Anfangs, als northcoast.graffix ein fast reiner Plattenladen war (northcoast.records...einige erinnern sich sicher), kam es durch einen blöden Zufall dazu, das die Post den Antwortbrief auf unsere Händleranfrage von Molotow™ verbummelte und wir auf Grund des gnadenlos näher rückenden Eröffnungstermins bei Montana Germany angefragt haben. Das wurde von Jiner und Irie, die uns damals berieten, schon argwöhnisch beäugt, aber wir waren jung, naiv und brauchten die Kannen - und ganz ehrlich: mit so einer linken, niederträchtigen Nummer grade in dem Business hätte auch keiner von uns gerechnet (der sog. oder auch "Bitch move")!
Aber nun haben wir alles was wir brauchen und noch einiges mehr dank Molotow™ und MTN! Doch lest selbst:
"The Two Montana’s
Here you will find some history to help you distinguish the difference between the two Montana’s, Spanish & German. The information formulated below was given voluntarily through both companies in various forms of public statements and Interviews. The bulk of information contained here is taken from an interview given by www.hiphop.it with both parties in 2004. We invite you to form your own opinions on the matter.
In 1993 two writers named Moockie and Kapi both from Barcelona Spain decide to open a graffiti/hip-hop shop. They contact a spray paint manufacturer known as “Felton” in Spain for research and to negotiate prices. They discuss the potential of the graffiti art market with the commercial manager at the spray can factory “Jordi Rubio” who later becomes the owner of Montana Spain. Jordi is fascinated with the idea but Felton is unconvinced of the potential sales in a market for graffiti. Approximately one year later around
1994 Jordi asks Kapi & Moockie to help build a brand for the graffiti market. Kapi & Moockie contribute there knowledge of graffiti needs and Jordi contributes his knowledge in the technical aspects of spray cans. In the spring of 1994 Kapi & Moockie organize an event called “Aerosol Art” and invite artists from all over Europe. At this event they introduce the first Montana cans and this is the first time graffiti artist’s use Montana paint. Shortly after Montana develops the “Hardcore” 400ml can which we know today and the “Alien” can in 2001. During the course of 1994 news spreads that there is a graffiti store in Barcelona that sells quality paint very cheap and artists from all over Europe gather there and take cans back to their home countries in bulk. The artists themselves became the first exporters of Montana. By the end of 1995 these artists began to import Montana into their home countries on a regular basis, at first Italy, then Switzerland and then France and the UK. During 1997 Montana grants the exclusive distribution rights for Germany to L&G. Problems begin soon after. By 1997 Montana becomes well known and begins exporting to other continents. Montana Spain began as and still is dedicated to the graffiti art culture and has remained a small company with about 50 employee’s involved with their manufacturing facility and distribution. Spanish Montana contends that all their products are made with devotion to quality in aerosol art culture. All Spanish Montana spray cans are hand made at their own facility as they have been since the beginning.
In 1996 a distribution company named L&G is founded by Ruediger Latz and Tim Latif (known to us now as German Montana). In 1997 L&G becomes the exclusive distributor of Spanish Montana for Germany. Shortly after L&G also gains the rights to distribute in several other countries in Europe. Meanwhile L&G allies with Motip Dupli a multi national corporation and the largest maker of spray paint for automobiles in Europe (Known to Americans as Dupli-Color) to manufacture and label spray paint cans for L&G with Montana Spain’s customers as the target audience. Mutip Dupli becomes aware of the potential in the graffiti market and makes an offer to buy Spanish Montana from Jordi. Montana Spain rejects the offer and soon after L&G and Dupli begin producing exact copies of the cans labeled as Montana Hardcore and start to distribute them throughout Montana Spain’s established market. Mutip Dupli then starts a negative campaign of information and spreads several rumors about Spanish Montana including that the paint allegedly contains Lead and other poisons. L&G contends that product ideas given to Montana Spain during there business relationship entitle L&G to an equal share of the brand name “Montana”. L&G and Mutip Dupli initiate a process which results in inspectors coming to Spain to examine their products in hopes of reducing their productivity. In 2001 L&G and Mutip Dupli make a patent search for the name “Montana” and they find a company named “Farbo S.A.” located in Switzerland who has the name “Montana” already licensed
throughout Europe. L&G and Mutip Dupli then offer to pay a royalty for using the name “Montana” from Farbo and succeed. L&G has now gained the ammunition they need to file lawsuits and attempt to pursue the name & market that Montana Spain has created. In 2002 L&G release the “Montana New Generation” can. In 2003 they release the Montana “GOLD” can and the Montana “Platinum” can in 2004. At the same time in 2004 Montana Spain begins to brand some of their cans as “MTNMTN” to try to relieve some confusion the customers are having between the two companies. The differences between the two Montana’s remain unresolved. L&G reports to have about 20 employee’s involved in its’ distribution operation. German Montana also claims to have the same devotion to quality and aerosol art culture. L&G spray cans are made with automated machines at the Motip Dupli facility as they have been since the beginning."
