UI: Let’s start with the basics. Your style is so precise. How long did it take you develop it?
GS: Thanks. Well I don't think I've mastered my style yet. However I'm pretty happy with where my art is going so far.
I've come along way since I first started tattooing. So far I believe 3yrs it’s taken me as a pro.
UI: What kind of pieces do you enjoy the most?
I love black and grey. But basically anything that's interesting. Super detail is what I look for. If the client thinks out the
box, I'm pretty certain the tattoo will be a hit.
UI: You've turned into somewhat of a tattoo artist to the stars lately with rapper Joe Budden coming to you for a sleeve.
Describe his piece.
GS: Ah man that day was a pivotal moment for me. I lost a good friend (RIP Albert Ortiz) but gain another, that same
day. Joe's music has meant so much to me personally through out some years. That's my man. Well, his piece is pretty
cool. It’s all about what he's about. Some music element alongside a portrait of his son, an illustration of Jesus christ
with a gavel representing "only god can judge me" some other hot stuff in that piece. I don't think we are done with his
tats yet.
UI: What's the difference between your VIP clients and your day to day walk-Ins and such?
GS: There's no difference, I treat them all the same I love them all equally, NBA stars want to be treated just like your
everyday people.Their human; at the end of the day they just want good work in a cool environment. I appreciate all my
clients.
UI: We know about the kinds of pieces you love to do. How about the ones you don't? Are there pieces you just flat out
refuse to Do?
GS: Wow.Lol that's a good question. There's a whole lot of pieces I don't like to do (coughs) tribalscriptlettersstar.
lmao. Nah I'm just kidding But that's what really pays the bills you know? I love being considered for every and
anything, but I prefer my thing. I need to eat. I can't forget what has gotten me here. Panthers, tribals, names, and
lately "rihanna's stars". Lol
UI: Do you have an idea for an ultimate piece? Something you just can't wait to do for anybody specific?
GS: I go with the flow and vibe of the people. I just mite connect with any given body. I guess what ever I put out
through my tattoo career would be ultimately my grand piece. I need to leave something behind. At least a strong
legacy for my kids to follow, I'm going to tattoo you soon, that's going to be PART of my ULTIMATE work. You
understand what I mean?
UI: Makes perfect sense to me. We should go backwards. How did you get started in all this?
GS: Well, my uncle was tattooing back in the days out of my parents apartment when it was illegal to tattoo in NYC. I
was drawing stencils for him and helped him keep up to his clients. It was crazy up in my apartment the clientele was
non stop, felt like Penn station up in there. He had me grab a machine one day and told me "go, its your turn"....I was
like "word?, let's do it" I was scared though I had no choice then, I had to go in...I had my daughter at the time and was
trying to make ends meet, it was the only fast money I can make besides the obvious in the hood. I didn't know what the
hell I was doing. I was scratching (poor tattoos) for years. One day I started respecting my clients and began to see
what I can develop in this career. I worked for a TV show called New York Undercover but that wasn't enough bread.
UI: What did you do for the show?
GS: I was a production assistant. It wasn't much but a 17 years old working for a production company was huge back
then. Actually its huge now aswell, somehow I was lacking something though. No matter how many celebrities I was
around, it still wasn't feeling like a sense of accomplishment. Ha! I was 17 what did I know about accomplishments?
Anyway the show got cancelled and I was on my own again. Thank god for my talent, I still brought in diapers and a few
Similacs. lol.
UI: LoL. Tell me some of the other tattoo artist out there that you dig besides your uncle, who are the other Artist that
you check for?
GS: I try my best not to focus on names. I get inspired by so many artist and musicians that it’s hard to keep up with the
current names. I stay in my lane and play my position. But there's a whole lot of great artist in this industry. I gotta
chase them. I refuse to be left in the dust. So many talented artist it’s just inspirational to me. So I need to work twice as
hard, I want to be relevant. I can't forget Shane O’Niel though, he's an inspiration to me and a great man.
