Buket
Buket is the tag name of Cyrus Yazdani (born July 17, 1983), who is a graffiti artist known for his daredevil-like approach.[1] Buket, who was always well known in the graffiti world, rose to fame on a mainstream scale through a YouTube video which showed him tagging above a Los Angeles freeway in broad daylight.[2] After a high profile arrest and later a release that led to a spree of vandalism across numerous continents, including Asia he has continued to influence graffiti on a large scale.
YouTube Video
The YouTube video of him tagging over the L.A freeway has over 600,000 views and was covered by several media outlets, which eventually led to his arrest.[3] The introduction clip of the video featured hip hop artist Evidence from Dilated Peoples who was later confused by several media sources as Buket, which is not the case. Evidence is a supporter of Buket, and is wearing a Buket t-shirt during his music video "Don't Hate".[4]
Growing Up
Buket grew up in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose California and started his graffiti career at the age of thirteen while attending a local middle school.[5] Buket was known as a multi-dimensional graffiti artist throughout the Bay Area, since he was willing to tag anywhere but could also do intricate pieces as well. He would eventually move to Los Angeles in 2006, where he became one of L.A's most prolific graffiti artists.[6]
Arrest
In 2008, after Buket became an internet sensation, the L.A police became determined to put an end to his graffiti stardom. His apartment was raided and police issued a warrant for his arrest.[7] Yazdani plead guilty to 32 felony counts of vandalism in an LA County court and served 10 months in the county jail. Just months after his release he was rearrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Office and accused of several new acts of vandalism. In July 2009, he pleaded no contest to one count of felony vandalism and accepted financial responsibility for five other incidents. He was later sentenced to 3 years and 8 months in a California State Prison. The 44-month sentence marked one of the heftiest penalties handed down to a graffiti artist ever.[8]