Meet Graffiti Queen Stef 1 Posted on January 9, 2013October 30, 2018 By Dangerous Lee Graffiti is an important part of the five elements of hip hop culture. Many times it is often looked at as a male dominated art form. But of course there are plenty of females representing and doing a great job. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Chicago graffiti queen better known as, STEF 1. On an international level this lady has gone beyond in regards to what is “expected” out of a graffiti artist. Not only is she a teacher, painter, DJ, spiritualist, and hip hop enthusiast, she is real with no pretensions or hating on other artists. She’s about pure support (just ask the many artists from all over the world that have slept on this woman’s couch from the “locals” to others from abroad ). She’s art and love in the female form. So, ladies and gentlemen of the world I am pleased to introduce the one, the only STEF 1 – CHI-TOWN GRAFFITI QUEEN. BLUUWISE: When did you first discover graffiti? STEF 1: The first time I ever wrote graffiti on a wall I was 14 and it was for a party crew in Florida called LJC around 1986. BLUUWISE: Who are some of your favorite graffiti artists from Chicago? STEF 1: My favorite graffiti writers in Chicago are Trixter, Sivel, and Temper, strictly for style and ups. BLUUWISE: What are some of your favorite colors to work with? STEF 1: My current favorite colors are Smurf blue for bombin’ because it really vibrates against the ugly buff brown all over the city. I also love this Orlando orange I just used recently. I love Montana Cherokee and I love Belton anything. The old school colors I liked were krylon jungle green, terra cotta, and i used to love American accents summer squash. BLUUWISE: Do you have any preferences in regards to where and what to paint? STEF 1: I prefer to paint on trains, freights, trucks, billboards, rooftops, roll down gates, street spots, highway spots or nice organized permission walls with free paint. I also like good food, music, swag bags, and no drama. None of these situations happen nearly as often as I’d like them to. BLUUWISE: What are some of your favorite memories? STEF 1: My favorite memories painting were on the streets of Chicago, mostly by myself. Freights are nice and chill evenings where you can soak in the atmosphere and kinda bond with whoever you’re painting with. The most beautiful chill wall I ever painted on was in Puerto Rico in La Perla with nothing on my back but the ocean and also in the Bronx with Cope and Lucha. Costa Rica was also nice because I have a spot on the local wall of fame. BLUUWISE: Any scary moments that you can recall? STEF 1: Scariest moment painting is being chased by a dog on the metra tracks and laying in a puddle of water on a rooftop in the middle of winter for about 2 hours till it was safe to come down. I almost got hit by a train and had to dive and roll in the rocks on the side of the tracks. Just dealing with the authorities in general is never fun. BLUUWISE: Any complaints or issues that you would like to address in regards to the Chicago Graffiti Scene? STEF 1: I can’t stand the bitchiness that comes with graff “competition”. I think we are all in a big family against the world and need to realize that graff is a spiritual path. What would Jesus do if he wrote graff? That’s what all these bitch ass dudes need to ask themselves. BLUUWISE: What are you working on at the moment? STEF 1 : I’m working on more of a legit web presence as an artist and traveling to Art Basel in Miami to paint, network, and just have fun. I am also organizing a block party for women in hip-hop in the summer in Chicago. BLUUWISE: I know you gave me a few of you favorite artists from the Chi , but overall who are some of your favorites? STEF 1: My favorite graffiti artists in the world are really other women that I want to paint with like Rosy, Musa, Nina, Spice and Lady Pink. BLUUWISE: I can’t let you go without letting the world know which crews you represent STEF 1: The crews I represent are THC, TME, ESP, K.A.O.S Inc., and XMEN worldwide boyeeeeeeeeeeee! Like this:Like Loading... Related News ArtBLUUWISEBronxChicagoDisc jockeyGraffitihip hoppaintPuerto RicoStef 1Visual arts
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didnt seiko just line and diss her on her own piece in front of her. he dont care for that girl. u see the other people just painting not tring to get into it like who cares about that T.H.O.T!!!! he buys a drink for people that tells him dirt about her. just seen him at double door an he laughs wen people bring her up. and says that is why he do drink no more cuz u never kno what u might wake up with a s.t.d. a kid with steff. he rother kid is a drug addict like her who stalks her friends and makes them give hi money. how does seiko let her raise there kid. guess he int lieing he dont care about her or the kid.
