Kaves

At the age of ten, fellow New Yorker, from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn,[1] Michael McLeer said he started graffiti writing.[2] In the 1980s, within this art form his artist's name became "Kaves",[3] and would spray graffiti on much of the public transport trains.[1] Of the artistry he said “with graffiti, most people can pass by and not even give a shit about it while other people are looking at the style, the letters—the technical stuff, y’know? The many layers of it. So, learning that over the years, you start to find your own style—your own voice".[3]

Part of the early 1980's train car movement, his graffiti crew the Vice Boys were responsible for the Ray Ridge area graffiti style which was described in the book Mascots & Mugs as "flooded marker ink dripped from distinct curved slashing tags with a regional style".They painted much of the BMT Broadway Line.[4]

During this time, he made a name for himself int he world of graffiti in New York City, by climbing down a fire exit to spray paint the subway line.[5] By the age of fifteen, Kaves had become an esteemed graffiti artist[3]

Also during this time, Kaves was also breakdancing, performing in Chaka Khan's music video for the song "I Feel for You".[5]

In 1987, Kaves's mural, named Miami Vice,[6] was featured in Henry Chalfant's book Spraycan Art.[7] Kaves explained that the book served as graffiti bible, and that from that point on he would get commissions to make art.[2]

In this period, Kaves got caught by law enforcements making graffiti, this led Kaves to use his talents on the wall of a club named Ernie's Barry,[5] where his brother Adam McLeer (ADMoney) worked as a Dj. They eventually convinced the owner to book the rap group Public Enemy. According to Adam, while meeting Chuck D, the lead rapper of the group, they told him they also rapped, to which he suggested that they make a demo.[1]

The rap group Lordz of Brooklyn was initially formed in 1989, and joining the McLeer brothers was Scotty Westerman (Scotty Edge).[8]

Their eventual demo had tracks produced by Public Enemy member Professor Griff and a guest appearance by House of Pain for the song "Baseball bats and beers".[9]

In 1992, the group appeared and made the background graffiti in House of Pain's music video for the song "Shamrocks and Shenanigans (Boom Shalock Lock Boom)". They also had a completed demo with a song featuring House of Pain.[10]

Also that year, Dino Cerillo (Bottz), and Paul Nugent (Paulie Two Times) joined.[8]

In 1993, Kaves designed the logo for the cover of the single cover of "Put Your Handz Up" by The Whooliganz.[11]

On June 7, 1994, Donna and Michele Blanchard, the mother and sister of ADM and Kaves aged 43 and 4 respectively, died from a hit-and-run in Brooklyn. It remains unsolved to this day.[12] Kaves described his mother as a hippie who encouraged him and his brother to pursue their interest in hip hop.[13]

In 1995, they released their debut All in the Family,[14] signed to American Recordings/Ventrue. They group had to work hard to convince a label to welcome an Italian white group with gangland imagery. Kaves explained that the objective of the album is to take to on a train ride thought Brooklyn, and make an album that give his mother full credit on the support she gave him. Their first single "Saturday Night Fever" is a tribute to Kaves's favourite film by the same name.[8] It became an underground hit single. It generally received favorable reviews.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Paola Banchero of The Wichita Eagle, said there is "more musical twist than most hip-hop", described it as "gritty", and "good to listen while hanging out with the crew".[22]

In 1997 for soundtrack of the film Gravesend, they provided some exclusive songs.[23]

In 2000, with Bumpy Knuckles, they released the vinyl EP The Lordz of Brooklyn Meet Bumpy Knuckles.[24]

2000 also saw the release of the Lordz of Brooklyn cover version of Run-DMC's hip hop classic "Sucker M.C.'s" on the tribute album Take A Bite Outta Rhyme: A Rock Tribute to Rap. Their version featured Stoned Soul and Everlast.[25]

Also that year, Kaves was the cover illustrator of The Criterion Collection promotional DVD named Intergalactic DVD Single by the Beastie Boys.[26]

In 2003 they released, Graffiti Roc.[27] By this time the group consisted of the McLeer brothers as a duo. Their style leaned towards a crossover sound of both hip hop and rock influences.[28] It featured Busta Rhymes, Korn, Rampage, Everlast, O.C., Freddie Foxxx, and Lord Finesse.[29]

Live musicians were added, on guitar (Patrick Saccenti), bass and drums to tour festivals such as Vans Warped Tour in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

In 2006, the group shortened their name to "The Lordz" for the release of the third album The Brooklyn Way. Featured artists are Everlast, Bedouin Soundclash, and Tim Armstrong.[14] Of this album Kaves said "the Lordz' music is positioned at the intersection of punk and hip-hop, and truly reflects its roots".[1] In 2018, they returned to their original name "Lordz Of Brooklyn".

