INTERNETS!!! What is good? Please give me a warm reception for my first post at dallaspenn.com. This post is a living testament to the power of the interconnected networks known as the Internets. Before I go any further, I’d like to introduce myself to the Internets. My pen name is T-Bag and first and foremost I am a new father, to my 14 month old son Clive (named after Kool Herc’s government), Husband to my wife, Registered Nurse by night, graffiti art collector, Lo head, and all around hip hop head.
I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to share with you my thoughts, interests, opinions and whatever else I feel like in this amazing space. As I mentioned, this post is unique in that Dallas has given me the chance to post on his blog and I have never met Dallas or even spoken to him via phone. This is purely an example of the planets and stars being perfectly aligned, ok maybe not. Maybe it just happened through a few comments I left and some emails, but internets what is important is that the interconnected networks has once again connected strangers in a way that only the internets can do. So without further ado lets get it in and please enjoy my first post at DP.com…
Legends often go under-looked. Today I’d like to make sure that this doesn’t happen. Anyone who has done their homework and knows the legacy left behind by the writers of the Golden Era of New York City graffiti
knows that DURO CIA TOP is one of the greatest legends of this time period. From his top to bottom end to end burners in the classic book “Subway Art by Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant”, being writing partner to some of the most famous writers in the history of Graff such as Dondi (RIP), Shy 147 (RIP), Min and the list goes on, to his feature in the quintessential graffiti documentary “Style Wars”, DURO embodies what New York City graffiti was and is. Duro is also the first writer in history to ever be interviewed on television for a special that aired on CBS in 1981. For all you fans of graffiti, DURO will be releasing his new self published book “Cause I Am Who I Say I Am The News Breaker Himself: The Untold Story Of Subway Writer DURO CIA TOP” on April 30th at his website.
If you are like me and am devastated that you were too young to grow up in New York City in the 70’s through the 80’s here is your chance to relive these incredible times through the story of one of the most prolific artists to beautify the New York City Subway system. If you have some extra cash and you are like me and are trying to make your home look like a lay-up from the 80’s Duro also sells canvases on his site and will be part of a group auction on April 19th to May 3rd where you can place bids at Lauritz.com, and will also be having a solo auction at the same site on April 25th to May 9th where there will be 7 canvases and the starting bid will be $54.00 US dollars. Again internets, please don’t sleep cop the book and cop a canvas if you can. Remember internets, women love art. Nuff said.
Can’t wait for this book. CIA – one of the most incredible crews of all time.
Welcome!
@how it’s the trend of things. Look at most of the good animation on t.v. looks nothing like what your doing. You gotta take your art and infuse it with what your other buddy is doing. You and him should do a peice together
Nego-gee-ating
Those early graf writers are incredible…true street visualizers…
I don’t know which is more hilarious, the nom de plume T-Bag or the child being named Clive. If it weren’t for the visuals of this site and WeFunk radio for audios, I would be out of commission. Peep “Downtown 81” to view the first M.C. to be in a movie, Kool Kyle.. Basquiat is in it as well.
Sorry to burst that bubble there, but DURO is far from an unsung hero.. Such a statement is suitable perhaps to those who only dabble in the field, but for those who have really done the knowledge DURO was one of Martha and Henry’s pets. Son of Dondi at best. No doubt Style Wars, Spray Can Art, etc, have served as a testament to those who(like myself) didn’t live through this ground breaking era, but real deal is that the craft had already been fully established by this time. You want to shout out cats who put in work and didn’t get play? Talk to me about cats like Phase 2, Solid TFP, Riff170, Billy167, Coco144, Vulcan, and so on..
If we’re gonna keep it in the 80’s let’s talk about Duster. Homeboy was burning the shit out of Seen on some of those cars. He was humble and gave Seen his due, but money was probably shaking his cans out of fear with what this kid was bringing to the table.
Lastly, DURO did some hard [II] time for touching boys in the wrong way.
I get the feeling that this gentleman Mr. Bell is somewhat of a loose cannon. He made several comments during the campaign that were later proven to be utter lies. Last week he accused the FNM of using govt. money as a “slush fund” and that was proved to be totally untrue. He seems to be someone who is just trying to make a name for himself and not very mature.