'm not talking about the art style within, but the publication itself. they were messages hidden within that only those in that world were supposed to know. that's why giant wasn't quickly entrusted with that info.

[@kvnvlljo6703]

@@marioeggs2464 ..ññññññ.ñ.ñ.ñ.ññññ. .. .ñ..ñ ñ ññ Ñ Ñ

[@drnatural6617]

I don’t fuck with Skraps but shit this just KZbin props to you man.

[@Beatjoy5511]

This is what I love to see. Culture, history, and passing knowledge from an og to those who wish to learn. Much love!

[@Seamo57]

Great video. I'm a little younger than Mike & also grew up in the Burque. It's a beautiful but extremely rough city, especially if you were white! Where I lived, I was the minority... During the 80's & until I moved away in early 90's, I remember seeing tons of Cholo writing, placas, roll-calls, it was everywhere & always fascinated me, even as a kid! Cholo writing has such a rich history & has far older roots than traditional graffiti (which started in Philly). Most people don't realize how old it actually is... It's older than spray paint!!! I think it's pretty dope the way many older writers adopted it & some made/make some really nice hybrid scripts. It's definitely quite popular in the West & South West. I love those fonts & typography in general. I grabbed that book "Flip The Script" the day it dropped (AND I SUGGEST YOU DO TOO)!!! It features so many great hand-styles & alphabets from influential, legendary writers. I do think it's sad that besides Philly, most cities have not retained their regional hand-styles. Back in the day, Graffiti was handed down from older writers to younger ones. Not just the letters, but everything about the life & culture, how to appropriate caps from non-spray paint, like "Jifoam" oven cleaner, to use as fat caps & "Testors" for thin-caps, etc.. This was long before you could just order any number of specialized caps online. As much as I do love having the internet, it's been a double-edged sword for graffiti. It's watered down regional styles, it's given un unrealistic views of who's actually producing the most work in the streets, etc. However, it's also brought so many writers together who would otherwise have no communication. It's exposed people to styles they may have never seen unless they visited other cities. Obviously, there are many more pros & cons, but I really got off-topic... **The ramblings of an old man... The point I'm trying to get across: LEARN YOUR HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@zeod89]

Seamo One - Seamonster - I’m from the 505 myself & we got a good graff scene and great writers down here, I mean it’s not as hype as bigger cities and is cleaned or buffed quickly but there’s some dope graff in NM

[@AvoidAvoid]

Much respect to the legendary Mike Giant. Thanks for the post, Handselecta.

[@John-mf6ky]

I love how much respect this dude pays to these styles. These styles of fonts and Pixacao are fascinating.

[@deepblueseeds5563]

Everyone derived their style from something. One of the most unique writers that I ever saw pop up in my city and anywhere was Feeceez. That dude didn’t take those flourishes and all that stuff from anyone I ever saw he created that style himself and it’s fire. tags that look like they’re blasting off into space and shit no one in fl could compete with those hands.

[@uglyfb9133]

Always and forever respect the GIANT legend mike

[@MisterSicOne]

I passed thru Palm Springs a few years back , looked over at the trains and saw a bad ass " Giant " throwup. his throwups are legendary. all style ! nobody can hate on Mike Giant ! he has been out there over 2 decades or more in the yards , getting up !

[@didyouseethatunicorn]

god damn handstyles for days on end...wizardry

[@edawgyoniga]

He's totally right about kids learning handstyles and lettering off the net. Where I'm from there was only 2 other writers in my town before I started and I've basically just tried to morph letters into something new from what I've seen online. I've never had a mentor or even a crew, I like being a lone wolf. Much less stress. Now a days there's probably 15 writers now who are up all of the time, it's taken about 10 years but things are growing and it's nice to see kids progress. Much love to

[@celestevera1267]

This was beautiful

[@hotsaucejones]

so true about learning on the internet n how different it is, compared to having peers and learning a certain unique style

[@solace881]

GIANT is a Legend! One of my biggest inspirations

[@graffaholics198]

It always starts with a handstyle. Mad props to Giant!

[@fritzki1]

Found it and actually ordered it, it looks dope! Thanks

[@John-mf6ky]

Man, I wish we could get some more videos like this. I love the book, but these videos are a treasure trove.

