GRAFFITI HUSTLE. BEHIND THE SCENES.
Get the unfiltered drop on the creative chaos that fuels the pure hustle behind the scenes. Watch some of the featured graffiti artists below.
Kevin Skea @skeakevin
un_yun
THE ARSENAL OF STYLE: MAKING YOUR MARK
As the game escalated, so did the artistry, spawning distinct styles that are codes and battle cries all at once. Graffiti is more than just vandalism—it’s a dynamic, evolving culture built on risk, competition, and the relentless desire to transform the mundane concrete jungle into a gallery of unsanctioned expression.
Artistic tools of the trade.
STYLE | CHARACTERISTIC |THE EDGE
Read about some of the styles, characteristics, and the edge like Tag, Throw-Up (Bomb), Straight Letter, Wildside, Blockbuster and Stencil.
STYLE | CHARACTERISTIC |THE EDGE
-
TAG
Simple, stylized signature (name/moniker) in one color. The fastest, most foundational form. Ego in ink. The original score. It's about sheer volume and getting your name in the most dangerous, visible spot (a "heaven spot").
-
THROW-UP (BOMB)
A step up from a tag. Quick, two-color bubble letters, often hollow or quickly filled.
Speed and coverage. Designed to be executed fast, covering a large area before the heat arrives. Simple, effective, and dominates space.
-
STRAIGHT LETTER
Big, bold, blocky letters. Readable, powerful, and clean.
Impact. A commanding presence that sacrifices complexity for immediate legibility and brute force.
STYLE | CHARACTERISTIC |THE EDGE
-
WILDSIDE
The Queen Discipline. Highly intricate, complex, and often illegible interlocking letters, adorned with arrows, spikes, and curves.
Elite status. It's a secret code. Only other writers know what it says. It’s a flexing of advanced technical skill and cultural knowledge.
-
BLOCKBUSTER
Massive letters, often done with paint rollers, covering entire walls or sides of trains (a "wholecar").
Territory. Maximum physical size, often prioritizing coverage and scale over intricate detail to claim a huge space.
-
STENCIL
Pre-cut templates used to rapidly apply complex images or text. Made famous by artists like Banksy and Blek le Rat.
Guerrilla messaging. Quick, repeatable, and powerful. It’s often used for political commentary or easily recognizable iconography.