Graffiti: So Cool It’s A Pillar of Hip Hop

Key Takeaways

Graffiti evolved from individual tags in 1960s Philadelphia and NYC to complex art.
The spray can (1949) and various markers were crucial tools for early graffiti artists.
New York City's subway system became a primary canvas, increasing artists' visibility and risk.
Graffiti developed distinct styles: tags, throw-ups, blockbusters, pieces, and wild style.
Documentaries like 'Style Wars' captured and disseminated foundational graffiti culture globally.
NYC intensified its 'war on graffiti' in the 1970s-80s, despite growing artistic recognition.
Prominent artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring originated in graffiti.

Graffiti's roots trace to 1930s Mexico, where mural art and public writing predated spray cans.
The portable and versatile spray can was invented in 1949 by Ed and Bonnie Seymour, revolutionizing the art form.

Subway trains became significant canvases, artists often entering rail yards at night.
New York City's efforts to combat graffiti in the 1970s and 1980s intensified artist activity.
Traveling subway cars significantly increased visibility for late 1970s and early 1980s graffiti artists.

Wild style is highly stylized, using overlapping letters, bright colors, shading, and 3D effects.
Cholo style, prevalent on the West Coast, features old English lettering and cartoonish figures.
Anti-style (ignorant style) is intentionally primitive, created by skilled artists to subvert norms.
Foundational graffiti styles established in 1970s New York City remain influential today.

Early graffiti artists often made their own tools and components, creating a DIY art style.
Graffiti is identified as one of the five pillars of hip-hop culture, fostering competitive art.
Comic artist Vaughan Bode, especially characters like Puck and Cheech Wizard, influenced 1970s and 80s graffiti lettering.
Graffiti spread globally in the late 1970s to Britain and Amsterdam, documented by films like 'Style Wars' (1983).

Documentaries like 'Style Wars,' 'Subway Art,' and 'Spray Can Art' recorded early graffiti culture.
The 1982 film 'Wild Style' featured early artists like Lady Pink and Fab5 Freddy, marking the first hip-hop movie.
The United Graffiti Artists collective formed in 1972, leading to early exhibitions and gallery shows.
New York City declared a 'war on graffiti' in the 1970s, making aerosol cans illegal for minors and forming a Transit Police Graffiti Squad.

Graffiti artists shared tips on modifying spray paint cans, adapting nozzles from products like Easy Off oven cleaner.
Lead-based paints in Rustoleum and Krylon cans in the 1970s offered fast drying and brighter colors.
The removal of lead from spray paints in the late 1970s negatively impacted desired properties.
European brands like Montana and Molotov embraced the street art market in the 1990s, offering specialized paints and caps.

Developing a personal 'hand style' by designing unique alphabets is the first step, practiced with pens and markers.
Key techniques include shaking cans, controlling pressure for line thickness, and adjusting distance for saturation.
Unwritten rules prohibit tagging churches, schools, hospitals, private property, headstones, and natural elements.
Other methods include wheat-pasting posters, stickers, stencils (like Banksy's work), and 'reverse graffiti' by cleaning surfaces.

Jean-Michel Basquiat, under tag 'Samo' with Al Diaz, achieved significant fame in the art world by the 1980s.
Keith Haring's early work involved drawing with chalk on subway advertisements, with his 'radiant baby' tag.
Shepard Fairey is recognized for his 'Andre the Giant has a posse' stickers and the 'Hope' poster for Barack Obama's 2008 campaign.
Lady Pink and Lady K are notable female artists; Renz in Copenhagen is highlighted for skilled and complex artwork.
Kiddult vandalizes luxury brand stores, targeting their perceived co-option of street art culture.