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

Smoke From The Lineage Logistics Fire Continues To Pollute L.A.

Smoke from the fire in Boyle Heights floated throughout the county, into Dodger Stadium, and as far east as Pomona, into Montclair and San Bernardino County.

June 21, 2026

This El Sereno Art Show Pits Luchadores Against ICE

For one day only, The Eastside Cafe will host 200% Mexa, a lucha libre-focused art exhibit featuring artists from Mexico and the USA.

June 19, 2026

The Best Tacos Around SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome

There’s no shortage of taco shops, trucks, and stands in and around the Inglewood area. You can drive down Hawthorne Blvd between Century Blvd and the 105 freeway to find a dozen taco trucks competing for your attention.

June 18, 2026

Free Flautas and Fresh Beer: L.A. TACO’s Watch Party at Homage Brewing Today at 5 PM!

Indie journalism, some of the best cold beers in L.A., free crispy taquitos for members, and Mexico (or South Korea!) kicking the ball around for 90 minutes. Winner gets first place. Come cheer your team on.

June 18, 2026

I Went Inside Tanlines, L.A.’s New Bikini Coffeeshop

Tanlines presents itself as something transgressive—a bikini coffee shop in an industrial corner of Los Angeles. But after a few hours inside, the novelty wears off and something much stranger emerges: It's just a neighborhood café.

June 18, 2026

Do Protests Actually Work?

According to this researcher, no.

June 18, 2026
See all posts