Mister Cartoon's Artistic Voyage: A Spectrum of Mastery
Text & Photo: Atsuko Tanaka
In Tokyo, artist Mister Cartoon unveild his latest collaboration with Born & Raised, igniting the city with creative passion. Reflecting on his enduring bond with Japan and influential contributions to hip hop culture, Mister Cartoon's journey radiates boundless creativity. From tattooing renowned artists to crafting designs for sports teams and producing his own line of car care products, his artistic prowess knows no limits, leaving an indelible imprint on the global stage.
- Tell us about the Born & Raised pop-up event in Tokyo you’re participating in this trip.
This is the unveiling event for my collaboration with Born & Raised. We have a lot of common interests, such as fashion and collectibles. It's been a dream of ours to come to Japan together for a long time, and this time it finally came true. At the event, we will first release a clothing collection such as T-shirts and Hoddies and 29-inch limited Edition BMX ,Mister Cartoon Throne Bike here, which will later be sold in the U.S.
- That’s great. How many times have you been to Japan before?
I’ve been coming here since the '90s, and I stopped counting at some point but many times. Sometimes, I stayed for 1 or 2 months, which allowed me to experience Japanese daily life more deeply. I would basically live here, eat at Matsuya, walk to work, and do tattoo, leading a more regular lifestyle. In this trip, my friends from LA came with me, and some of them are in Japan for the first time, so it will definitely be historic and memorable for us.
- What year was the first time you came?
In 1992. I didn’t even do tattoo, I came to do murals and work on cars for lowriders based in Machida. My friend, Yuzuru, introduced me to Japanese culture and I fell in love with this country. It became a part of my life and last summer, I brought my family so they could experience Japan. This time, my son Lefte is here which is very important to me, and I’m very fortunate.
- So you would say Japan is one of the countries have a lot of meaning to you.
Yes, it’s one of my favorite countries to visit. I feel a strong connection with Japan and we have a lot in common like the culture, attention to detail, strong family values.
- Cool! Now I wanna ask you about your childhood. What kind of environment did you grow up in?
I was born in 1969 in downtown LA and grew up in the harbor area by the docks. I have a very strong family, middle class. I fell in love with art at a young age, and my father would take me to car shows where I loved the classic cars. As I became a teenager, I was more interested in lowrider cars.
- You were interested in art an early age, and I heard that your father was a good artist too?
Both of my parents are artists, but not professional. They never dreamed of becoming professional artists, or maybe they didn’t know they could because in their era, not many artists got jobs. My father starated working by sweeping the shop as a young boy and later owned the printing shop. It was a small neighborhood shop and I was very lucky to have the opportunity to see artists coming by and have them encourage me to paint.
- I remember you told me your father had you draw signs for shops?
Yes, he got me my first job, like painting barber shop windows or TV repair windows. I didn’t know what I was doing because I was still very young, but I practiced every day and it gave me a little bit of confidence. Then I started taking Karate when I was a teenager, and my Karate master was also was a car painter so I learned the automobile arts and painting from him. That gave me the knowledge and confidence to pursue it. I never had jobs other than drawing my whole life.
- That’s amazing.
They said that’s entrepreneurial, but I didn’t know the meaning of the word until I became much older. I made many mistakes which give me balance. It’s impossible to do everything correctly, so you have to try and learn from your mistakes if possible.
- That’s true. So after high school, what did you do? Did you keep drawing and painting?
I tried to go to college but did only 1 year and learned sign painting. I thought sign painting jobs would always be available because everybody needs signs. I was still doing graffiti and also started getting into tattooing, designing T-shirts, graphics, and logos. These things made me happy, but I was still very young and tried to understand the business which was very difficult.
- What was the first artwork that made you proud of yourself?
Murals I did in my neighborhood. I went around to auto body shops and asked if they needed a mural to promote the shop. When I drove by the shops, I could see my murals on big walls, and my confidence went up a little, so I kept doing many murals. Then, the logo and album cover I did for Kid Frost which became his first gold record. I went to a record store and saw the album I designed, thinking I was in the music business. I love hip hop and soul music, so I pushed my career towards that. Eazy E gave me one of my first breaks. I met him at a car wash.
- At a car wash!?
Yeah, I gave him my business card very nervously. Eventually, he gave me the job of designing an album cover for Above the Law, so my confidence went up again. Other than that, I kept doing murals, airbrushing lowrider cars, and designing logos for local businesses. I tried to make a little bit of money, but it is difficult for artists to make money sometimes. If somebody asked, “Can you do this?” I would say yes even if I didn’t know how. I figured it out later.
- Then eventually you started tattooing professionally?
Yes, once I started tattooing, I began to make more money. If you do a logo for someone, you have to wait 1 or 2 month to get paid. For tattooing, when it’s finished, I get paid immediately, which I liked.
