Kaves

In the 1980s, fellow New Yorker Michael McLeer, started tagging, within this art form his artist's name became "Kaves". 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".[1]

By the age of fifteen, as a graffiti artist, Kaves painted several handball courts walls.[1]

In 1987, Kaves's mural, named Miami Vice,[2] was featured in Henry Chalfant's book Spraycan Art.[3]

Within that same decade and the early 1990s, Kaves became an esteemed graffiti artist, while his brother Adam McLeer (ADMoney) was a Dj.[4] The McLeer brothers are of mixed Italian, Russian, Irish, English, and Scottish descent.[5] The pair got into breakdancing and would go on to meet rapper Chuck D, for whom Kaves worked on promotion, who suggested that they make demo tapes. Hence they founded the group he Verrazano Boys and eventually changed to Lordz of Brooklyn with a group of friends.[4] Also during this time Kaves got caught by law enforcements making graffiti and started to focus his efforts on canvas.[6]

The group was initially formed in 1989, and joining the McLeer brothers was Scotty Westerman (Scotty Edge). In 1992, Dino Cerillo (Bottz), and Paul Nugent (Paulie Two Times) joined.[7]

In 1993, Kaves designed the logo for the cover of the single cover of "Put Your Handz Up" by The Whooliganz.[8]

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.[9] Kaves described his mother as a hippie who encouraged him and his brother to pursue their interest in hip hop.[10]

In 1995, they released their debut All in the Family,[4] 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.[7] It became an underground hit single. It generally received favorable reviews.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17] 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".[18]

In 1997 for soundtrack of the film Gravesend, they provided some exclusive songs.[19]

In 2000, they released the vinyl EP The Lordz of Brooklyn Meet Bumpy Knuckles.[20]

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.[21]

In 2003 they released, Graffiti Roc.[22] It was rather a compilation of various previously recorded tracks than a studio album. It featured Busta Rhymes, Korn, Rampage, and others. Now, the groups' style leaned towards a crossover sound of both hip hop and rock influences.

By that time, Scotty Edge, Dino Bottz and Paulie Two Times have already left, and the McLeer brothers added live musicians 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 longtime collaborator Everlast, Bedouin Soundclash, and Tim Armstrong.[4] Of this album Kaves said "the Lordz' music is positioned at the intersection of punk and hip-hop, and truly reflects its roots".[6]

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.[23]

In April 2008, The Lordz had their own reality TV show on Fuse entitled The Brooklyn Way.[24] The show focused footage Kaves shot over the years focusing on their daily lives.[6] Also that year it was announced they would do their fifth stint with the Vans Warped Tour.[24]

In 2010, Kaves stared, 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.[3] For his efforts, he won The won Best Short at The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival,[25] and was nominated for Best Short Narrative at the New Hampshire Film Festival.[26]

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”.[27] That same year, he designed the label of Georges Duboeuf's wine bottles of beaujolais nouveau.[28]

In 2013, at the Write Of Passage Opening Party, one of the installation was Kaves's tattoo parlour.[29] 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.[30]

In 2014, Kaves acted in the short film Eulogy.[31] That year he also painted a mural dedicated to his mother and his sister, on the hit-and-run location.[32]

In 2015, Kaves painted the mural Brooklyn Made.[33]

In 2016, Kaves opened the restaurant "The Brooklyn Firefly" which specializes in pizza, beer, music and art.[34] 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.”[35]

Since 2018, they have returned to their Hip-Hop origins, started to use the full name "Lordz Of Brooklyn" again and in 2020 released a new album Family Reunion.

In 2017, Kaves illustrated the children book Hip-Hop Alphabet.[36]

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.[37] Also that year Kaves illustrated, Metallica's children book The ABCs of Metallica.[38]

In 2021, at Sean Penn's CORE benefit, during the event Kaves painted a large canvas to be auctioned.[39] That same year he also had a revenue of 3 millions dollar, from his first NFT drop "The Family Mooks".[40] 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.”[41] Also that year, he acted in the filmThe Many Saints of Newark.[42]

In 2022, Kaves acted in vignettes for the documentary series Everything’s Gonna Be All White.[43] Also that year Kaves illustrated, Grateful Dead's children book The ABCs of The Grateful Dead.[44]

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.[33]

• Ride the Lightning (undated)[45]

• Miami Vice (circa 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

• 2014 - Eulogy - short film
• 2021 - The Many Saints of Newark - film
• 2022 - Everything’s Gonna Be All White - documentary series