UI: Now what would you say is the biggest thing separating you from the "names" in your industry?
GS:Dues.
UI: From them or you? Explain.
GS: From me. Well, the "names" has been going on the road and building relationships with other artist. I'm not able to
do that. I'm reserved and just can't promote myself as much as I should. I guess that's what's separating me from the
rest.
UI: Now what's next for grin stylez? I see you won the scion contest, great job by the way, share with us another one of
your long term or short term goals.
GS: Thank you, that scion contest was pretty cool though. Well, I have a lot of goals that I want to come to fruition but I
really want to focus on getting better in this craft and enjoy doing so at the same time; it's extremely hard when you
family and kids. I see it like this though, the work and determination I put in now determines my family's future.
I’m actually thinking about putting a art show together, mixed media artwork for sale, I’m currently doing a collaboration
with my daughter Angel she’s 12years old. She actually thinks her super hereos can defeat my super hereos, so we
going to illustrate or characters in battle..lol..it should be fun. I wont sell that piece though.
UI: True indeed,I can’t wait for that. Where can someone that wants to contact you get a hold of you?
GS: I got my website, and of course a myspace page. Lately I update my myspace page a bit more frequent than my
website. You know how easy myspace makes it for us to upload an image and text, so after a long days work I just
upload stuff with current photos and updates on myspace page but soon after I do the same for my website. Either
page is fine, they're both informative on how to reach me.
UI: Is there anything you would like to add before signing off?
GS: Actually yes. I'm looking for a location and a business partner to re-locate The Fort Apache Studio, somewhere in
the city. I currently have a private studio in the Bronx but I'm trying to move. Anyone with interest please feel free to
contact me. I also
Want to thank my family and friends for standing by my side and
Believing in the chess moves I make everyday of my life. I know it’s hard to deal with my lifestyle. I love Ya’ll.
The Fort Apache Studio
www.grinstylez.com
http://myspace.com/grinstylez
(877) G-STYLEZ
(646) 208-5798
GS: Thanks. Well I don't think I've mastered my style yet. However I'm pretty happy with where my art is going so far.
I've come along way since I first started tattooing. So far I believe 3yrs it’s taken me as a pro.
UI: What kind of pieces do you enjoy the most?
I love black and grey. But basically anything that's interesting. Super detail is what I look for. If the client thinks out the
box, I'm pretty certain the tattoo will be a hit.
UI: You've turned into somewhat of a tattoo artist to the stars lately with rapper Joe Budden coming to you for a sleeve.
Describe his piece.
GS: Ah man that day was a pivotal moment for me. I lost a good friend (RIP Albert Ortiz) but gain another, that same
day. Joe's music has meant so much to me personally through out some years. That's my man. Well, his piece is pretty
cool. It’s all about what he's about. Some music element alongside a portrait of his son, an illustration of Jesus christ
with a gavel representing "only god can judge me" some other hot stuff in that piece. I don't think we are done with his
tats yet.
UI: What's the difference between your VIP clients and your day to day walk-Ins and such?
GS: There's no difference, I treat them all the same I love them all equally, NBA stars want to be treated just like your
everyday people.Their human; at the end of the day they just want good work in a cool environment. I appreciate all my
clients.
UI: We know about the kinds of pieces you love to do. How about the ones you don't? Are there pieces you just flat out
refuse to Do?
GS: Wow.Lol that's a good question. There's a whole lot of pieces I don't like to do (coughs) tribalscriptlettersstar.
lmao. Nah I'm just kidding But that's what really pays the bills you know? I love being considered for every and
anything, but I prefer my thing. I need to eat. I can't forget what has gotten me here. Panthers, tribals, names, and
lately "rihanna's stars". Lol
UI: Do you have an idea for an ultimate piece? Something you just can't wait to do for anybody specific?
