Skip to Content
Art

Remember Your Roots w/ @Rootcheck ~ A New Column Dedicated to Los Angeles, OG’s, and 90’s graffiti.

Chicken Ole Pollo! - Who Can you Spot?

Chicken Ole Pollo! – Who Can you Spot?

Remember Your Roots Vol.1 - Throwback Views of Downtown L.A. + Cre8 Vs. Skill (@ Soto)

"Remember Your Roots" sounds like a corny graffiti history book to most.
Thanks to L.A. Taco for hosting some LA unseen.

Since this is Vol.1 of a weekly here's a FLICK explanation:
(Scroll Down for Vol.1 flicks if you don't give a shit - Vol. 2+ will not include foreplay.)

Chicken Ole Pollo! - Who Can you Spot?
Chicken Ole Pollo! - Who Can YOU Spot?
Chicken Ole Pollo! - Who Can you Spot?

For those that don't like to read much:  Remember Your Roots focuses on some of LA's favorite writers old shit. All flicks are original - from the scanner to L.A. Taco, unless credited otherwise. If you want copies - send request via Contact. If you came to see the newest L.A.  "Street Art", you clicked the wrong article.

The term Remember Your Roots isn't copyrighted or anything, it's a rule of thumb.

Who Can You Spot?
Call it Skills' Yard - Who Can You Spot (the cameras ain't spottin' shit haha)?
Skiller Breaks - Who Can You Spot?

Maybe in time we'll have a "Guess Who?", or some shit like that because if:

a) You don't remember the Belmont battles

b) You've never heard of Oiler

c) You think Gkae was the first king of L.A.

d) You never went to Hexs' old shop.

e) You never saw venice, as the PITS, etc, etc, fuckin' etc.

You may not know you're a youngster in the game of graffiti - but EVERYONE was, once...

Melrose G-Can - Who Can You Spot?
Melrose G-Can - Who Can You Spot?
Melrose G-Can - Who Can You Spot?

King Sahl - Visions of the Past - Downtown LA.
King Sahl 194 - Visions of the Past - Downtown LA.
King Sahl - Visions of the Past - Downtown LA.

The new kids pave the streets again for the old timers to skate their letters once more.

Think of the sets of flicks and clues as a look back in time to a different Los Angeles than the one you know today.

After getting all that bullshit out of the way, here's the first 121 jigawatt pass.

Remember Your Roots Vol.1 - Throwback Views of Downtown L.A. + Cre8 Vs. Skill (Battle @ Soto):
(Friendly battle 96', you decide "who won".)

Skill finished first, note the tags.
Skill finished first, that many disses within a day @ Soto.
Skill finished first, note the tags.

 Cre-8 was still in action, dude had a real wild style back in the days - more of a production than a battle.

Skill vs. Cre8 @ Soto
Cre8 in action, finishing the battle / production (look at all the fame snatchers up top).
Cre8 in action, finishing the battle / production.

FOLLOW @ROOTCHECK ON TWITTER FOR MORE ROOTS.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

DAILY MEMO: Border Patrol and ICE Raid Almost 20 L.A. Communities, Almost 30 Total in SoCal in Record Numbers

Today, ICE and Border Patrol set a new daily record, surpassing their previous daily average of about 30 reports with nearly 50 incidents. There was a time when 25-40 was the total number of incidents I’d report for a whole week; they just did that in one day.

January 28, 2026

L.A. TACO Neighborhood Guides: Chinatown

A stroll through Chinatown feels like slipping between the shifting planes of time and space. Here are our recommendations for places to eat and shop, along with a look into its dark history.

DAILY MEMO: Border Patrol Attack and Follow Community Watchers Home While We See A New Raid Approach Unfold

Border Patrol and ICE took at least 15 people from the Southland, mostly from Los Angeles, Compton, and Lynwood.

January 27, 2026

How a Typical Day of Border Patrol ‘Cluster Raids’ Plays Out in Southern California

As Border Patrol invades communities, Rapid Response networks try to prevent as many abductions as possible by monitoring federal activity.

January 27, 2026

DAILY MEMO: ICE Continues to Use CHP and Local Police Resources Despite California’s Sanctuary State Policy

Around 40 people were kidnapped from Santa Paula to Riverside, with more than half from the City of L.A. in the last three days. Plus, are ICE and CBP adjusting their strategy again?

January 26, 2026

Churches as Battlegrounds: ICE Agents Raid One Church, As Feds Prosecute Protestors at Another

During service, Border Patrol agents detained two men painting the exterior of a Christian church in Compton on January 17.

January 26, 2026
See all posts