In 2008, Kaves created the mural Death From Above. In 2021, it was destroyed by NYPD in a graffiti cleanup campaign in New York city, despite the fact that the art work was approved by the property owner. Kaves filled a lawsuit against the NYPD, which demands a stop to the cleanup campaign until they find out which artwork as been approved by a property owner.[30]

In April 2008, The Lordz had their own reality TV show on Fuse entitled The Brooklyn Way.[31] The show focused footage Kaves shot over the years focusing on their daily lives.[1] Also that year it was announced they would do their fifth stint with the Vans Warped Tour.[31]

In 2010, Kaves starred, wrote, and directed the short film The Shoemaker, based on the life of his uncle the 1960s. Acting with him, were Burt Young, and Peter Greene.[7] For his efforts, he won The won Best Short at The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival,[32] and was nominated for Best Short Narrative at the New Hampshire Film Festival.[33]

Also that year, from April to September, some of Kaves's works were exhibited at The Blackstone Hotel's art floor.[34]

In 2011, Kaves made a mural for the for the walls of the construction site of the Greenwood Beer Garden. The temporary mural had a The Honeymooners theme and was welcomed by the resident of the neighbourhood. Kaves said " It’s the purest form of art,” and it still has an outlaw soul”.[35] That same year, he designed the label of Georges Duboeuf's wine bottles of beaujolais nouveau.[36]

In 2013, at the Write Of Passage Opening Party, one of the installation was Kaves's tattoo parlour.[37] That same year, he co-authored with Billy Burke the book Skin Graf: Masters of Graffiti Tattoo, which is about the artistry of both graffiti and tattooing, and the aesthetics that links them together. The book also covers several graffiti artist who became tattooers.[38]

In 2014, Kaves played the lead in Don Capria's short film Eulogy, acting alongside Federico Castelluccio.[39] With the rest of the cast, they won Best Ensemble at the Queens World Film Festival.[40] That year he also painted a mural dedicated to his mother and his sister, on the hit-and-run location.[41]

In 2015, Kaves painted the mural Brooklyn Made.[42]

In 2016, Kaves opened the restaurant "The Brooklyn Firefly" which specializes in pizza, beer, music and art.[43] Kaves said "We wanted to do something that felt homemade, and Bay Ridge is known for having some great pizza, so we wanted to throw our hat into that. We’re not reinventing the wheel but we’re definitely putting our own neighborhood shine on it.”[44]

In 2017, Kaves illustrated the children book Hip-Hop Alphabet.[45]

In 2019, in the artisan-retail space "That Maker Guild", Kaves opened "Mr. Kaves Pigtown Tattoo", which is both a tattoo and graffiti shop. As well as getting a tattoo the visitors can observe the procedure, and buy custom made graffiti.[46] Also that year Kaves illustrated, Metallica's children book The ABCs of Metallica.[47]

In 2020, with Lordz of Brooklyn, they released a new album Family Reunion, with the participation of Westerman and Nugent..[48]

In 2021, at Sean Penn's CORE benefit, during the event Kaves painted a large canvas to be auctioned.[49] That same year he also had a revenue of 3 millions dollar, from his first NFT drop "The Family Mooks".[50] Kaves said “NFTs feel like a key to open up a door to creativity on another level. The digital age is here and it gives artists a new way to create. This is a platform for artists to really flex their skills on multiple levels.”[51] Also that year, he acted in the filmThe Many Saints of Newark.[52]

In 2022, Kaves acted in vignettes for the documentary series Everything’s Gonna Be All White.[53] Also that year Kaves illustrated, Grateful Dead's children book The ABCs of The Grateful Dead.[54]

Within his career, Kaves did graphic designs for Jaguar, Nike, Rockstar Games, WWE, Pony, Mtv, Adidas, and Vans Warped Tour. He also provided designs and logos to the Beastie Boys, Metallica, and Everlast.[42]

• Ride the Lightning (undated)[55]

• Miami Vice (documented in 1987)
• Death From Above (2010)
• The Honeymooners themed mural for the construction site's walls of the Greenwood Beer Garden (2011)
• Mural dedicated to mother and sister (2014)
• Brooklyn Made (2015)

• 2013 - Skin Graf: Masters of Graffiti Tattoo - with Billy Burke

• 2017 - Hip-Hop Alphabet
• 2019 - The ABCs of Metallica
• 2022 - The ABCs of The Grateful Dead

• 2010 - The Shoemaker - short film - also writer and actor

• 1984 - I feel for you - music video by Chaka Khan
• 1992 - Shamrocks and Shenanigans (Boom Shalock Lock Boom) - music video by House of Pain
• 2014 - Eulogy - short film
• 2021 - The Many Saints of Newark - film
• 2022 - Everything’s Gonna Be All White - documentary series