GS: I go with the flow and vibe of the people. I just mite connect with any given body. I guess what ever I put out
through my tattoo career would be ultimately my grand piece. I need to leave something behind. At least a strong
legacy for my kids to follow, I'm going to tattoo you soon, that's going to be PART of my ULTIMATE work. You
understand what I mean?
UI: Makes perfect sense to me. We should go backwards. How did you get started in all this?
GS: Well, my uncle was tattooing back in the days out of my parents apartment when it was illegal to tattoo in NYC. I
was drawing stencils for him and helped him keep up to his clients. It was crazy up in my apartment the clientele was
non stop, felt like Penn station up in there. He had me grab a machine one day and told me "go, its your turn"....I was
like "word?, let's do it" I was scared though I had no choice then, I had to go in...I had my daughter at the time and was
trying to make ends meet, it was the only fast money I can make besides the obvious in the hood. I didn't know what the
hell I was doing. I was scratching (poor tattoos) for years. One day I started respecting my clients and began to see
what I can develop in this career. I worked for a TV show called New York Undercover but that wasn't enough bread.
UI: What did you do for the show?
GS: I was a production assistant. It wasn't much but a 17 years old working for a production company was huge back
then. Actually its huge now aswell, somehow I was lacking something though. No matter how many celebrities I was
around, it still wasn't feeling like a sense of accomplishment. Ha! I was 17 what did I know about accomplishments?
Anyway the show got cancelled and I was on my own again. Thank god for my talent, I still brought in diapers and a few
Similacs. lol.
UI: LoL. Tell me some of the other tattoo artist out there that you dig besides your uncle, who are the other Artist that
you check for?
GS: I try my best not to focus on names. I get inspired by so many artist and musicians that it’s hard to keep up with the
current names. I stay in my lane and play my position. But there's a whole lot of great artist in this industry. I gotta
chase them. I refuse to be left in the dust. So many talented artist it’s just inspirational to me. So I need to work twice as
hard, I want to be relevant. I can't forget Shane O’Niel though, he's an inspiration to me and a great man.
UI: Now what would you say is the biggest thing separating you from the "names" in your industry?
GS:Dues.
UI: From them or you? Explain.
GS: From me. Well, the "names" has been going on the road and building relationships with other artist. I'm not able to
do that. I'm reserved and just can't promote myself as much as I should. I guess that's what's separating me from the
rest.
UI: Now what's next for grin stylez? I see you won the scion contest, great job by the way, share with us another one of
your long term or short term goals.
GS: Thank you, that scion contest was pretty cool though. Well, I have a lot of goals that I want to come to fruition but I
really want to focus on getting better in this craft and enjoy doing so at the same time; it's extremely hard when you
family and kids. I see it like this though, the work and determination I put in now determines my family's future.
I’m actually thinking about putting a art show together, mixed media artwork for sale, I’m currently doing a collaboration
with my daughter Angel she’s 12years old. She actually thinks her super hereos can defeat my super hereos, so we
going to illustrate or characters in battle..lol..it should be fun. I wont sell that piece though.
UI: True indeed,I can’t wait for that. Where can someone that wants to contact you get a hold of you?
GS: I got my website, and of course a myspace page. Lately I update my myspace page a bit more frequent than my
website. You know how easy myspace makes it for us to upload an image and text, so after a long days work I just
upload stuff with current photos and updates on myspace page but soon after I do the same for my website. Either
page is fine, they're both informative on how to reach me.
UI: Is there anything you would like to add before signing off?
GS: Actually yes. I'm looking for a location and a business partner to re-locate The Fort Apache Studio, somewhere in
the city. I currently have a private studio in the Bronx but I'm trying to move. Anyone with interest please feel free to
contact me. I also
Want to thank my family and friends for standing by my side and
Believing in the chess moves I make everyday of my life. I know it’s hard to deal with my lifestyle. I love Ya’ll.
The Fort Apache Studio
www.grinstylez.com
http://myspace.com/grinstylez
(877) G-STYLEZ
(646) 208-5798
"URBAN INK" MARCH 2009 INTERVIEW
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