- How did you learn tattooing technically?
I learned on the streets, in shops by watching someone, and then trying it on my friends. It takes a lifetime to master, but you always keep learning, stay teachable, and be open-minded.
- You’ve done tattoos for so many rappers. Who was your first client?
My first famous client was Cypress Hill. I met them through Estevan Oriol and tattooed them. Then they introduced me to many rappers, like Guru, DJ Premier, and Goodie Mob. Once I started tattooing those guys, I gradually started to climb. I love hip hop, so it was very special and important to me to respect hip hop style and contribute to the culture.
- Were there any rappers who influenced you?
Yes, being able to watch Cypress Hill doing interviews, radio shows, and public performances, I learned a lot from them because they’re regular neighborhood guys making big global moves. So I mirrored their style like if they’re traveling internationally, I was traveling internationally and tried to understand the business. Then I did tour merchandise for them.
- You were doing many different things at the same time.
Tattooing, tour merch, doing murals, cars, fashion, everything at once. Many artists only do tattoos, which is a very respectable style, focusing on one thing and mastering it. I kind of do everything. Sometimes it’s not the best idea, but it’s the only way I know to be an artist.
- What are the most memorable tattoos you’ve done based on the designs and experiences?
I think back pieces are the most impactful because they tell the story of their life. Many of the back pieces I’ve done are not rappers, but the street guys, so people may not be able to see them.
- So your customers come up with an idea and you design?
Yes, I pull their idea out of their head and put it on paper to show them. They might say no or maybe, and then I have to keep at it until they say yes, it’s multi-session process. The hardest part is making the client happy. Of course, tattooing is very difficult, but dealing with other people’s ideas is more challenging. Sometimes their idea sounds good, but it doesn’t translate to a tattoo.
- I see. You take time to create the design in advance?
No, I do it that day. I have other jobs, so I can’t work on people’s designs before the session like weeks ahead, back and forth. That’s more commercial style.
- What do you think about the changes in the scene over the last 30 years?
Hip hop is a heartbeat, an emotion, and a culture that will always evolve. I always try to understand the new generation, and I like every generation. Hip hop has always had real MCs and real graffiti artists. Technology gets better, but you still have to use your hands and have your own style. You can’t buy style in a store, people who copy don’t get respect, so I always think there’s greatness in every generation.
- I agree. By the way, You produced a line of car cleaning products last year, I wanna ask you about that.
I have a partnership with Turtle Wax which is an 80 year old company. They’re family owned and operated and they have similar values to me. I’m very interested in wax, so my dream was to make my own line. It took about 10 years to manifest, but now it’s here and I’m very proud and grateful. Now it’s available at major automotive stores in America, Mexico, Australia, Canada, and soon Japan and Asia.
- Also, you will drop wine soon?
Yes. I’ve done different collaborations with alcohol like Modelo beer, but now I have my own wine brand Title X with custom bottles. The wine is made in central California and it’s top shelf wine, and the bottle is an art piece.
- That’s beautiful! Any other new projects you’re working on now?
We’re working on different sports teams. I designed Ohtani shirts for the Dodgers and am working with the NBA, San Antonio Spurs designs, so not only LA teams. I want to do all, MLB, NBA, NFL, LAFC.
- Have you ever met Ohtani in person?
No, but I drew his portrait. I painted him when he was with the Angels, and now with the Dodgers, so I did two portraits. I had to look at his face all the time, so I feel like I know him.
- Very cool. So how would you describe your art style in one word?
Maybe “Classic”. I try to embrace old school style and love retro concepts and quality, bringing that to the modern world.
- How do you see yourself in the future?
I hope to keep making collectibles and maybe make products more available. Right now, sometimes limited editions and they sell fast, so I want to make more for the masses. I maintain my art in a hardcore style, so it might be difficult for the masses, but if I stick to the formula, maybe I can do it. In the future, less tattooing, more expansion.
- You have a tatoo shop with a barber in LA, right?
Yes, we have a brand called “Master Deluxe” and we make products with top companies in the barber space like pomade, clippers, and shavers. I weaved all the cultures I love, barber, tattoo, car culture, very masculine style.
- So if there’s anyone who wants to get tattooed by you, can they go to your shop and possibly get an appointment?
I do less tattooing now because tattooing is one at a time. I want to be able to reach out to many people. But my tattooing is always in my heart, and they can still reach out through my website. If they have a good idea and want to travel to LA, it might be possible. Especially if the introduction is through friends, it’s way better.
- Good to know. Lastly, please tell me what hip hop mean to you.
To me, it’s life. It’s the music I share with my children, the way I dress, the way I stand, the way I draw, everything is hip hop. And I have a graffiti writer's head. Even though I get older with gray hair, I still think like a 20 year old b-boy. It keeps me young and competitive, staying original and trying to be dope.