Rab’s World

10 DEEP along with authors David ‘CHINO‘ Villorente & Sacha ‘SHR‘ Jenkins launched ‘PieceBook: The Secret drawings of Graffiti Writers’ in New York on Thursday, June 12th 2 The REED SPACE in Manhattan’s Hip Lower East Side. Sponsors included LTD magazine; PRESTEL Publishing and Heineken Beer.

The event was intended to spread the word about an interesting concept often neglected about Graffiti writers. The whole idea of the ‘BlackBook’ or Piecebook was an integral part of claiming to be a Graff writer a.k.a. Graffit artists. If there was any proof needed that truly indeed; Graffiti was and is an artform, then one should purchase this book above. This ‘Book is a welcome historical addition to the Hip Hop.

There was a 7:00 PM pre-entry for all writers who contributed to the book. One hour later, the gallery/store door was opened to the public. Shout out to people I saw in at the event. CHINO BYI, SACHA, SP-One, JaySON, SAK, SAST, DOC TC5, DIL, Ozzie, CEY CITY, T-Kid 170, Bobitto aka Kool BobLove, Hawaii Mike, HAZE (SE•3), MARE 139, KR, Crime 79, Seez, MEEK, EZO, EB, SIR TKC, Ivory and many others that I saw and many that I’ll never recognize by face .. only by style or tag.

Free T-Shirts were given out by 10 DEEP and the beer was flowing courtesy of Heineken.

I personally contributed my own work and work done by other writers in my personal ‘Piecebooks’ from the 1980s. It felt real good to see my teenage work framed on a wall and inside a massed-printed book. I brought my original blackbooks with all of their historic amalgamations of colors and unique tags to add authenticity to Chino and Sacha’s efforts. It was like a high school lunch room reunion of the 80s! The weird part is placing a face to all the writing styles you grown to love … or hate while growing up. Because in Graffiti; the human face was meaningless. It was all about style and getting up. The Piecebook was never shown to parents; teachers or even girlfriends/boyfriends back in the days. It was only meant for people with style and a deep understanding of this leg of Hip Hop. To request someone to do a piece in your ‘Book was the ultimate honor that can bestowed on a Graff writer. yes, writers could sell canvases, cavort with the rappers and even king the lines. But to get a request to piece in one ‘Book meant that the requester had a deep respect for that particular artist. Writes did not charge a fee to piece in someone’s book. We as writers looked at it as fast-track to respect amongst our peers. Although the many believed the ultimate way to respect was burners or whole cars on the NYC transit lines; it was a more intimate gesture to piece in each other’s ‘Book. To a certyain extent; even having a ‘tag’ or just a ‘Throw-up’ from a contemporary writer of one a generation before was admired. It gave you a badge or another stripe on your shoulder.

I’m am glad I preserved some of my best Piecebooks. I am also glad that I was one of the main inspirations for Chino and Sacha to push this off.

I announced this book earlier. You can read about it at this LINK here.

You can travel to the Lower East Side and purchase a hardcover copy for about $30 @ The REED SPACE 151 Orchard Street (between Rivington & Stanton) New York, NY 10002 or St. Mark’s Book Shop in the East Village of New York. If you are internet savvy; then head over to Amazon.com for a price discount