SIELOETTE
10-25-2001, 06:58 AM
ummmm?
All-CITY When a writer or crew bombs all major subway lines
BEEF Disagreement or conflict.
BENCH (n) Subway station where writers congregate(¸ðÀÌ´Ù, ÁýÇÕÇÏ´Ù) and
watch trains. Benching (v) The act of watching trains.
BITE Plagiarism(Ç¥Àý, µµÀÛ)
BLOCK BUSTER Wide lettered piece stretching from end to end done below
window level on subway car.
BOMB Prolific(dzºÎÇÑ, ´ÙÀÛÀÇ) writing
BUFF Removal of writing/art work
THE BUFF The MTA's graffiti removal program
BURNER A technically and stylistically well-executed wild style piece.
Generally done in bright colors.
CAPS (Fat, skinny, German thin) Interchangeable spray-can nozzles fitted to
paint can to vary width of spray.
CLEAN TRAIN Current term for all New York City Subway cars. They are
difficult to hit and rarely go into service with writing on them.
COAL MINE Older IND and BMT (R1 -R9s) subway cars characterized by a
unpainted brown dusty surface. Retired from service in 1976.
See image at NYC Subway Resources.Photo by Doug Grotjahn. Collection of Joe
Testagrose
CREW Organized group of writers
CROSSING OUT To scribble(²ôÀû°Å¸®´Ù, ³«¼***ÇÏ´Ù) or write on someone else's
name. It is considered highly disrespectful.
DEF Excellent (derived from definite and death).
DESIGNS Polka dots, checkers(üũ¹«´Ì) stars swirls(¼Ò¿ëµ¹ÀÌ) are placed over
the fill-in to in hence and compliment fill-in . Designs are limited only by an
artists imagination and technical ability.
DING DONG Stainless-steel (R-46)subway car, so named for the bell that rings
alerting passengers of closing doors
DOPE Excellent, of the highest order
DOWN Part of a group or action
DT Plain cloths police officer or detective
5-O Slang for police. Derived form the television series Hawaii 5-O.
FADE Graduation of colors.
FAMLIES Rows of throw ups of the same name.
FLOATERS Throw ups done on subway car panels at window level.
FREIGHTS Railroad freight(È***¹°¿***Â÷) cars.
FLATS Painted steel subway cars with flat surfaces. (The preferred subway
cars of old school writers. During the 1970s the IRT division was composed
exclusively of flats)
GETTING UP When proliferation(Áõ½Ä, È®»ê) of name has led to high visibility.
GETTING OVER Succeeding
G0ING OVER Writing over another writers name. It is the ultimate act of
disrespect.
FILL-IN The base colors of a piece, falling within the outline.
HAND STYLE Handwriting(ÇÊÀû, ¼***ü) or tagging style.
HEAD BUFF SPOT The portion(ºÎºÐ,¿î¸í) of wall panels of the subway car
interior above the seats located at passenger's head level. The mild though
frequent abrasion from passengers heads eventually buffs (removes) tags on
these locations.(It is an undesirable location to tag.)
HENRY SHOTS Photographic technique developed by Henry Chalfant. The
camera remains in one spot with automatic film advance while the subject (train)
moves. The end result is a straight forward single image built from several
frames providing more detail. Though the term is used infrequently the technique
has become one of the standards for photo documentation(Áõ°Å) of trains.
HIT (n) A tag, throw-up or piece (v) the act of writing.
INVENT Shoplifting(½½Â½ÇÏ´Ù) or stealing. This term was used prior to 1974
The contemporary(µ¿½Ã´ëÀÇ, ´ç´ëÀÇ) term is RACK.
KILL To bomb excessively.
KING The most accomplished writer in a given category.
LAY-UP A single or double track where trains are parked during off-peak
hours. Both tunnel and elevated(°í±ÍÇÑ, °í°¡Ã¶µµ) lay-ups exist.
LETTER LINES The IND and BMT divisions of The New York City Subway
MARRIED COUPLE Two subway cars permanently attached which share a
motor. Identified by their consecutive(¿¬¼ÓµÇ´Â, ÀÏ°ü¼ºÀÌ ¾ø´Â) numbers. These
cars were desirable(ÇÕ´çÇÑ) when art work on connected car was directly
relevant(ÀûÀýÇÑ, ¾î¿ï¸®´Â).
