Collection les bleus de St Laz Rel End to End with Sezam, 2025

Rel  

REL Born in Paris in 1974, REL grew up in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris, in the heart of an area that greatly contributed to the emergence of graffiti in France.

Influenced by hip-hop culture and urban tagging since his adolescence, he began tagging in the 80s. The turning point came in 1989, when he created his very first graffiti. He was only 15 years old at the time, but already had a vision: that of free, instinctive graffiti connected to the street. He made his debut in the TCP crew (The Cobra Power), alongside Her, Ore and Shuck 2. At that time, the Parisian graffiti scene was in full development, and REL learned quickly. He developed his letters on walls, rooftops, fences and train lines, where adrenaline intersects with raw creativity. Inspired by French pioneers like the FBI, CTK or ASA, he also nourished his imagination with Spraycan Art and Subway Art, which opened the doors to New York graffiti. In 1991, he began painting on canvas. This gesture, still rare at the time, marked the beginning of a dual trajectory: that of an urban artist who never gave up the street, but who also sought to evolve his visual language on other media. The explosive lettering he worked with spray paint thus took on a new dimension in the studio. In early 1990, REL joined the DKA (Dark Killer Angelz) crew, which he would never leave. Founded with Neac, this collective became one of the most emblematic groups of his career. Together, they imposed a strong, colorful, often radical style, which left a lasting mark on the walls of Paris and elsewhere. Their productions extended from the capital to the suburbs, and their family spirit deeply marked those who crossed their path. Throughout the 90s, REL multiplied his connections and artistic exchanges. He traveled to Europe, to England with DKC, with XOLS / UTK in Belgium, and several trips with Sezam, Fint, Rap, Ansi in Germany. These experiences reinforced his taste for international collaborations and exposed him to other styles, other dynamics, and other scenes. In 2006, REL decided to change his name and adopted that of NAS. He experimented with new writing, deconstructed his letters, and explored rhythm and movement. He joined the LCN collective (Le Chat Noir) and created large frescoes in the New York format. In 2011 and 2013, he traveled to New York, the founding city of graffiti culture. There, he met SEN2 and Dave Foto, and painted with members of the Wallnuts Crew. After the death of Neac, a central figure in his career, REL returned to his original name and is more committed than ever to keeping the DKA spirit alive. He organizes jams, brings together old and new members, and defends a vision of graffiti based on loyalty, transmission, and collective energy. For him, DKA isn't just a crew: it's a family, a legacy, a responsibility. Today, with over 35 years of practice, REL continues to paint wherever possible. In the street, on the rails, on canvas, or in wastelands, he asserts a style in perpetual motion, at the intersection of letters, color, and pulse. He regularly shares walls with major figures in the graffiti scene, in France and internationally, without ever forgetting where he comes from.

REL is a member of the crews TCP, DKA, ACR, D77, UTK, RAW, LCN, 90DBC.