New York City Black Book Masters presents a visual feast of ca. 170 drawings, outlines and burners from the personal collections and black book archives of New York’s finest old school and new school graffiti writers, collected and complied by Alain “KET” Maridueña and From Here To Fame Publishing. We are allowed a privileged glimpse into a usually closed off and private world—the world of a writer’s personal black book—with this wonderful collection of candid and playful pieces that date from 1976 through to 2009. Through the working ideas and drawings that are represented we can see not only the generational differences in styles and execution but also another side to our graffiti heroes, a more intimate and personal one. From Here To Fame Publishing believe it is essential that all aspects of writing culture be preserved to ensure that the real history of graffiti culture is not lost and can be shared with the newer generations of writers and art enthusiasts alike. With that in mind they offer New York City Black Book Masters—a delightful treasure.

"The black book has been around since the beginning of my career and still exists as a staple for any real writer. It’s a tool of the trade. It just started out as a tool to get your peers’ autographs but then as time progressed, it became a staple for preparation; somewhere you could document work, draw in at any time and get really, really explicit in." PART ONE

"Aside from the practice—which surely shows on the wall—owning a full black book packed with fresh graffiti drawings is like having a museum-quality art collection in a handy carrying case." YES 2

An in-depth look at a style in flux, 'SMASH 137 – smash proof' traces the various style excursions and developments of SMASH 137—one of Europe's finest contemporary graffiti writers—as he chases the elusive "perfect style". Never content with resting on his reputation or accepting in-vogue styles, Smash keeps busy mixing it up and pushing his letter forms to the limit. Author Amber Grünhäuser gives us the SMASH 137 "style" lowdown in a series of essays exploring his style lineage, the twists and turns of his style journey, the role of sketching and the 'State of the Line' in his work and his current thoughts and practices. All is revealed—including SMASH 137’s style philosophy and secrets. Be warned this is not for the faint hearted—this is style intensive!

"Firstly, what is style? I mean style is just about character, it’s about the personality you give to the letters, and style development is about sharpening the personality of these letters." SMASH 137

‘Schwarz auf Weiss’ ('Black on White') seeks to make style the true center of attention- and rightly so. Within the pages of this book is a fine selection of characters, styles and vector graphics by international graffiti and street artists who work with the philosophy that "style needs no color". Abstaining from color really highlights the true essentials. Black on white - rock on…

"An amazing book; skillful, varied, black and white, with masses of talented artists... a great way to spread street art throughout the world." MONSTA / FRANCE

"Schwarz auf Weiss’ is a masterpiece of the achromatic colors. It reflects the numerous facets of contemporary graffiti art through its creative presentation of work from established artists as well as from countless newcomers." 3STEPS / GERMANY

"The fundamentals of quality pieces of artwork can be seen throughout this book" TASSO / GERMANY

Part One – The Death Squad gives credit where credit is due to the unsung legend that is Part One, a true style writing master from the pioneering days - with a taste of classic old school New York subway graffiti, as we follow Part’s contribution to the scene from the mid 70s, developmental years until now. Part entered the subway graffiti movement in 1974 just after the foundations for piecing had been laid down. He began doing the bubble and mechanical styles of the era and by 1975-6 he truly came into his own. From 1977 to 1980, few writers could compete with Part One and his TDS partners. Today, Part is still active and going strong - his funkified pieces give the newer generations of writers a real run for their money even by today’s standards. This is the first publication that deals with his impact on writing culture, with stories from the early days until now.

"You can’t mention the New York train movement without talking about Part One. He’s done it all the right way. Cool brother. Great writer." FARGO

"Part’s style is official and original; his color schemes are always on point. I love when he does dark fill-ins with light outlines. He’s a master with it. His connections are always flawless; a true master." COPE2

"He certainly was a technician and I would stop painting sometimes just to see him at work. A lot of guys have their own innovative way at looking at letters but in my mind Part, Tkid170, and Sent had the biggest impact on New York piecing style during my career." SMITH

Cubabrasil: Over 25 artists from Brazil, Germany and Cuba joined forces in this extraordinary creative coming-together, which took place in Havana, Pinar del Rio, São Paulo and Berlin. This book documents the countless pieces and large-scale murals, guerrilla video projections, workshops and exhibitions, which were born from this intercultural collaboration.