MOTION TAGGING Writing on subway cars while they are in service.
NUMBER LINES The IRT division of The New York City Subway
NEW SCHOOL Contemporary writing culture (post 1984)
This date can vary greatly depending upon who you ask.
OLD SCHOOL The writing culture prior to 1984
This date can vary greatly depending upon who you ask.
OUTLINE The skeleton or frame work of a piece FINAL OUTLINE: After
fill-in and designs have been applied the outline is re executed to define the letters.
PANEL PIECE A painting below the windows and between the doors of a
subway car.
PIECE A writer's painting, short for masterpiece.
PIECING The execution of a piece.
PIECE BOOK OR BLACK BOOK A writer's sketch book. Used for personal art
development and or the collection of other artists work.
PRODUCTION A writer's sketch book. Used for personal art
development and or the collection of other artists work.
PULL IN - PULL OUT This is essentially a five to fifteen minute layup. At
the end of some subway routes trains park in a tunnel for several minutes before going back into service. During this time the trains are written on. Due to time constraints(°***Á¦, ¾ïÁ¦) pull in - pull outs were generally utilized for throw ups.
It was one of the more dangerous approaches to writing.
RACKING OR RACKING UP Shoplifting or stealing.
RACK A store where shoplifting can be done.
RIDGIE Subway car with corrugated(°ñÀÌÁø), stainless-steel sides. An undesirable surface for burners. Ridgies ran on the BMT and IND divisions and were preferred by throw-up artists.
See image at NYC Subway Resources. Photo by Steve Zabel. Collection of Joe Testagrose
SCRATCHITI A media coined(»õ·Î¸¸µç) term for the scratchings rendered on to the windows of subway cars.
SLANTS IND R-40 subway cars with slanted(±â¿ï¾îÁø) face.
See image at NYC Subway Resources.Photo by Doug Grotjahn. Collection of Joe Testagrose
STEEL Any type of train. New school term used to distinguish train and wall work
THE SYSTEM The New York City Subway system
STYLE WARS 1. Competition between artists to determine superior creative ability.
2. Documentary film on Hip Hop by Henry Chalfant and Tony Silver. Proved to be an extremely inspirational element for the New School.
TAG (n) A writer's name and signature. (v) The execution of a signature.
TAGGING-UP The execution of a signature.
THROW-UP A quickly executed piece consisting of an outline with or without thin layer of spray paint for fill-in .
THROWIE Contemporary term for throw-up.
TOP-TO-BOTTOM
or (T to B) A piece which extends from the top of the subway car to the bottom
TOY 1. Inexperienced or incompetent writer
2. A small felt tip marker.
UP Describes a writer whose work appears regularly on the trains or through
out the city
WALL PAPER Repetition of a name written making enough coverage so that a pattern develops, much like wall paper.
WAK Substandard(Ç¥ÁØÀÌÇÏÀÇ) or incorrect.
WILD STYLE 1. Bronx crew from the 1970s led by Tracy 168.
2. A complicated construction of interlocking letters.
3. Classic film on Hip Hop culture directed by Charlie Ahearn.
WINDOW DOWN A piece done below the windows of a subway car.
WORK BUM New York City Transit Authority track maintenance worker.
All-CITY When a writer or crew bombs all major subway lines
BEEF Disagreement or conflict.
BENCH (n) Subway station where writers congregate(¸ðÀÌ´Ù, ÁýÇÕÇÏ´Ù) and
watch trains. Benching (v) The act of watching trains.
BITE Plagiarism(Ç¥Àý, µµÀÛ)
BLOCK BUSTER Wide lettered piece stretching from end to end done below
window level on subway car.
BOMB Prolific(dzºÎÇÑ, ´ÙÀÛÀÇ) writing
BUFF Removal of writing/art work
THE BUFF The MTA's graffiti removal program
BURNER A technically and stylistically well-executed wild style piece.
Generally done in bright colors.
CAPS (Fat, skinny, German thin) Interchangeable spray-can nozzles fitted to
paint can to vary width of spray.
CLEAN TRAIN Current term for all New York City Subway cars. They are
difficult to hit and rarely go into service with writing on them.
