Thursday, January 31, 2008

Supposed to be Issue 2.

Too many...time to release some of the pressure behind the flood gate. Just Click!


The following story is something I found online and reworded it into a spread. I'm not sure how much I actually like the actual write up. In a few ways it reads like somebody who has 2 hours until a research paper is due, and doesn't quite know what they're writing on. Its a good read though.




I'm not good at this spread shit. I know....

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Playtime is over.

I'm done with you kids,



When the beards is in the building you know what it is.

Some footage I shot in 2001.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Issue 2 is around the corner...

We gotta celebrate.
click the pictures to make them larger.

Camden




Wilmington









Philadelphia









Issue #2 Features

Will the real Agua Stand up?
"..I guess getting locked up for somebody elses crime must be pretty exciting."
Stolen Suroc Scriptures. "Buford Youthward woes"
Ground Control Violence in Philly. "The best we can do is survive. I was 13 the first time I saw a homicide."
Silent Wrytes Interview. "I say fuck em', they aren't fooling anyone and just playing themselves."
Ugly Squad in the news. "They kept alligators in a basement pond and fed them chicken and pigs ears."
Slick Aleas Interview. "Once you hit a wall its up for the people to decide. It's like being on American Idol, the street does the votes."
and I'll throw in some tunnel flics for good measure.


Yeah it's going down.


THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. THE 2ND ISSUE AND ALL REPRINTS ARE NOW SOLD OUT.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Bombing Iraq?

Old men make wars for young men to die in them.

I really don't care how you feel about the war. I'm educated enough to know the basis for wars and the history behind wars in the world. If you think wars in the world will just cease one day, then you're an idiot. The people over there fighting are good friends I grew up with, some I know from school and people just like me. These individuals are trying to make money to better their lives or pursuing their passion in the US Military. Some soldiers are cops who are either in the Reserves or the Guard, and yet others are robbers who love to squeeze pistols. And the funny thing is they love each other when they are in the same unit fighting side by side, and they love each other when they are back home doing what they do best. Either way this is life. When I look at pictures like the ones below, it shows me that these are real people, none perfect, but nobody is, Bombing Iraq....

All stolen.







I wonder when they're coming home.

Friday, January 4, 2008

There once was....

A bunch of graffiti websites that supported the 610 and Philly graff scene. Sites like The Avenue from Drexel, Mr. Niser's Art of Tags, Definition of ill, Philly's Art, 610 Graff, Filthadelphia, Funkadelphia, the Grape Street Pub AFU site, Street Soldierz, the IX Circle site, District of Damange, Philly Graffiti and Graff 215. They all had gems among the numerous photos taken and put on these sites. The boom of the majority of these sites came at a time when the internet was just picking up. They certainly helped suburban writers get an insight into Big City writing life and copy styles until the point they were ready to try them out on walls. Alot of these sites are now gone or contain broken links and are not even worth the time searching out. However there are a couple that still remain among the many because they were not direct websites and were hosted on sites like Angelfire. I'm sorry for letting these go, but graffiti documentation is wack because its biased as all hell and people are selfish (Understandibly). Below are a few shots from different websites that survived the flood of the early 00's. Check them out if you get a chance.

Art Crimes

Here you'll find some self promotion and writer's pieces that arent even from the fucking area. But nonetheless you'll also find diamonds in the rough, below is one such picture. Check the link and judge for yourself.

(Cese, Nope, Beans, Asia, Curve, Esteme)



Philly Graffiti
This is another site where you can find some great gems. Most if not all of the links still work and you can view a number of slams from dudes who actually did them proper. The toss page lacked slightly and leans to the West. But I also remember first seeing this site and it being another cool resource for pictures.

(Above Slave IX, Below Sneez WCS)



610 Graff

This is another site that has the majority of photos still hosted on it, 610 Graff. Many of the writers you see here are repeated on the site above, however alot of the photos are different and you'll find some great old photos for you to learn from. There are a number of Philly writers on here, but it also has a good look at the 610 at the time with some minor exceptions. I actually remember when the site stopped getting updated. It would be pretty funny if it started up again and the "610Kid" stopped sleeping.


(Above Creep, Faim, Drama, Exam Circa 98)

This wont take you anywhere,
http://610graff.tripod.com/bottom.html

but this will.
The picture embraces what the Upper Darby / West Philly crossover means. Where does the WP line start and who should be allowed to write it? I'm not from either, so I aint worried about it. But leave your comments, let me know what you think about it.


ESC Sqd

This page was strictly early ESC and the people they painted with as the page describes. There is some classic material hosted on this site. You can certainly see the development that the writers went through, mainly Mad and Kid. Not much more to say but take a look and see how long some of these guys been rocking walls and developing styles.

(Ke, Skan KMD, Abar NL, Ses)

Then of course you have two main websites that weathered the storm of websites. Nightcrawla and Silent Wrytes. Nightcrawla does not allow you to post and thank god. You can view numerous writers throughout Philly Wall Writing history that made a dent in numerous neighborhoods throughout the city. SW which started out the same as most of the websites, hosting pictures from AZ to PA focusing on Philly writing has now switched entirely to a forum based design and serves a different, but equally important purpose. No matter what your view is on how the Internet changed graffiti, its undeniable that it has made a strong presence. We are able to communicate quicker and flatten the playing ground. Some use it to abuse and portray themselves as Royalty while others just like looking at pictures.
For more please pick up the Glamorous Life issue #2 for all the hidden inside secrets you never knew. Coming Soon!

Good Morning

Rakan Wicket King



Top Rakan, Bottom Emad and Caem



Rakan on double duty



SkrapLover (Rakan)

Thanks to for holding these for me.