CUBABRASIL features
Latin American aerosol stars like
Os Gemeos, Vitché, Nina and Joana;

German aerosol artists
Won, Neon, Cemnoz, Stone,
the video artists group BerlinBeamBoys

and some of Cubas’ best muralists.

"Cubabrasil, a talented international graffiti collective, [...] made strategic interventions around Havana, creating distinctive, large-scale murals weaving together the discernible styles of the various artists. Their efforts resulted [...] in some of the most cheerful visuals one might encounter around Havana." Art in America

"The result of the gang’s stay in Havana was a whole bunch of wall projects. Among the large collaborative projects that catch the eye and small, fast-style with nice characters to brighten up dark streets and alleys." Rugged Magazine

Logan has established his reputation as one of aerosol art’s worldwide heavyweights, specializing in murals, characters and illustrations. Having bridged the gap between spray cans and tattoo machines, Logan has become a master in graffiti influenced tattooing. Check out this Sevillan’s resume as he takes the world by storm! The book comes with a ton of exclusive texts and pictures.

"I got to know Logan in Girona and meeting him stuck in my brain. Logan is very motivated and obsessed with details. His strength lies in figurative realizations." TOAST ONE

"Logan is one of Spains best aerosol artists." PINO

Since 1983, SENTO has been an active graffiti artist painting every surface that holds still long enough to get a fresh coat of Krylon paint. From New York‘s trains to billboards, from highways to freight trains and even going as far as traveling around the world painting, as a Bronx native he has consistently pushed the boundaries of what it means to be a style writer and bomber. His style has influenced writers across the globe in cities like Madrid, Paris, Helsinki, Los Angeles, and Amsterdam. His style is unbeatable and he is truly one of the world‘s best.

"My man Sento is a visionary. He came out with a style that I never had seen before." T-KID 170

"There’s no one like the magnifi-Sento. The LAST of the true Style Masters." ATOME

"He is one of the last train die-hards." WEB ONE

"Nowadays if somebody asks me who my favorite artist is, I say Sento." DELTA INC

The STREET ART book "Back Jumps - The Live Issue #3" brings together over 500 photos and texts from the 24 street artists and projects who were part of the very successful third "Backjumps" exhibition. In addition to showcasing the fascinating works of the artists, numerous photographs of the street art of international icons, many essays and an extensive visual and written report on the first two exhibitions is also included.

more infos:
www.backjumps.org

"When the exhibition, ‘Backjumps – The Live Issue’ opened, it hit like a bomb. Within six weeks up to 12,000 visitors wanted to see the rooms decorated by street artists of the Kunstraum Bethanien in Berlin." Die Zeit.de

"What started as a graffiti magazine developed into a print medium for communication and aesthetics in the urban space and from there into a medium in the live context. 2003 the first 'Live Issue' was organized by the Backjumps team - with overwhelming success." Piranha

"A Berlin exhibition liberates graffiti from their poor image." Süddeutsche Zeitung

"Rarely has an exhibition has attracted so many young people, and it also succeded better in intergrating, children and residents from the neighborhood as many well-intentioned Street festivals did." Zitty- Berlin city magazine

"The organizers in their official program and its press releases do not even bother to disguise their illegal graffiti activities" Berliner Morgenpost

"The CDU (christian socialist conservative party) is outraged that an exhibition, which presents property damaging vandalisim recieves cultural funding. Though all this agitation is of no use, the CDU activists should only go into Bethanien. Then they would see, that Streetart has arrived in the arts for a long time. Their exhibits are not only presented in the White Cube, they think the White Cube now. " DE: BUG

