Graffiti is NOT one of the four elements of Hip Hop. This is chronologically impossible. "Graffiti" was first born as "Writin' " in NYC in 1969-70, a decade before rap music reached NYC in the late 70s. Hip Hop which began in the early 80s, can not include "graffiti" as one of its elements, because Writin' or Graffiti surfaced decade before Hip Hop. Hip Hop is really the last element of Writin'.
Graffiti is the plural of the italian "graffito." Graffito in english means to scratch or scribble. What you saw on the NYC subways in the early 70s were no "scribbles. Instead, those of us who started Writin' would call our large letter pieces, masterpieces.
We were WRITERS who WROTE OUR NAMES.We were not "graffiti artists." Every time a new face would appear on the scene, we would always ask two questions, "you write?" and "what you wrtie?" Not "do you do graffiti?"
It was the NYT who first baptized an entire Culture with the denigrating term "graffiti" in 1971.
Why this denigration? The only correct answer to this question is: Racism.
If our last names would have been been Rockefeller, Trump, Bloomberg or Kennedy, instead of Ramirez, Jones or Delgado, then those same powers that be would have named the new Culture with a more formal name. Instead of "graffiti", the NYT would have referred to it as "avant garde pop something art." But because it was invented by the children of the Working Class, the powers that be saw fit to denigrate the entire Culture with "graffiti."
Graffiti is the plural of the italian "graffito." Graffito in english means to scratch or scribble. What you saw on the NYC subways in the early 70s were no "scribbles. Instead, those of us who started Writin' would call our large letter pieces, masterpieces.
We were WRITERS who WROTE OUR NAMES.We were not "graffiti artists." Every time a new face would appear on the scene, we would always ask two questions, "you write?" and "what you wrtie?" Not "do you do graffiti?"
It was the NYT who first baptized an entire Culture with the denigrating term "graffiti" in 1971.
Why this denigration? The only correct answer to this question is: Racism.
If our last names would have been been Rockefeller, Trump, Bloomberg or Kennedy, instead of Ramirez, Jones or Delgado, then those same powers that be would have named the new Culture with a more formal name. Instead of "graffiti", the NYT would have referred to it as "avant garde pop something art." But because it was invented by the children of the Working Class, the powers that be saw fit to denigrate the entire Culture with "graffiti."
by MICO March 12, 2015
Get the Graffiti mug.A hidden pier right by the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philly. This is one of Philadelphia's most Instagramable areas. The pier used to hold working train tracks, but they ran down. In summer we go here and jump into the river off of the sides of the pier! :)
by Alwaysonpointeee May 23, 2018
Get the graffiti pier mug.by smartperson42069 August 21, 2019
Get the graffiti mug.karaoke: a form of entertainment, in which individual members of the public sing.
graffiti: a form of vandalism involving painted text or images in public places.
karaoke graffiti: a form of art, in which individual members of the public paint song lyrics in public places.
graffiti: a form of vandalism involving painted text or images in public places.
karaoke graffiti: a form of art, in which individual members of the public paint song lyrics in public places.
One graffiti artist sang a karaoke song, while painting the song lyrics in a mural. That artist created "karaoke graffiti."
by Pseudonymthewild@gmail.com January 24, 2013
Get the karaoke graffiti mug.A graffiti taggin' squad from northern KY formed from Blood and Crip gang members. PxBGK3TS-ARMY. represented by a purple or black bandana. or the kolour purple.
man1:dude you know jake?
man2:yea man, hes reppin pine st. Crip why?
man1:na dog hes going all city with Graffiti Kingz
man2:dude there shit is crazy!!
man2:yea man, hes reppin pine st. Crip why?
man1:na dog hes going all city with Graffiti Kingz
man2:dude there shit is crazy!!
by fghjk34 June 29, 2011
Get the graffiti kingz mug.A type of graffiti style first seen and developed during the late 90's/ early 2000's in the fast paced environment of the european train writing scene. Mainly characterised by heavy usage of fat caps, even for outlines and details. An experienced eurostyle writer should be able to finish their piece within less then 10 minutes, and know the exact times of every single backjump spot in their city.
You ever been to Stockholm or Dortmund? These guys are putting out eurostyle graffiti pieces faster than my printer!
by sony-g December 28, 2023
Get the Eurostyle graffiti mug.A very kawaii amazing friend who makes people really happy. Toxic graffiti is insane and say gross things about gross characters, but you still need to be tolerant to dumb nerd people… Toxic Graffiti is funny, cute, skilled, creative and the best person you could’ve ever met.
by Shellcomets November 22, 2021
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