Words: Sterling Royce
LEETO
His signature fusion Philly-esque handstyle raises eyebrows in some, hope in others, hearts in ladies and hate from many. And everyone can only expect more from this 22-year-old Bushwick, Brooklyn, native as he continues to do it his way. Leeto’s silver saturation of his home turf through Williamsburg and over to LES shows you where his energy’s at. After stints in Rikers and Greene Correctional, Leeto moved to Greenpoint and began writing with some locals. “I always wanted to do mad crazy lines going everywhere. That’s how I developed my L and my T to be so curved,” he says. But it wasn’t until 2003, when he got into a disagreement with one of his former partners, that Leeto really found his calling: a daily diet of bombing and beef. “Dissing somebody’s shit is what makes me feel good. It’s like, Yeah, [I] got the upper hand,” he says with a laugh. “Beefin’ is the best part of graffiti. That’s more of the orgasmic shit, rather than just hitting new shit.” Even the ladies around the way notice his passion. “In the scene, girls really jock you because your accomplishments and what you do,” he says. “A lot of girls love me for who I am.” And if you ever wondered, he’s writing a book of his poetry and memoirs, which he says will be out in a few years.—Sterling Royce