This was a nice article to give respect to a Female Chicago Artist. She never claimed to be the Queen of anything. Don’t know why Toast brought up Hek and his lady or her late dead husband (NO RESPECT), but that is some hatin’ insecure stuff D and for the one who allowed it on here is low too. You must have a real hard on for Hek that you follow his life like that. He is a humble cat and gets mad respect worldwide. This bothers nobody, but haters. Silence and your scariness speaks volumes. Everyone already knows who is hatin’ because frankly you told one too many people about your dislike for certain folks and that is why you get no respect or love in the Chi…hip 2 ya….so obvious. Before you go runnin’ off at the mouth, you might want to make sure that person really likes you. As soon as you run your mouth, it gets right back to the others. You give no respect, you get no respect. See you this weekend. 😉
#1 I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WITH THIS ARTICLE INTERVIEW.#2 MY COONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE I DONT LIKE, LOL! ITS A LOT OF PEOPLE I DISAGREE WITH AND DONT KINDLY CARE FOR. SO WHATS YOUR POINT? I HAVENT LIVED IN CHICAGO FOR 8 YEARS TRAVELING AND MAKING MY MONEY$$$$$ AND PAINTING ILLEGAL STILL NOW, TODAY! I CAN CARELESS…. WHOM DONT LIKE ME PERSONALLY. I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH PEOPLE THAT I DONT FORMAL SOCIALIZED WITH SO WHAT IS YOUR POINT AGAIN? AND FAR AS SEEING ME NEXT WEEK! MY MONEY IS MORE THEN IMPORTANT THEN TRYING TO IMPRESS SOME PEOPLE THAT I KNOW IT WANT BE A CHALLENGE FOR ME. YOU THINK ITS ME SAYING SOMETHING FOUL ABOUT HEK OR STEPH, I DONT EVEN SOCIALIZE WITH THESE PEOPLE AT ALL AMD WHY SHOULD I BE JEALOUS OF ANYONE FROM ALL MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT I HAVE AND STILL ACHIEVEING TODAY. RATHER ITS SOMEONE GUILTY CONSCIOUS ARE EATINH AT THEM. HENSE IN FACT JUST LAST WEEK I EMAILED STEF ABOUT A GROUP SHOW GIG TO MAKE SOME MONEY ON THE 4,5&6. BUT NO RESPONDS! NOW DOES THAT SEEMS THAT IM HATING ONE HER OR ANYONE THAT SHE’S IN CAHOOTS WITH? I HAVE NO TIME TO BICKET WITH MESIRABLE, UNHEALTHY,DOWN SPIRITED,STAGNANT,UNRIGHTEOUS, IGNORANT,ENERGY THIEVES! THIS WAS ONLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION FROM THE OWNER WHOM OWN THIS SITE! OTHER THEN THAT I REALLY DONT HAVE ENOUGH SPACE NOR ROOM IN MY HEAD TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS IDIOTIC SHIT! HER PROBLEM IS NOT MY PROBLEM! AND I GUARANTEE. U WHEN AND IF ANYONE SEES ME AND TEY TO ATTEMPT AND CAUSE ANYHARM IT WILL BE LIFE LESSON. CONSEQUENCE! YOU CAN IGNORE MY WORDS… IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE WITH THE JEALOUSY,HATE & BITTERNESS TOWARDS ME. ANY PERSON WISH OR ATTEMPT TO WISH BADLY OR HARM ANOTHER PERSON.. ALL WEAPONS FORM AGAINST ME SHALL A WANT PROSPER! ONLY FOR THOSE WHOM WISH TO DO UNTO OTHERS SO HAVE A DEADLY TRIP DRIVING TO A NON PAYING GRAFFITIWOLD FUNCTION AND TRYING TO EMPRESS OTHERS. IM GETTING MY MONEY RIGHT NOW, MONEY OVER PAYING FOR FAME! PS. HAVE A BLESSED DAY! ITS AN OLD SAYING MIND MY BUSINESS AND STAY OUT OF OTHERS, AND THIS INTERVIEW OR COMMENTS HAS NOTHINH TO DO WITH ME. PS STEF, INCASE U DIDNT KNOW LIKE I SAID ONCE BEFORE MY ISSUE’S. ARE NOT WITH YOU NOR HEK, AT ALL IM HAPPY! ARE YOI HAPPY? NOW, ITS TIME TO WRAP UP FROM MY PAID COMMISSION JOB, SORT OUT MY PAINT FOR TONIGHT AND PAINT 3 MORE SLAMMING AS FR8’S THAT IM.KNOWN FOR DOING.
