In the first session, SEN-1 discusses his family history and his experience growing up in Lower Harlem in the 1970s. He describes the various gangs that he grew up around. The most notable was La Familia. He discusses conflicts and social dynamics within La Familia, and he describes how it provided community protection and mutual aid. He tells various stories of his brother who is one of the founde rs of Zoo York, a break dancer, singer/performer, and oil painter. SEN-1 also discusses the exploitative nature of urban renewal at the time and his experience living in tenements and Mitchell-Lama buildings. He also shares stories from his association with the core elements of hip-hop. This includes his friendship with the Fresh Five, the MCs and DJs in his neighborhood, and his involvement in graffiti. He discusses the development of his tag, the various materials he would use for graffiti writing, his friendship with Poke IBM, and other notable graffiti writers. SEN-1 also shares stories of the train yards he frequented, his relationship with various graffiti crews, and "racking" paint. The second session features more discussion of SEN-1's family background, urban development, and more details into gang associations and Chino, the leader of La West Side Familia. He also shares stories of his arrest. He narrates how he became involved with Cyril Innis and the Black Panther Collective. He shares more stories of his activism efforts in the community as well as his role as the president of the board at the Mitchell-Lama building he lives in. SEN-1 also explains how he re-entered the graffiti world with his collaboration with Rachel Roy and Gallerie D'Orsay. He describes his experience in the charity organization, Last Night a DJ Saved My Life
Graffiti artists; Community activists; Graffiti; Subways--New York (State); Railroad yards--New York (State); Hip-hop; Break dancing; Gangs--New York (State); Public housing--New York (State); Graffiteurs; Métros--New York (État); Gares de triage--New York (État); Harlem (New York, N.Y.); Bronx (New York, N.Y.); SEN-1; Black Panther Party
Format
oral histories; ephemera
Genre
Interviews
Date
2023
Physical Description
165 pages; 1 online resource digital preservation master, mp4 files
Note (Biographical)
SEN-1 (George Morillo) is of Afro-Caribbean descent and grew up in Harlem. His mother, Mercedes Morillo, comes from the Morillo military family line in Haiti. His brother, Ricky Mujica, is also an artist, specializing in oil paint and book cover illus trations. From the 1980s, SEN-1 was deeply immersed in the early hip-hop movement and became a prominent graffiti artist. He was a member of groups such as the Incredible Bombing Masters (IBM) and La West Side Familia. He has also been a community activist through groups such as the Black Panther Collective. His art has reached international status and has been commissioned by Michelle Obama's charity, Fabolous, and Rita Ora
Note
Interviewed by Kurt Boone and Steven Payne on May 23, 2022 and January 18, 2023