The Graffiti Movement in the Bronx

Graffiti is the sacred script of hip hop. Graffiti visually expressed the essence of early hip hop—youth rebelling against widespread disinvestment from urban areas by creating their own underground culture with whatever tools they had.

Graffiti and hip hop united through "style." Artists prioritized unique self-expression, making their mark. Graffiti writers showcased intricate lettering and innovation, while hip hop artists displayed distinctive flows, rhymes, and fashion.

Emerging from urban communities suffering from widespread disinvestment in the early 1970s, graffiti and hip hop in general asserted the creative power of urban youth, creating new identities and a new global culture in the process, rooted in style.