Rags to Riches: How the Rise of Graffiti Has Mimicked its Artists On Saturday Night Live in 1997, then-mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani declared “we’ve gotten [graffiti] off our subways, but there are still idiots out there trying to turn our streets into an eyesore! (McKay)” Now, almost twenty years later, an original piece of iconic street artist Banksy’s work sells for as much as $1.7 million (Randal). Each of Banksy’s most valued pieces was undervalued by hundreds of thousands of dollars. The unconventional value in each piece has been embraced by people all over the world, leaving traditional art in the dust. Historically, graffiti was made famous by Taki 183 in the infamous neighborhood of Washington Heights. After he attained notoriety,
“Kids all over New York, realizing the fame and notoriety that could be gained from "tagging" their names on subway cars (that traveled all over the city, naturally) began to emulate Taki 183. The goal was to "get up" (using the slang of the day), to have one 's name in as many places as possible, and as kids competed against each other to get famous, the amount of graffiti on trains exploded.” The basic illegality of the action of “tagging” gave the art form a stigma from the very beginning. In addition, graffiti, along with DJ-ing, emceeing, and B-boying, have been the four basic elements of hip-hop. It’s common knowledge to anyone that has ever listened to hip hop and rap artists Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Diddy, and any other rap icon that the “thug life” made them the person they are today. A plethora of gang references riddle the early works of Jay-Z, Dre and the like, shedding light on the violent lives that are still all too common. Therefore, in the minds of mainstream society, graffiti, hip-hop, and gang culture has an unbreakable connection. (Rensselaer) A battle against gang culture has ensued since the eighties, when violent crime in inner cities skyrocketed. …show more content…
Police departments in cities blamed gangs for this explosion, and Los Angeles reported an eight percent increase in homicides from 1991 to 1992 (Hubler). With motivation behind gang life being wildly misunderstood for decades, anything with a connotation has adopted a so-called “bad reputation”. Everything from tattoos to skin color has fallen victim to the stigma and ignorance surrounding gangs. Like graffiti, rap was born in the inner city and crafted by self-professed former gang members. Legends like Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls spun rhymes recounting the racial injustice and violence black people suffered in neighborhoods like the South Side of Chicago, Brooklyn, and South Central L.A. This art form highlighted the psychological and emotional effects of living in a constant combat zone. In Shakur’s “Life Goes On,” he laments for the lives of his lost brothers, who died young due to violent crime. In the first verse, Tupac raps: “How many brothas fell victim to tha streetz rest in peace young ni***, there’s a Heaven for a ‘G,’ be a lie, if I told ya that I never thought of death m ni****, we the last ones left but life goes on…” This heart wrenching account of the grief experienced by members of the gang that lost their closest friends is a beautiful illustration
“Kids all over New York, realizing the fame and notoriety that could be gained from "tagging" their names on subway cars (that traveled all over the city, naturally) began to emulate Taki 183. The goal was to "get up" (using the slang of the day), to have one 's name in as many places as possible, and as kids competed against each other to get famous, the amount of graffiti on trains exploded.” The basic illegality of the action of “tagging” gave the art form a stigma from the very beginning. In addition, graffiti, along with DJ-ing, emceeing, and B-boying, have been the four basic elements of hip-hop. It’s common knowledge to anyone that has ever listened to hip hop and rap artists Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Diddy, and any other rap icon that the “thug life” made them the person they are today. A plethora of gang references riddle the early works of Jay-Z, Dre and the like, shedding light on the violent lives that are still all too common. Therefore, in the minds of mainstream society, graffiti, hip-hop, and gang culture has an unbreakable connection. (Rensselaer) A battle against gang culture has ensued since the eighties, when violent crime in inner cities skyrocketed. …show more content…
Police departments in cities blamed gangs for this explosion, and Los Angeles reported an eight percent increase in homicides from 1991 to 1992 (Hubler). With motivation behind gang life being wildly misunderstood for decades, anything with a connotation has adopted a so-called “bad reputation”. Everything from tattoos to skin color has fallen victim to the stigma and ignorance surrounding gangs. Like graffiti, rap was born in the inner city and crafted by self-professed former gang members. Legends like Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls spun rhymes recounting the racial injustice and violence black people suffered in neighborhoods like the South Side of Chicago, Brooklyn, and South Central L.A. This art form highlighted the psychological and emotional effects of living in a constant combat zone. In Shakur’s “Life Goes On,” he laments for the lives of his lost brothers, who died young due to violent crime. In the first verse, Tupac raps: “How many brothas fell victim to tha streetz rest in peace young ni***, there’s a Heaven for a ‘G,’ be a lie, if I told ya that I never thought of death m ni****, we the last ones left but life goes on…” This heart wrenching account of the grief experienced by members of the gang that lost their closest friends is a beautiful illustration