Crews are differentiated from gangs in that their main objective is to paint graffiti, although gang-like activity may occur. clown or ass-clown Any writer who is extremely careless to get himself caught and arrested, especially with observant citizens and even the police watching the writer in the act crew MTA crew blockbuster in the Los Angeles River A crew, krew, or cru is a group of associated graffitists that often work together. Derives from a writer named 'Cap' who was infamous for making throw-ups over others' pieces. To slash or in any other way ruin a piece made by others. New York Thins, Rustos, and New York Fats are the most commonly used caps. The nozzle for the aerosol paint can, also referred to as 'tips.' Different kinds are used for different styles. This term is thought to originate in Brooklyn, New York. 'That piece is still burning on main street.' cannon(s) A slang term for spray paint cans. burning Any work having not been removed. More recently, any quick chrome bombing or throwup. The early writers of New York City also did burners illegally on trains, and adventurous modern writers sometimes still do large-scale illegal pieces in heavily trafficked areas. Because they take so much time and effort, burners in downtown areas are more likely to be legal pieces, painted with the consent of the property owner. The piece could be said to be 'burning' out of the wall, billboard, or train-side. Illegal pieces usually painted in places that are hard to control. To rat out an accomplice or crime partner either intentionally or unintentionally. bulls Security patrolling an area on the lookout for any on-the-whim individuals buff To remove painted graffiti with chemicals and other instruments, or to paint over it with a flat color. Bombers often choose to paint throw-ups or tags instead of complex pieces, as they can be executed more quickly.

bomb To bomb or hit is to paint many surfaces in an area. Seasoned graffitists will often complain about toys that bite their work. bite To steal another graffitist's ideas, name, lettering or color schemes. blockbuster A large graffiti with simple, legible letters. A writer’s sketchbook is carefully guarded against the police and other authorities, as it can be used as material evidence in a graffiti vandalism case and link a writer to previous illicit works. It is a writer's most valuable property, containing all or a majority of the person's sketches and pieces. Also known as a 'piece book.' It is often used to sketch out and plan potential graffiti, and to collect tags from other writers. black book A graffiti artist's sketchbook. The term originated in New York when the graffiti writers and non-graffiti writers would sit on benches at train stations waiting for the trains to go by to take pictures and admire graffiti. bencher An individual who takes photographs of graffiti. Backjumps are usually painted on a temporarily parked train or a running bus. backjump A quickly executed throw up or panel piece. End-to-ends used to be called window-downs but this is an older expression that is falling from popularity. Similarly, trains sometimes receive end-to-end painting when a carriage has been painted along its entire length.

back-to-back Graffiti that covers a wall from end-to-end, as seen on some parts of the West-Berlin side of the Berlin Wall. autorack Type of freight rail car that is tall, long, low, and flat. Originally, this term meant to be known throughout the five boroughs of New York City through the medium of subway cars. all city The state of being known for one's graffiti throughout a city. The people who admire them tag their names on a wall with halos above them or make tribute pieces with their faces or tag with the dates of their birth to death. Graffiti on the Berlin Wall A–D angels Famous or respected graffitist who have died. The following terminology originates primarily in the United States. Like other jargon and colloquialisms, some of these terms may vary regionally, taking on different meanings across different cities and countries. JSTOR ( March 2019) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ī number of words and phrases that have come to describe different styles and aspects of graffiti and its subculture.

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