After Schoolboy Q and Hot 97 link for the Oxymorom listening session, we have the full CDQ version of Q's favorite track on his upcoming LP entitled "Blind THreats" featuring OG Raekwon. Take a listen to this one, Oxymoron drops February 25th.
February 19, 2014
Graffiti: The Good, the bad, and the ugly
Graffiti was mainly used by political activists to make statements and by street gangs to mark territory.
In Los Angeles during the 1930s, shoeshine boys began tagging their street corners with their names to keep others away from their spot.
It wasn't until the late 1960s when graffiti's true identity began to form. The history of graffiti most commonly began in Philadelphia.
Shortly after Cornbread made his debut, graffiti began to spread to New York in the Washington Heights section.
Taki 183 was one of the most influential graffiti writers in its history. His nickname was the alias for his name, Demetrius. He frequently tagged the subways of New York with his art. Taki's simple signature captured the attention of a reporter and an article appeared in the New York Times. He was the first New Yorker to become famous for writing graffiti. The appearance of his name sparked the public's interest and was published in a New York Times article.
The numbers in the nicknames identify the number of the street each artists lives in.
Writing started moving from the streets to the subways and became competitive. The subway system was a line of communication and a unifying element for all the separate movements. At this point, writing consisted of mostly tags and the goal was to have as many as possible.
After a while, graffiti became so popular that everyone was doing it. Writers found many unique ways to tag. They enhanced their tags with stars, flourishes, and other designs. Crowns were used by writers who proclaimed themselves as king.
The most famous tag in the culture's history was Stay High 149. He used a smoking joint as the cross bar for his "H" and a stick figure from the television series, The Saint.
Writers started to present their tags in larger scale. Larger tags drew more attention.Writers began to increase the thickness of the letters and would outline them with an additional color. This led to the development of the masterpiece.
Super Kool 23 is credited for the masterpiece. The thicker letters enhanced the name. Writers decorated the interior of the letter with designs. First with simple polka dots, later with crosshatches, stars, checkerboards.
Hugo Martinez founded the group, United Graffiti Artists. It selected top subway artists from all around the city and presented their work in the formal context of an art gallery. UGA provided opportunities for exposure. The Razor Gallery was a successful effort to the artists Martinez represented.
Females began to gain attention during the early 1970s. Manhattan's Barbara 62 and Eva 62 where the most prolific. They were just as conquerable as the male writers. As with many male-dominated fields, women weren't respected as writers and were rumored to sleep around.
A new wave of creativity bloomed in the late 70s with crews like TDS, Shy 147, Rasta and more. Style wars were peaking again. It was also the last wave of bombing before the Transit Authority made the elimination of tagging a priority.
In 1980, writers started to consider other creative options. Numerous of writers flocked to art galleries to broaden their horizons.
During the mid 1980s, the writing culture changed dramatically. Due to the drug trade, firearms where available and the climate on the street was tightened. Laws restricted the sale of paint to minors and required merchants to place spray paint in locked cages. Legislation was in the process to make penalties for graffiti more severe.
After the increase in the Metropolitan Transit Authority's anti-graffiti budget. The budget paid for a total of 80,000 hours to remove graffiti. Yards and layups were ore closely guarded and new sophisticated fences where build and quickly repaired when damaged. This caused for writers to quit.
Many other writers weren't so easily discouraged. Physical strength and unity became a major part of the writing experience.
On May 12, 1989, the MTA declared victory over graffiti. The MTA set a policy to remove all marked subway cars from service.
Graffiti holds a significant place in the elements of hip-hop. Graffiti represents the visual of hip-hop. Writers were as prominent like b-boys, emcees, and DJs at the party.
Graffiti still exists as a major part of the urban environment.
In Los Angeles during the 1930s, shoeshine boys began tagging their street corners with their names to keep others away from their spot.
 |
| Cholo writing in L.A. |
Cornbread is credited for graffiti's first explosion. He wrote his name all over the city.
 |
| Cornbread's most famous feats of tagging the elephant at the Philadelphia zoo. |
Taki 183 was one of the most influential graffiti writers in its history. His nickname was the alias for his name, Demetrius. He frequently tagged the subways of New York with his art. Taki's simple signature captured the attention of a reporter and an article appeared in the New York Times. He was the first New Yorker to become famous for writing graffiti. The appearance of his name sparked the public's interest and was published in a New York Times article.
 |
| His tag is short for Demetaki, a Greek alternative for his birth-name Demetrius. |
Writing started moving from the streets to the subways and became competitive. The subway system was a line of communication and a unifying element for all the separate movements. At this point, writing consisted of mostly tags and the goal was to have as many as possible.
After a while, graffiti became so popular that everyone was doing it. Writers found many unique ways to tag. They enhanced their tags with stars, flourishes, and other designs. Crowns were used by writers who proclaimed themselves as king.