Who haven’t Tap that ass and its was so easy back in day. Its easier now, just tell her you got some Blow. And its on and crackin!
@Stormtrooper, you hit it the nail right on the head when you said she has a GRAFF GROUPIE poor chick dont even know half the shit she has said about her. CHICK will take an ass beating for QUEEN STEF LOL.. Thats just some str8 non-sense right there. SHE WANTS ALL THE ATTENTION AND IF SHE DONT GET IT SHE WONT INCLUDE YOU LIL KID SHIT. BUT HER AND HER LIL ASSHOLE GRAFF GROUPIE CAN SUCK MY COCK.
Look fuck all Dabullshit! She’s foul as hell! And fuck Hek too. He’s another Bakstabbibg fat nasty black uncle sambo ass nigga.He only fuck around with his homies Ex-girlz fucking loser! I recall when he was smoking Primos hooked on crack cocaine. Out there bad then a mother fucker. Leaching off Bitches!!!! Y’all wonder why he was on an Oxygen tank breather. Doing all that Coke, steph is definitely a coke head, she has stolen A lot of shit in the past like paint from hardware stores etc. So her not being sticky fingers is a damn lie! All tge men she slept with is ridiculous. I’m sure people can’t count on their hands on how many people she has fucked.what about the people anyone has not witness for theem selves. Both of them and others are so fucked up! And who really give a shiit about that washed up ass crew their in together? Them bitches been painting for over 20 years + and haven’t advance at all in 2013 its a new fucking millenium, and the go to art shows and jock each other and don’t sell shit. One big Coke party. Heckle keep wearing that same fucking suite at show with that wack fake ass Dobs hat, Always with that broad whom boyfriend died, her boyfriend wasn’t body wasn’t even cold in the ground yet, and he’s dating his best crew member friend girlfriend. What type of fuck boy shit is that? Seiko, don’t you have a baby by this broad? And if so whyvin tge fuck your not raising your child with her? While she’s getting deep throat fuck in the mouth, don’t you think your “SON” can hear that and seen all the men in and our her life just passing through like Waste Management, dumping all their “Nut” in her. That’s why you taking up for her, try to win her back with your soft loving considering words. Why would u even want that shit back? She’s used all up. And I’ve heard several times from others she talks behind her so called friends back. That’s foul! Some dude is beatting her ass, and I’m sure in front of your child. I know for a fact and heard from several peeps she will get down with anyone whom drive a nice car. One. The lighter side Fuck them both. She’s confused! She don’t know what she wannabe. And he acts white! He love him some white folk’s. And any niggas he can use to get a ride so his fat ass want have to walk he would take full advantage of it. A user, that BBking looking mother fucker. Always trying to get as much props he can by waddling his raw tender rubby thigh ass into party’s and Gallery shows when he don’t do shit but legal pieces anyhow. I’m done talking about both of these losers! Ain’t worth my time to focus on a Slutty washed up So-called Queen, And a washed up Primo smoker!