[@handselecta]

Glad you like them!

[@hslhrd707]

Much Respect. A legend.

[@crackdenken134]

I've watched this a hundred times

[@SethFX]

amazing handstyle

[@mcgeehan07]

giant got one of the dopest and original handstyles out there

[@rich_tonz2slumped465]

Damn so much respect out here in the 505 la nueva

[@nuyorican91st]

Dope shit that reverse new york style at the end. Word up son mad ill

[@djtwelvetwenty2939]

sick style

[@hermanmelville3871]

This is what mastery looks like.

[@uses0ap]

always on top

[@nortebynature1]

this book is gonna be bangin

[@Donut.79]

Great content

[@braindeadbrat5126]

This guy would be awesome to draw,chill and have a joint with.

[@jaiversubiajr8921]

where can we get his book of fonts at i really love his artwork and i look up to this dude

[@yommish]

so cool

[@james.w]

Wow this guy has so many styles under his belt.

[@rodolfoalfredoreyes4003]

Definetly posted a like..Much respect.

[@finnleavitt1888]

Bro you got skillz

[@klf97]

Holy shit that looks so dope!! god damn

[@lonerblader85]

sweet video. there's some pretty bad audio, but I love the ambient soundtrack.

[@BAYNC]

mik giant is on my short list for favorite handstyles...It looks like pichacao graf mixed with deep cholo. Love the stuff man, never stop.

[@miguelalbarran5706]

love how u know about pichacao, brazillian style graff is the shit.. it lowkey looks satanic to me, lol

[@miguelalbarran5706]

not that im into satan or anything. im with Jesu Cristo all day

[@caivsivlivs]

whoa thats crazy i just heard a podcast someone else talking about getting their alphabet from the lowrider table of contents page haha

[@unglemergy]

thx giant

[@TwoTwentyTwoCreative]

Sick Style

[@onlyusememontana]

Whatup, one of your stickers was in a belgian paper this week. It was a picture of David Bowie i think and next to him was a pole with a sticker saying: "Handselecta Flip The Script"

[@jonjesrodriguez2915]

man dude fuk yeah I've always loved it I love seeing it very where I go you know...I'm just getting into it personally and this shit is bad ass fuking inspiring.go hard dude.

[@PaintSlanga]

I was just in an art show with Mr. Went today.

[@KILLAHGHOSTFACE]

I love the sound of marker on paper

[@kevysasa]

Nice bro

[@sara5290]

I like this type

[@jazorvrs8008]

Boss! 👌🏽

[@titobalkani8240]

dope

[@carlitocacf]

Dudes dope still..

[@Core_Four]

2:50 use that PACHUCO cross ke chingon hahahaha

[@cdepew1]

Good luck finding one. Now a days it seems ones so quick to judge because someone got a style online or something when in reality most just have to way to be taught

[@Starvingdead7]

Raw hand styles. Fucken marker makes me shiver

[@freehugforadollar]

This guy designed my snowboard.

[@stalkingself]

I think of it as urban calligraphy ;)

[@baywood213]

stalkingself It is urban calligraphy from Mexican American form the Southwest of the United States. It is know as Placas or Cholo writing.

[@punckbishlaper6195]

Your dumb as hell ,you white people call everything is non whites URBAN ,it's Chicano arte ,from the streets to the prison ,this guy fake giant is out here stealing culture making money of it ,fuck him

[@ibebangin8101]

Nice

[@fritzki1]

sorry mate, been living under a rock the last few weeks due to work and very tired due to it, thats why i might actually not see the obvious right now, but what book is this?

[@gamereplays9837]

This shits dope

[@sucr128]

dope dope dope

[@sigloe9360]

Neat

[@joeb5678]

2:00 Chiques!!! That’s Oxnard Ca !!! My home town !

[@SO10mm]

Hahahaha oxnard smells like shit homie.

[@joeb5678]

@@SO10mm just like your mom lame

[@donttriptv8144]

S/O to the SAVKrew in Oxnard 805.

[@gregdiaz930]

OG

[@sirestickers8455]

He does the art for rebel 8

[@sinduda]

Thats interesting.. any links?