The most famous tag in the culture's history was Stay High 149. He used a smoking joint as the cross bar for his "H" and a stick figure from the television series, The Saint.
Writers started to present their tags in larger scale. Larger tags drew more attention.Writers began to increase the thickness of the letters and would outline them with an additional color. This led to the development of the masterpiece.
Super Kool 23 is credited for the masterpiece. The thicker letters enhanced the name. Writers decorated the interior of the letter with designs. First with simple polka dots, later with crosshatches, stars, checkerboards.
 |
| Super Kool 23 was one of the first great taggers in the Bronx. |
The competitive atmosphere led to the development of actual styles. Broadway style was introduced by Philadelphia's Topcat 126. These letters evolved in to block letters, leaning letters, and block busters. Phase 2 later developed Softie letters, more commonly referred to as Bubble letters. Broadway style and Bubble letters were the earliest forms of actual pieces and the foundation of many styles.
Hugo Martinez founded the group, United Graffiti Artists. It selected top subway artists from all around the city and presented their work in the formal context of an art gallery. UGA provided opportunities for exposure. The Razor Gallery was a successful effort to the artists Martinez represented.
Females began to gain attention during the early 1970s. Manhattan's Barbara 62 and Eva 62 where the most prolific. They were just as conquerable as the male writers. As with many male-dominated fields, women weren't respected as writers and were rumored to sleep around.
 |
| Barbara 62 & Eva 62 remain the most recognized of their era to date. |
In 1980, writers started to consider other creative options. Numerous of writers flocked to art galleries to broaden their horizons.
During the mid 1980s, the writing culture changed dramatically. Due to the drug trade, firearms where available and the climate on the street was tightened. Laws restricted the sale of paint to minors and required merchants to place spray paint in locked cages. Legislation was in the process to make penalties for graffiti more severe.
After the increase in the Metropolitan Transit Authority's anti-graffiti budget. The budget paid for a total of 80,000 hours to remove graffiti. Yards and layups were ore closely guarded and new sophisticated fences where build and quickly repaired when damaged. This caused for writers to quit.
Many other writers weren't so easily discouraged. Physical strength and unity became a major part of the writing experience.
 |
| Metropolitan Transit Association spent millions on campaigns to get rid of graffiti. |
On May 12, 1989, the MTA declared victory over graffiti. The MTA set a policy to remove all marked subway cars from service.
Graffiti holds a significant place in the elements of hip-hop. Graffiti represents the visual of hip-hop. Writers were as prominent like b-boys, emcees, and DJs at the party.
Graffiti still exists as a major part of the urban environment.
Isaiah Rashad interview on 'The Breakfast Club'
TDE's newest signee visits Power 105's 'The Breakfast Club' in New York to chop it up with DJ Envy, Angela Yee & Charlamagne Tha God. He discussed his latest project Cilvia Demo, signing with TDE and more. Take a look at the footage above.
"Space Montana" - GustavoByrdz
Every Damn Wednesday! New music from Tallahassee based MC GustavoByrdz for #GustavoWednesday, this week he brings us the track "Space Montanat", produced by JoeyBeats. Check this out right above.
The Internet announces Spring Tour
Yesterday, The Internet announced the Spring leg of their 'Feel Good' tour. This Spring tour contains 19 dates including Tallahassee on April 1st, SXSW and Coachella dates. Look out for details on when tickets go on sale. Take a look at what dates The Internet come to your city.
Pharrell announces New LP "G I R L"
It's been 8 years since Pharrell's first solo project and with his success in 2013 and so far in 2014, Skateboard P decides the announces that he will be releasing another solo project entitled G I R L, dropping March 3rd. We have a clip of the announcement right below. We can expect some great from P on this one.
February 18, 2014
"Hiroshima/Baby Steps" [Official Video] - OverDoz.
The Cali based group OverDoz releases their latest visual for the tracks "Hiroshima" & "Baby Steps" all in one video. Look out for these tracks on their latest project Boom. Take a look at the video right above.
"100 Bottles" - A-Trak & Lex Luger ft. Travi$ Scott
A-Trak & Lex Luger unleashes another track from their upcoming project entitled "100 Bottles" featuring Travi$ Scott. Low Pros dropping soon. Take a listen to this one right above.
Outkast to Headline 5th annual OVO Fest
Today, we have yet another festival Outkast will be headlining for their upcoming 40 festival reunion tour. Outkast will be hitting Toronto for Drake's 5th annual OVO Fest. Tickets for this festival go on sale this Friday, February 21st on OctobersVeryOwn.com.
Schoolboy Q X Hot 97 "Oxymoron Listening Session
Schoolboy Q will be collaborating with Hot 97 for an exclusive Oxymoron listening session today at 3PM EST. Using Ustream, Q will be streaming the 15 track LP for all to hear. If you want to listen to Puffy's album exclusively before February 25th, be here at 3PM.
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