FOR BOOK PROMO MATERIAL WRITE AN EMAIL TO: PRESS@FHTF.DE

PUBLIC WALL WRITING IN PHILADELPHIA is a book of photographs chronicling the history of wall writing in Philadelphia from the late 1960’s through the early 1980’s. Images of SEPTA stations and platforms, gang corners and roll calls, anti-graffiti propaganda and buff-men, run-down neighborhoods and the citizens that inhabited them serve to paint a bleak yet timeless portrait of Philadelphia.
The phenomenon of wall writing permeates all the photos: Graffiti in the 11th Street Concourse as dense as overgrown weeds; an image of a young man writing "Tom loves Kate" on a granite wall, a reminder that writers are not all "hoodlums" bent on destruction. Many seek to communicate. Public Wall Writing in Philadelphia will be well received by graffiti aficionados, historians, and anyone interested in the history of everyday urban life.

 

 

FOR BOOK PROMO MATERIAL WRITE AN EMAIL TO: PRESS@FHTF.DE

Martha Cooper has the reputation of being the first and foremost photographer of emerging Hip Hop culture in New York City.
Hip Hop Files - Photographs 1979-1984, makes a significant part of her extensive and unique archive accessible for the first time.

The Nasty "Terrible" T-KID 170 is the autobiography of graffiti writer Julius Cavero aka T-KID 170.
This autobiography chronicles the life of a gang member, turned graffiti artist and style mentor for urban youth—the uncensored Bronx hip-hop story. During a gang shoot-out in a local park, Julius Cavero suffered three shots to the leg, one nearly severing his major artery. Left for dead, by gang rivals and so-called comrades; T-Kid survived the ordeal only to come face-to-face with 3 weeks of intensive surgical procedures.

In those three weeks, Julius Cavero sketched, endlessly. It was there that he chose to become T-KID 170—T for the tall and skinny look he had, and KID just because that’s what so many people called him. At that moment, Julius Cavero gave up gang life for a new vocation. T-Kid would now focus on art, specifically street art: GRAFFITTI.

The Nasty "Terrible" T-KID 170 retraces his life from the early 1960s to 2005 through his written accounts and artwork, including images of painted trains, walls, canvases, drawings, and sketches produced over the last thirty years. Few artists today can tell a tale like T-KID’s—a ghetto childhood, gangbanging, and daring feats of graffiti. Many who lived in such times either left their lives or their art behind. T-KID, who won fame early on, lived to tell the tale and withstood the test of time.

A time - journey through the life of T-KID, the wild era of New York and the beginning of the graffiti and hip hop culture in the South Bronx.

"Very few writers survived the voyage from gangs to Hip Hop, as we now know it. Those who did, carry hard earned patches and metals of honor fastened on their hearts. These highly decorated soldiers are human embodiments of today’s most influential cultural movement. They carry the history and legacy of countless warriors. From this long line of folk heroes came the notorious Terrible T-Kid 170, one of The Nastiest Boyz on the scene."
PopMaster Fabel

"I think T-Kid was a major stylist in New York in the early 1980’s and an important voice. He pushed the envelope very far although his work is still very close to graffiti. People where blown away by how avant-garde he was in the graffiti scene. He is still a big influence around the world."
Henry Chalfant

In 1985, B-Boys were all the rage but where were the girls? Fast-forward twenty years for the answer: We B*Girlz, a lively look at the hot and happenin world of B-Girlz of the twenty-first century as documented by photographer Martha Cooper and writer Nika Kramer. Breaking is back with a new twist as today's stylish fly girls can battle the best of them.
We B*Girlz, the first handbook for accomplished or aspiring B-Girlz and the boys who love them, showcases the dynamic style and nonstop energy of B-Girlz in action, in practice, on stage, and at home. Providing inspiring insight into a previously little-known subculture that has swept the world, We B*Girlz includes chapters like Lady Legendz, Girlz n' Crewz, Floor Warz, Ride the Beat, We B*Family, Work it!, We B*Stylin' and practical information in the B*Girl Guide on footwork and gear, as well as source information on websites, events, competitions, and classes.

