With some artist you just know painting is what keeps them sane, and I bet this goes for Bam-Boo as well. With some crazy painting and portraits skill, this young UK-based talent looks forward to every day he’s able to paint. With a love for hiphop and much respect to the master and all the talend around he progresses day by day. With the talent he already has it’s clear that we’re dealing with a future legend if he keeps on going strong like this. Time for the spam!

“to know I’m gonna be spending the day spraying really brings me to life.”

Where are you from, and where are you going?

I’m from the South coast of the UK, living in a little town called Eastleigh. I paint in two legal spots in Hampshire, one in the Southampton area, and the other in the Portsmouth area. I love what I’m doing right now and I’m just going where ever the spray paint takes me.

What got you into to street art and what makes you keep on doing it?

For years I was doing nothing with my life, just kicking it on the streets with my friends, but deep down I always knew I had a real talent in art. Whilst with my friends walking through the streets, I always noticed the odd building with a massive amount of color and a bit of life to it, these were buildings that had graffiti plastered all over them. I loved to come and see what new pieces were being thrown up and the guys that were doing it really inspired me to give it a go. But even now, no matter how long I’ve been doing it, I get that buzz, that bit of excitement running through my veins, to know I’m gonna be spending the day spraying really brings me to life. Just knowing that I can learn new things and get better at what I’m doing keeps me doing it!

What is your favorite item to take on the road with you?

Bic biro and a sketch pad, because I’m always thinking of new things, there’s always something that inspires me.

Best street art spot we should check out:

Fratton Park in Portsmouth (the exterior walls of Portsmouth football stadium) There’s a lot of big; clean, flat walls that are easy to paint on, and it makes the graffiti come out so much better. Even though myself, and a certain AROE from MSK/HA had a slight disagreement, it still gives me a buzz to know that I’m painting in the same spot as someone like him, I mean he’s a big deal! He and his crew are amazing writers and I have a lot of respect for them, so that alone is a reason to go and check it out. I also like to paint at a legal spot in Swaythling, it’s on the walls of a youth centre, so you get the new guys painting there as well as the originals coming down and throwing up some wicked pieces, but unfortunately it’s being knocked down, so I’m real sad to see that go.

Do you prefer doing your work legal or illegal?

Legal, as I can produce a better piece because I can spend more time and energy on it. Although I don’t get the same adrenaline rush as I did when I was throwing up quick illegal pieces, but my criminal record is too long to risk getting caught, I got too much to live for now!

How much does art influence your everyday life?

Too much, everything I do, everywhere I go I get ides running around in my head, getting my creative side go nuts. I’m constantly looking at Photographs, different types of images, other graffiti work… I can’t get away from it; it’s like a bad fart!

What was the first thing you put up on a wall?

When I was first starting out, I loved to just throw up a panda bear, my alter ego Bamboo. It was quick and easy, people started to recognize it, mainly because it was EVERYWHERE, trains, buses, walls, buildings, you name I covered it.

Is there any artwork you consider your best?

I think my Kanye West piece was pretty cool, I’d only been painting legally for about three months; I found the photograph of him and thought it would look sick on a wall, so I just threw it up. There’s a few of my newer pieces that I’ve done, and I have to take a step back and think ‘Shit, did I do that?’ Like my LCA with my hands…

Which artist would you like to work with in the future?

There’s loads…Smug one for a start his work is amazing. Trans 1; Rocket; Faunagraphic, Robadiga, Bonzai, Brave1, Pretty much anyone from the Fiftyfour crew. There’s too many to mention, I still feel that I’m pretty new to the game so I’m still just getting my work and my name across, so that all these big players that I’ve just named can actually think of me and want to do a collaboration together.

What is your favorite movie/gaming/cartoon character?

My favorite game is Final Fantasy 7; no other game will ever beat it! I think Family Guy is brilliant, it’s so random.

What is your favorite music/genre/artist/album?

I love my Hip Hop, old skool, all the new players, all of it; you gotta love a bit of B.I.G.

If you could fill a swimming pool with something, what would it be?

Haha, cream soda, I love the stuff, it would be like swimming in fizzy ice cream!!! Or a McDonald’s thick milkshake, you wouldn’t be able to move haha.

Favorite city and coolest thing about it?

Barcelona, the place is amazing, I went there a few years back to go painting, I was at the time only throwing up illegal pieces, so I doubt they like me very much over there! But I love it, the architecture is really something else, you have to go to these places in order to see the amazing art. I also think New York is wicked, purely because it’s the main place that graffiti started out, so I can only imagine some of the stuff that happens over there.

Are you working towards a specific goal?

Like I said, I just really wanna get myself out there and be known. But I’d also love to start my own youth group, to give Young kids a chance, teach them a bit about graffiti and give them somewhere to paint legally. Just to give them a goal and something to look forward to in life, instead of robbing old ladies and stabbing up there class mates.

What can we expect from you in the future?

Bigger and better paintings, I’ve always had the talent but I’m still learning new techniques, it’s a lot different than drawing on paper with a pencil. That’s what I love about graffiti, there’s always something new to teach yourself and learn from others. I hope to one day be up there with the big boys. But I know in order to get there I have to step my game up, which I am.
Although we unfortunately do not paint together anymore, I’d still like to give a big shout out to my man Slick, if it wasn’t for that man I wouldn’t be where I am today.