Subtlety is for suckers. From the looks of this shirt, graf-inspired clothing label Irak agrees. Check the feature on el presidente, Ear Snot, from issue 41 after the click through.
Words: Maclean Jackson
Photo: Joshua Wildman
Tons of us shoplifted as young rapscallions. And though most retired to taking goods like magazines and wireless-internet, Irak’s taken it to the extreme (!!!), but managed to stay very inclusive. With members from diverse walks of life all over the world, they stay up in various spots and avenues. Established in’95, Irak’s grown (check their new Fall line), but retained the demeanor that brought them together. The model for Mass Appeal issue ten and “Dine Piece” subject for issue 26, it’s only fitting that man of steal and Irak prez, Ear Snot, serves as the mouthpiece of the crew.
Irakny.com
What were you doing 10 years ago?
Ear Snot: I was learning how to skate, writing mad graf all the time, not going to school, stealing shit all day long. I had run away already. I was staying on the streets wearing a new outfit everyday, mad loot in my pocket, meeting mad people who I chill with today—one of the most exciting times of my life, a transition period. [Irak] were all meeting each other. The core crew members were feeling each other out and getting used to having each other around.
And the name “Irak” means…
Irak is a reference to the shoplifting term “racking,” and how much I do—Irak is pretty simple. I have been shoplifting since I was six years old. A lot of the graf writers that I met when I started Irak…everyone stole, some stole better than others. There is a subculture of rackers in the graffiti world, I can name a few: Hefs, myself, Rehab, a lot of kids from the Bronx. We would all go racking [and see] who could do the best. Out of that I started to create a crew out of people who weren’t total losers, who knew how to rack and knew about style, who know what was up with the world.
Was it usually graf supplies?
Nah, it was very seldom graf supplies, stuff to survive–food, things that we would sell to stores specifically for money. We called this “loot racking,” some days we would only go loot racking and go for a goal. Say we wanted [$]1,000 each, we would loot rack all day and see if we could beat that goal—competitions between other graf writers. We will meet up in the day and roll up a joint and see who came up with the most jackets and the most shit.
A lot of crews have come and gone since you guys started, how has Irak stayed together so long?
It wasn’t just a graf-based friendship. A lot of graffiti crews aren’t just friends on the graf level. You like hanging out with them, partying with them. We all hung out 24 hours a day together, especially the night hours…I definitely go racking with Fanta to this day, he’s a great racking partner. There are a lot of things that come into play choosing members, but racking, graffiti and friendship are the main three, not in that order always.
With everyone and their cousin making shirts and things, how do guys stay distinct?
We try to keep it basically expressing new ideas, offending people at all costs, not respecting anyone’s personal beliefs. It’s just like an episode of “South Park” or the grandmother sucking someone off—we want to put it all one shirt, just push everyone’s buttons at once. Because that’s our human right, to make people react to shit. There’s no better fuckin’ thing to know you’re alive than to get reactions out of people in New York City—that’s the philosophy for our line: keep pushing the bar. Our clothing brand comes from our lives together, our history together and our future, there is an endless supply of things to offend people with. We haven’t begun to focus on what are strong or potent message is, we have done some bright colors, offending grandmothers shit, we are still jumping around. The line is young, we’re young, This shit is growing, we are growing…no way to know how this will end up.