Featuring pioneering B-Girlz like Rokafella from the Bronx, who now dances professionally, and Asia-One from L.A., who organized and promoted the B-Boy Summit for ten years, We B*Girlz also showcases the gutsy girls who dare to dance with all-boy crews such as Vendetta from Atlanta's Burn Unit and Valentine-whose Paris crew, Fantastik Armada, came in second in the 2004 Battle of the Year, the largest international competition in Germany. Presenting girls of all ages and walks of life, We B*Girlz spotlights twelve-year-old Wonder Woman from France, a serious contender at last year's IBE; Krazee Grandma, a beloved sixty-five-year-old B-Girl from Sweden who still spins on her head and travels around Europe to dance competitions; B-Girl Mom Honey Rockwell, whose three-year-old daughter is known as "The Annialator"; and B-Girl & Boy couple Chyna and Sake who organize an annual couple's battle called "Lover's Rock" in San Diego.

The introduction Herstory was written by Ana Rokafella Garcia, a Spanish Harlem–born Hip Hop dancer and choreographer who has danced with crews such as The Transformers and The Breeze Team before joining the Hip Hop dance company GhettOriginal. Rokafella has appeared in music videos such as Fabolous’ "Youngin’"; is the cofounder of Full Circle Productions, a Hip Hop artist collective; and appeared in Soular Power’d, a Hip Hop theater show she co-directed with her husband, B-Boy Kwikstep. Rokafella has done work for artists like Will Smith, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Tito Puente, among others. She lives in New Jersey

Cooper and Kramer first began documenting this new breed of B-Girlz in a breakdance competition in Germany in 2004. Following the dancers to the biggest battles - including Mighty4 in San Francisco, the Spinfactor Finals in Rhode Island, Breaklanta in Atlanta, IBE in the Netherlands, and the International Battle of the Year in Germany-they photographed and interviewed B-Girlz representing everywhere from South Africa to New Zealand, from New York to California, and from Japan to Germany. Culminating in the first annual We B*Girlz competition at veteran B-Boy Ken Swift's studio in Brooklyn, Cooper and Kramer's work will introduce a new generation to the art of B-Girling.

"Women have always been right there on the front lines in Hip Hop, adding our flavor to what the men are doing and making it our own. B-girlz have been holding it down from jump. It's good to see them finally getting the recognition they deserve with We B*Girlz."
MISSY ELLIOTT

In the late 70’s New York City was in the throes of bankruptcy. The Lower Eastside was a wasteland of boarded up buildings and unfenced vacant lots. These were the days before kids became preoccupied with video games, cell phones and MP3 downloads. Needles contaminated with HIV had not yet appeared nor had a widespread fear of pedophiles. Kids roamed their neighborhoods unsupervised, giving their imaginations free rein.

Martha Cooper’s photos take us through the Alphabet City of the late 70’s as the area was about to undergo extensive urban renewal—a process that is still continuing today. At the time, the neighborhood had more than its share of drug dealers and petty criminals, and the landscape seemed ugly and forbidding. But to the children who grew up there, the abandoned buildings and rubble-strewn lots made perfect playgrounds, providing raw materials and open space for unsupervised play. A crumbling tenement housed a secret clubhouse, rooftops became private aviaries, and a pile of trash might be a source for treasure.

With a poignant memoir from Carlos "MARE 139" Rodriguez, a boy who remembers the excitement of growing up playing on the streets of New York City but who now wants something different for his son, Street Play shows the creative and indomitable spirit of city kids determined to make the best of their inhospitable environment. Today the neighborhood is transformed. Martha Cooper’s work attests to a transitional, post-tenement and pre-artist period on the Lower East Side when street culture held turf in Alphabet City.

 

TRUE LEGEND shows the artwork of the New York graffiti artist COPE 2, one of the most active writers around the world. He is well known for his fantastic wall-productions where he brings the most famous graffiti writers together. COPE 2 is one of six characters in the first graffiti computer game "Getting Up" by Atari which was published worldwide in February 2006.

 

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DÉBIL INSIDE shows the spectrum of the french graffiti artist MIST, known for his artwork and three dimentionnal characters & figures which he presents on exhibitions all over the world.

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