This girl has burned so many people on so many levels its ridiculous. Both men & women. Stormtrooper, your right she talks bad about MANY people including people in her own “crew” the xmen. If those cats knew half off the mess she has said about them (talking about their personal health issues, families, personal buisness,etc) im not so sure that she would still be affiliated with them. she is a REAL BACKSTABBER & EXTREMELY TWO FACED. & I know for a fact that shes slept with other girls in the graff world boyfriends/ husbands,etc.. smh She is truly ONE HOT MESS.
This is someone that makes friends with other females, and talks bad about them. CALLING THEM GRAFF GROUPIES, She has one GRAFF GROUPIE THAT IS ALL UP HER ASS and HER CHEERLEADER. HER BEING A COKE HEAD IS An UNDERSTATEMENT and as FAR as THE “HIP HOP COMMUNITY'” here in CHICAGO it can go SUCK a BIG FAT COCK ITS ALL BULLSHIT.
Wow a lot of people have a lot of things to say about stef! Now is the girl perfect no but does she steel from people he’ll no an she never ripped off another writer if any one didn’t get they stuff back u didn’t come get it. And to her hooking up with different people. Come on now let that go most just assume what she does an she is a grown woman. This girl took in an let mad writers stay at her house for free fed them an had no hidden motives. Gave paint good paint to many that had none an most did what in the end stole from her stole from her kids. An now a lot of u are speaking on switched up mixed up bent stories back stabbers put out about her. This girl has a good heart an I kno this be cuz me an her share a son. Has she been with a few writers who cares I say. Yes she dates people an what happens every person she dated messed her over including me. Most take advantage of her heart an then talks bad about her. That’s not cool ,, me an her don’t see eye to eye.. Half the time don’t have nothing nice to say about each other but one thing I kno she will never rip no one off or mess over a writer. Also no matter what she is always there for u. I kno no matter what she will always be there for me might not talk to me nice cuz of our situation. But she on a day where she is mad or resents me is still the downest friend to me an has my back.
Yea…stef can you return everyone’s artwork that you kept from exploiting the Meeting of Styles shows for your personal beneift ??
If she’s getting the “LAST LAUGH” Well why did she just get turned down at the Maxellcolette gallery recently? One woman show turned down. Or should it say one HOE show. Why her pieces getting dissed? They went to Cat Fax! And found out how many miles that pussy got on the streetz from writer’s. That T- Bagged her in the mouth. So they figured she would be a great liability to their Gallery. Her pussy is like a door knob everyone got a turn at it. Maybe its too much Coke she doing or have done making her hot in the Azz like that. She’s a back stabbing Mofo! “Somebody put dat Santaria spell on her Azz”.
As stated in the opening paragraph…Graff has many females representing nd doing a great job….Stef is one of many. The comments below solidifies how much as a hip hop community we are not together. It is so odd how people would waste time being negative instead of creative. That being said…THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BAD PUBLICITY! Stef has the last laugh…..cause WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HER RIGHT!!!! Keep it up Stef…the sky is the limit!!
queen of graffiti? i dont know about that.but for how many graf writers have ran threw and been all up in that . QUEEN OF CHICAGO HOES GOES TO STEF 1 .
To be clear, I gave stef her first “real” outline and took her out bombing on some of her earliest missions.. (she prolly should of mentioned that)…but it didn’t last long cause we would fight all the time so I stopped painting with her…at that time no one in the crew would paint with her either…that was around 94…by 95 I moved back to ny so she definitely wasn’t painting with me by then…point being, there was a time early in her writing career where she was rocking by herself and deserves the credit for that
This is the biggest non-supportive USER graff ho in Chicago, you have NEVER painted alone- ask FredOne in NYC who put you on. And you didn’t start ESP mama! Give props where they’re due trick! That’s why SHIRO’s “BGIRL” mural got dissed! XMEN only put you down at age 39 cause you said you had the paint and spots!