[@ammaryasser1984]

CHECK OUT THIS VID :BEST GRAFFITI HANDSTYLES COMPILATION #2 (GRAFFITI TAGS ) kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHPRo5mNjpJ_jJo

[@danielpozos7581]

Simon carnal!!! Everyone jacks our Chicano/Mexicano culture. At least he says where it comes from!!

[@jessee7334]

Lookit the jealous Losers griping about a culture they know little or nothing about; I doubt you even write... Apart from a few elementary raps on Fb or IG

[@tristanarcelona]

How’s New Mexico? How are the caves?

[@hardhead208]

Mike giant is a hand style legend! If your hating its because you're a wanna be

[@punckbishlaper6195]

hardhead208 his hairstyle is stolen from the Mexican American cholo culture ,he's no legend his a fraud ,you must not be from the west coast

[@sucr128]

he's a good handstyler

[@dailyyy_]

@@punckbishlaper6195 his hairstyle yea

[@user-kahsnani]

@@dailyyy_ L0L

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

@@punckbishlaper6195 it’s borrowed you cry baby

[@devindarkchocolate]

What song is playing @6:11?

[@rodolfoalfredoreyes4003]

Giant one has some skills.

[@yazo1]

damn... he can write his name for dayz

[@Core_Four]

i was the same way got introduced to gang graffiti before any other style

[@dropaholic318]

What's up with the flip the script book

[@subconsciousthoughts1166]

dang, I would love to learn from him and those before him.

[@marcosvalencia21]

You should learn from him cuz you white.

[@litchbizard]

1:42, DOPE.

[@eastonwoodhead8565]

mike giant is king..hes emulated n then progressed far beyond any biter....every comment on this post is twice as pretentious as it is ignorant

[@BadmonKen]

Hm.... U just realized that I had a lowrider mag years ago. It had buggs bunny and daffy in it. Lol now that I know what it was i regret losing it

[@lakerlogic9538]

Legit

[@sara5290]

what type of marker

[@epi4925]

R.I.P Task One aka Sway TXS,CDI,UKS. Albuquerque, New Mexico 505.

[@broseppicarnalizmo315]

That's rite homie!! I heard 'LINK' passed away a few years ago. That fool used get up all over town. Another one I see in almost every bathroom in Burque is 'IRISH'

[@1992elmorrito]

Rebel 8!!!

[@geejee1255]

pixacao is dope too..kinda simmilar

[@acvproductions]

Anyone know where i can find cholo fonts or alphabets like these on the internet? Resources you could point me towards?

[@SykotikOne]

Wish this guy was mentoring me :(

[@rustoleum6232]

I only understand, parts of Costa California style; from practicing, Gothic-fonts + script-calligraphy. If you're stuck on something, Try practicing the classics. Whenever you're ready, try something new. It's a bit like gardening, but you're slowly growing something else. P.S. of course, there's plenty of other calligraphy, in other languages.

[@raleighparr3908]

such a weird head but so good

[@jaydub2343]

That's what he said in the beginning....

[@urnew]

BIG BAD OG LENNOX

[@mexicanamerican21]

c/s- MEANS WITH RESPECT.

[@Blaz702]

Dang if this dude sold black books i would buy one HIS STYLE IF FUCKING SICK

[@SOKER666]

4:07 nice cs

[@aog1747]

At 1:56 in the middle right does that say chiques?

[@shadowoner9561]

yeah

[@sihks1120]

I still write like this ....

[@Decantoparfum]

That means c / s?

[@guusteijl]

Nice bou

[@GaryYolo]

just a random discussion between two toys

[@he4rt5]

If I could write like that, I'd do the same..

[@harleyfaria2218]

he paved the way for tags

[@punckbishlaper6195]

Harley Faria fuck no,only a internet tagger would say that lol

[@kr3w4ever]

so is he in cs or just wrote it for security??

[@rustyoleum486]

Kinda sucks to see someone make $ off a style many people have actually died for. But its good to see our culture get positive recognition and he atleast knows the styles origin

[@zew1414]

"Its crazy that it took a couple of dudes from New Jersey to make a song about graffiti that was started in the Bronx". -KRS-One on Artifacts-Wrong Side of the Tracks

[@novelaego2404]

rip Tame1