WAR 42

Police arrest notorious graffiti tag artist Cyrus “Buket” Yazdani on felony vandalism charges this week in Los Angeles but wrong images of the man in custody continue to circulate and appear at the top of the hour on CBS 9 and ABC 7 Newscasts due to the LA Times Newspaper mistakenly identifying Yazdani with a Youtube. com photo of highly acclaimed MC and Producer Evidence of Dilated Peoples

(Los Angeles, California – May 28, 2008) Los Angeles Detectives took Cyrus “Buket” Yazdani into custody this week on felony vandalism charges. The man who police describe as “one of Los Angeles’ most prolific taggers” was habitual for videotaping his handiwork and uploading footage to the web. The well known local tagger became recognized globally when videos of him spray painting on a Hollywood Fwy overpass, with cars zooming by 20 feet below began ciruclating over the internet.

Respected Dilated People’s member Michael “Evidence” Perretta has been making noise on the underground hip-hop scene since the trio appeared in the late 1990’s. In reference to the photo of the MC plastered across the front page of the Los Angeles Times and displayed hourly on various television newscasts depicting him as the arrested tagger Evidence says, “I only met Buket once when I was asked to do a promo for an internet show, however I am obviously not him and find it humorous how the media didn’t take the time to figure this out before running such an extensive story.

Evidence explains how he was approached by Yazdani over a year ago and asked to say a few promotional words on film. The rapper explains, “In my line of work anytime someone asks me for a recorded or live video promo I’m always glad to do it. I have co-signed thousands of Internet, Radio and TV shows as well as various other forms of media. This could have happened to any entertainer, not just me.” Unbeknowest to the celeb endorser his words would be edited and used as an introductory segment running prior to footage of Yazdani making his mark on the 101 Hollywood Fwy.

The segment entitled “War 4” circulated on Youtube. com and was watched by over 200,000 viewers. Video images of Evidence were accidentally pulled by the Los Angeles Times when Yazdani was taken into custody, thus mistakenly identifying the MC for the notorious tagger.

Evidence has been a torchbearer and champion of underground hip-hop culture. He remains a positive identity within this often misrepresented and marginalized community. Raised in Venice Beach, California the former breakdancer has released four critically acclaimed and socially conscious albums alongside Dilated Peoples and last year had tremendous success with his solo debut The Weatherman. The songs tackled issues of politics and revolution as well as containing powerful tribute tracks to his mother. The celebrated MC has created his own unique blend of beats and rhymes making him a staple and respected figure on the current musical landscape. Evidence and Dilated Peoples have graced covers and appeared within the pages of Vibe, The Source, King, XXL, YRB, Vapors, Alternative Press, URB and XLR8R while his production work has included tracks for the Beastie Boys, Linkin Park, Swollen Members, Defari, Planet Asia and co- production on Kanye West’s Grammy award winning album College Dropout.

Evidence says he wants this huge mistake cleared up and retractions made by the media. Meanwhile he is busy preparing for upcoming nationwide show dates during the “Fresh Rhymes & Videotape Tour” featuring Dilated Peoples, The Alchemist, Aceyalone and 88 Keys. The tour runs from June 2nd – June 29th and will hit all major cities.

For additional information please visit: www.myspace.com/dilatedpeoples

Authorities say ‘Buket’ is responsible for $150,000 in property damage in the L.A. area.

“Buket” is one of Los Angeles’ most prolific taggers — but he doesn’t exactly work in the shadows.

The tagger is featured in several heavily viewed YouTube videos defacing signs and buses. His most popular video — with nearly 170,000 page views — shows him scaling an overpass of the Hollywood Freeway near Melrose Avenue and tagging the structure as traffic speeds below.

Authorities say Buket’s moniker had adorned hundreds of freeway overpasses, concrete walls and transit buses across the state and southern Nevada. He is believed responsible for upward of $150,000 in property damage along the Los Angeles River and in the areas patrolled by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

But sheriff’s deputies said today that “Buket,” whose real name is Cyrus Yazdani, could be out of commission for quite a while.

The 24-year-old man was detained this morning when he showed up to meet his probation officer. He is expected to be booked on multiple charges of felony vandalism, sheriff’s officials said.

Law enforcement deals with hundreds of taggers across the city. But it is how and when Yazdani chooses to vandalize property that has earned him special attention from law enforcement, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Augie Pando.

“It’s blatant disregard for other people’s property,” Pando said.

Rather than work clandestinely or under cover of darkness, sheriff’s deputies say Buket prefers an in-your-face approach.

Another daylight attack captured on video appears to show “Buket” applying his moniker to an MTA bus as passersby and passengers watch in surprise.

The Internet, whether it’s YouTube or social networking sites, is helping fuel a new explosion in graffiti tagging, albeit with editing and soundtracks. But investigators say it also is helping them build better cases against the vandals.

Earlier this year, another prolific tagger, Gustavo Romero, was sentenced to a year in jail for etching his “Guser” moniker on dozens of Metro buses.

Romero, 23, of South Los Angeles, caused at least $108,000 in damage to property over a two-year period. He pleaded guilty to 49 felony charges.

On stage in Minneapolis, Minnesota Sunday evening, Aesop Rock announced that emcee Camu Tao had died after nearly a two-year bout with lung cancer. The Columbus, Ohio native born Tero Smith, was just less than two weeks away from his 31st birthday. He reportedly passed in his hometown.

Camu Tao rose to fame with the MHz crew, which also consisted of producer RJD2, emcees Copywrite and Jakki Tha Mottomouth, plus DJ Przm, who passed away just under a year ago as well. As the crew ascended to the ranks of the underground Hip Hop community through releases on Fondle ‘Em and ABB Records, Camu would end up at High & Mighty’s Eastern Conference imprint as a solo artist. There, he would record his most significant album, Nighthawks with Cage, after a reported three-day recording session. The album was inspired by the Sylvester Stallone film of the same name.

Camu was also active with Def Jux Records. There, he would be a part of The Weathermen crew with Aesop Rock, Cage, El-P, Breeze Brewin and others, as well as one-half of S.A. Smash. With Metro, the latter group would release 2003’s Smashy Trashy. Additionally, Camu did release two editions of the limited Blair Cosby solo albums, as well as 2004’s Going For De Gold. None of the three efforts were distributed nationally.

Throughout the last three years, Camu’s career had been feature appearances and production on peer albums while he readied his Def Jux solo. Highlights include producing and appearing on Cage’s critically-acclaimed Hell’s Winter (“The Death of Chris Palko”) comeback album, appearing on Aesop Rock’s Danger, Fire & Knives album (“Rockety Rackety”), as well as Slow Suicide Stimulus album (“Cutty Sharks” / “Regardless”).

 

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