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The Early Years of Writing ... 1973 - 1975

EARLY NEW YORK SUBWAY GRAFFITI, 1973-1975. The long awaited by Keith Baugh, with never before photos by writing greats like PHASE2, STAFF 161, RIFF 170, TRACY 168,  BLADE, COMET, CLIFF 159, BILLY 167, STAY HIGH 149, JIVE 3, JESTER 1, etc. We at Subway Outlaws had the pleasure to interview Mr. Baugh as we review this great book. Enjoy the tour and contact us should you have any comments or oppintions

  

 

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My name is Keith Baugh. I am a painter and photographer from England. I exhibit regularly - recently ( September 2009 ) at the Chelsea Arts Club, London. I was inspired by American popular culture with an ongoing series of painting on the theme of classic 1950's cars, billboards and roadside ephemera, Jazz, Blues and Rock and roll portraits with more recent shows of circus women performers. My iconic periodicals and are available through " GETTY images".

 

Arriving in the USA in the summer of 1973 on vacation, I remember taking the Subway into Manhattan after arriving at JFK. I observed a painted flash of color on the train exterior before boarding what must have been one of the earliest total wrecked Graffiti-hit carriages on the New York system. ( I recall the words STONEY-DICE ). The interior of the carriage was carpet-bombed with broad black magic-marker tags covering every possible surface with the view from the windows totally obliterated from the outside by spray paint. From the speakers of a Ghetto-blaster carried on carried on the shoulder of a young dude across the carriage, Bob Dylan  howled that.. "something is happening here and you don't know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones? For mw, this was a very potent and intriguing welcome to New York City and these incredible, creative spray can paintings on the Subway cars had an immediate and powerful impact, one that I wanted to capture on film.

 

From the elevated tracks in Harlem and the South Bronx, I photographed some of the very early pieces of New York Subway Graffiti. The photos included tags and masterpieces by over 150 of pioneers New York writers including STAFF 161, CLIFF 159, RIFF 170 ( / WORM 161/ CASH / CRUNCH), PRIEST 167, AJ 161 ( ALL JIVE 161 ), PHASE 2, TRACY 168, LAVA 1& 2 ( STRAIGHT MAN ), JIVE 3, DOC COOL, LIL HAWK 149, STAY HIGH 149, SUPER STRUT-TASS, KOOL KEVIN, STEP 1, PJ 109, SKI 168, DIZZY 1, SPENCER 1, LEFTY 139, KING 2, SILVER TIPS, COMET 1, HONDO 1, MICO, SWEET CRUZ, KILLER 1, STIM 1, MR AL 1, NOVA 1, ROD 1, COMET 161, KIT 161, COST 170, DEATH ( ROX ), CRACHEE 11, BLADE 1, VAMM, PEACE 108, JOHN 150, ROACH,  DON 101, BILLY 167, NOVA 1, LIL JUDGE, CHICO, RUBEN, JESTER ( DYE 167 ), IN ( KILL 3) and BEN 167. Are some the early bombers of the golden era. Others include TON 5, ALE 1, TAV 1, KT 3, POT 1, MONO TF-5, OZ 109, SO-FIVE, CAST, SPIKE 202, BOC ( PADRE 2 ), SLIP 3, OH 222 ( AIM-SSB ), GAME 5, HYSEN and DEFIE. Early New York Subway Graffiti 1973 -1975. Photographs from Harlem, South Bronx, Times Square and Coney Island. Order your hard cover book and receive a signed copies with worldwide free postage available at www.KeithBaugh.com  

  

 

Reviews from the Old School on Keith Baugh's book

 

  

 

 

BLADE 1: This book displays photographs of pieces from the original writing generation. Writers were still in the experimental process just making things up as they went along. Once the 80's writers came every thing was pretty much laid out for them . the above piece was done with Cliff 159. We both did several. In my book you can see a few never before seen photos @ - The King Of Kings

SLAVE -TF5 : Ben167 was a writer with great style. Very over looked in the writing game. Its great to hear allot of the writers from the Old School are getting the attention they deserve. Look forward to my bio I'm doing with Subway Outlaws. It's time " THE FABULOUS FIVE " as a crew to get their props! Click on -  www.at149st.com/tf5.html

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

TOPAZ 1 : Many of my pieces were done just like the piece on the far corner. Its too bad the complete piece was cut off from this photo. I did this on a night bombing with KING KOOL 156, the RIFF piece was there once I arrived. RIFF was ahead of his time. This a great book. Check out our interview with the great RIFF 170

TOPAZ 1 : Its great to see many of the photographers caught allot of the Member of TED-INC ( The Ebony Dukes ). Writers like AJ 161, DR.B, STAFF 161, DICE 121 etc, etc. This shows how strong our presences was on the subways in the early era. This book is a must see. Check out our interview with STAFF. 161 -  Ted-Inc ( The Ebony Dukes  )

 

 

BILROCK 161 / SAGE : I thought I'd never see a ROD 1 pieces ever again. ROD 1 use to kill the 1's and 3's with CLIFF 159. When I was just starting out ROD and CLIFF would come hang out at N.O.G.A. ROD use to dress up like  Ron O'neal  from the film Super Fly. Not many people remember ROD 1 because he wrote for only two years, but with in only two years the guy bombed!

  

 

 

  ORDER YOUR COPY NOW AT www.KeithBaugh.com 

 

Would like to thank you Keith Baugh for shareing some of his images with Subway Outlaws.com. Look for Interviews with BilRock 161, Slave TF-5, Comet 1, Rub 5, Fane2, Aim-ssb, Checker 170, Tean 5, Fritz-Tc5, Delfonics 1, Uncle John 178 and Blade in the near future.

Look for Blade's new book The King Of Kings, and Many up coming books in the near future. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO PORTION OF THIS BIOGRAPHY MAY BE REPRODUCED, STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS – ELECTRONIC, MECHANICAL- PHOTO COPY, RECORDING OR ANY OTHER – EXCEPT FOR BRIEF QUOTATIONS IN PRINTED REVIEWS WITHOUT PERMISSION KEITH BAUGH.