Graffiti's Impact On American And Hip Hop Culture

Mi’ena Love

Dr. Carla White Ellis

MCST3300: Hip Hop Culture

4 April 2023

Graffiti: It’s Impact on American and Hip Hop Cultures Graffiti like all art is subjective. It's considered not only an art but also a hip hop subculture. It has made a significant impact on the American and Hip Hop cultures as well as today's society. Graffiti has been crucial to artists to be able to express themselves and communicate as well as preserve their personal history and stories. Graffiti has heavily influenced many arts. Graffiti has not only been used to increase awareness of social and political issues. Its artists have gained acknowledgement by other contemporary artists and respect in the art industry. It has especially influenced design, political art,

One idea being the ancient Italian word ‘graffito’ meaning "writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place." or known as “little scratch”. Graffiti is a very bold, playful, abstract, and colorful contemporary art. It can transform the surroundings with raw emotions. It brings a fun funky vibe to the areas and neighborhoods where it's created. Its negative reputation comes from associated crimes such as vandalism, rebellion, delinquency, and stolen objects such as spray paint which is often used to create the art. These are usually committed by younger generations. It is very similar to street art but the biggest difference is that graffiti is a word based technique. It can be hard to read especially with its forever varying evolution/

Tags are how graffiti started in hip hop culture. Some think Taki 183, a tag artist, started what we call tagging. He inspired many others after becoming well known. Similarly, Throw ups are a more detailed and suave version of tagging/ tags. Ever see graffiti high up? Tagging is also associated with gang members sadly as some would use tagging to claim/ mark territory giving off the feel that a neighborhood or area was dangerous or off limits. When you're walking or driving and see it in the middle of a bridge or somewhere high and think to yourself, “ How in the hell did they get up there?”, that would be the Heaven style. The name is sort of explanatory, no one knows how they got up there, but they did and probably with great risk. WildStyle graffiti is just as it sounds, wild. It's one of the most easily misunderstood/ misread styles of the contemporary form of art. It's a very abstract style. Lastly, Blockbuster style is the more blocky lettered style. This particular style you may have seen after or during movements like ‘Black Lives Matter’, especially after George Floyd’s death. Though it often isn't as colorful, it is still bold and demands passing viewers