Charlie Ahearn’s 1983 cult classic Wild Style, popularized hip hop and graffiti in New York City during its very early stages. This film, not only brought validation to these newly emerging subcultures, but also highlighted some of its earliest pioneers such as Busy Bee, Grandmaster Caz, LADY PINK and LEE.
Celebrating Wild Style’s 30th anniversary, Complex revisited key locations in the film, ranging from the Boogie Down to the Lower East Side, comparing and contrasting past and present by way of a handy slider.
Jamel Shabazz: Street Photographer is the the latest film from Wild Style director Charlie Ahearn. The aptly entitled documentary offers a glimpse into the life of Shabazz, a notable photographer who's well known for his unique stylings of subjects and the access he was able to achieve while documenting old school NYC street…
"Wild Style, woo-woo!!" That’s how subway graffiti pioneer and lovable lunatic TRACY 168 would announce himself to me—and everyone else—when he'd visit. He used to stop into the gallery I used to run in the early 2000’s, to talk shit about the scene and and bless me with quickly drawn…