Rating: 
Summary: Essential to Graffiti
Review: 18 years ago when I used to write, this book was a staple in my collection. I learned soooo much from it, it could've been my 'bible' of sorts on the topic of graffiti. Since then, I've redirected my talents into the area of website design and graphic arts.... all I can say to the person wondering if they should get this is YES.Get this book. read it, study the styles therein. Learn from it. It's more than worth the money, IMO. Speaking of which, Imma probably have to buy a new copy.....
Rating:
Summary: How can you hate on this book ?
Review: 18 years ago when I used to write, this book was a staple in my collection. I learned soooo much from it, it could've been my 'bible' of sorts on the topic of graffiti. Since then, I've redirected my talents into the area of website design and graphic arts.... all I can say to the person wondering if they should get this is YES. Get this book. read it, study the styles therein. Learn from it. It's more than worth the money, IMO. Speaking of which, Imma probably have to buy a new copy.....
Rating: 
Summary: A poor effort
Review: A glorified attempt that falls way short of the mark. Boring design. It looks like a kid slapped this together in a photo album bought at Thrifty. Some of the color photos are good but I didn't get the feel of the intensity that goes hand in hand with this art form. Also, too many photos of smiling graffiti kids posing for the camera. If you like cheap exploitation at its best then buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Misrepresentation-Biting Off More than it Can Chew
Review: An ugly example of a glorified photo album. The authors can't handle the magnitude of the graffiti phenomenon beyond New York City borders. Misrepresentation and clutter abound. One needn't venture past Subway Art to glimpse Chalfant at his finest. As for Prigoff....who is he and what has he done? Weak prognosis all around. Sorry guys, try again or better yet, move on to another culture worthy of outsider exploitation.
Rating:
Summary: A work of major significance
Review: As a public art historian, I recently revisited Spraycan Art. I am told that the sales on this book are approaching 200,000 copies. In 1987 it was the first look at the art form as it traveled out of the NYC subways and around the world and although writers today are more sophisticated with their mastery of the spray can and the imagery they create, the book is still very current in its look at the graffiti world and its place in the Hip Hop scene. It is remarkable to me how Chalfant and Prigoff came to know the key writers of those years, both nationally and internationally. Their contribution to the graf world as professional documentary photographers, authors and resource people has withstood the test of time. It is a must read for current writers, historians or just anyone interested in a unique art form created by youth. Interesting that the book named the art for all time.
Rating:
Summary: A world wide look at graffiti off the trains
Review: Graffiti outside New York??...Reading this book shows how the"flavor"has been spread across the globe!!
Rating:
Summary: State-of-the art coverage of the graffiti phenomenon
Review: Henry Chalfant and James Prigoff were there when it all happened. If there is someone who knows what was hip hop life around the 80's, for sure it's those two. The book is brilliant and inspired me to write one myself.
Rating:
Summary: A Seminal Reference Book
Review: I have just replaced my tattered copy of the seminal five star "Spraycan Art" book. This was the first and only book to follow graffiti art out of the NYC subways and around the world. Not only did the book name the art form, but the authors obviously knew and found the key writers of their time. Witness the visionary choice of Mode 2, age 15, on the cover. ....Thirteen years after being first printed, this book is still a vital reference for all of us who are interested in the graffiti aspect of Hip-Hop. I, for one, am grateful that Chalfant and Prigoff were willing to spend the enormous time and effort that was obviously necessary to capture this historic period on film, give voice to the writers through the interview process, and to make available important historic information.
Rating:
Summary: A Seminal Reference Book
Review: I have just replaced my tattered copy of the seminal five star "Spraycan Art" book. This was the first and only book to follow graffiti art out of the NYC subways and around the world. Not only did the book name the art form, but the authors obviously knew and found the key writers of their time. Witness the visionary choice of Mode 2, age 15, on the cover. ....Thirteen years after being first printed, this book is still a vital reference for all of us who are interested in the graffiti aspect of Hip-Hop. I, for one, am grateful that Chalfant and Prigoff were willing to spend the enormous time and effort that was obviously necessary to capture this historic period on film, give voice to the writers through the interview process, and to make available important historic information.
Rating:
Summary: This was my first approach to graffiti art.
Review: On this books you'll see a summary of USA kings writer and a quick summary of european first writers....someone like Delta,Mode2,Bando and so on...all photos are snapped before 1987. This summer i've been in Amsterdam and it was nice to see a throw-up made by Delta in 1985.... it means that the Autors described what really happened in that years.I suggest this book for anyone who wants to know somethig more about reasons and origins of Graffiti and HIPHOP! need2 PEACE!
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