COAL MINE Older IND and BMT (R1 -R9s) subway cars characterized by a
unpainted brown dusty surface. Retired from service in 1976.
See image at NYC Subway Resources.Photo by Doug Grotjahn. Collection of Joe
Testagrose
CREW Organized group of writers
CROSSING OUT To scribble(²ôÀû°Å¸®´Ù, ³«¼***ÇÏ´Ù) or write on someone else's
name. It is considered highly disrespectful.
DEF Excellent (derived from definite and death).
DESIGNS Polka dots, checkers(üũ¹«´Ì) stars swirls(¼Ò¿ëµ¹ÀÌ) are placed over
the fill-in to in hence and compliment fill-in . Designs are limited only by an
artists imagination and technical ability.
DING DONG Stainless-steel (R-46)subway car, so named for the bell that rings
alerting passengers of closing doors
DOPE Excellent, of the highest order
DOWN Part of a group or action
DT Plain cloths police officer or detective
5-O Slang for police. Derived form the television series Hawaii 5-O.
FADE Graduation of colors.
FAMLIES Rows of throw ups of the same name.
FLOATERS Throw ups done on subway car panels at window level.
FREIGHTS Railroad freight(È***¹°¿***Â÷) cars.
FLATS Painted steel subway cars with flat surfaces. (The preferred subway
cars of old school writers. During the 1970s the IRT division was composed
exclusively of flats)
GETTING UP When proliferation(Áõ½Ä, È®»ê) of name has led to high visibility.
GETTING OVER Succeeding
G0ING OVER Writing over another writers name. It is the ultimate act of
disrespect.
FILL-IN The base colors of a piece, falling within the outline.
HAND STYLE Handwriting(ÇÊÀû, ¼***ü) or tagging style.
HEAD BUFF SPOT The portion(ºÎºÐ,¿î¸í) of wall panels of the subway car
interior above the seats located at passenger's head level. The mild though
frequent abrasion from passengers heads eventually buffs (removes) tags on
these locations.(It is an undesirable location to tag.)
HENRY SHOTS Photographic technique developed by Henry Chalfant. The
camera remains in one spot with automatic film advance while the subject (train)
moves. The end result is a straight forward single image built from several
frames providing more detail. Though the term is used infrequently the technique
has become one of the standards for photo documentation(Áõ°Å) of trains.
HIT (n) A tag, throw-up or piece (v) the act of writing.
INVENT Shoplifting(½½Â½ÇÏ´Ù) or stealing. This term was used prior to 1974
The contemporary(µ¿½Ã´ëÀÇ, ´ç´ëÀÇ) term is RACK.
KILL To bomb excessively.
KING The most accomplished writer in a given category.
LAY-UP A single or double track where trains are parked during off-peak
hours. Both tunnel and elevated(°í±ÍÇÑ, °í°¡Ã¶µµ) lay-ups exist.
LETTER LINES The IND and BMT divisions of The New York City Subway
MARRIED COUPLE Two subway cars permanently attached which share a
motor. Identified by their consecutive(¿¬¼ÓµÇ´Â, ÀÏ°ü¼ºÀÌ ¾ø´Â) numbers. These
cars were desirable(ÇÕ´çÇÑ) when art work on connected car was directly
relevant(ÀûÀýÇÑ, ¾î¿ï¸®´Â).
MOTION TAGGING Writing on subway cars while they are in service.
NUMBER LINES The IRT division of The New York City Subway
NEW SCHOOL Contemporary writing culture (post 1984)
This date can vary greatly depending upon who you ask.
OLD SCHOOL The writing culture prior to 1984
This date can vary greatly depending upon who you ask.
OUTLINE The skeleton or frame work of a piece FINAL OUTLINE: After
fill-in and designs have been applied the outline is re executed to define the letters.
PANEL PIECE A painting below the windows and between the doors of a
subway car.
PIECE A writer's painting, short for masterpiece.
PIECING The execution of a piece.
PIECE BOOK OR BLACK BOOK A writer's sketch book. Used for personal art
development and or the collection of other artists work.
PRODUCTION A writer's sketch book. Used for personal art
development and or the collection of other artists work.
PULL IN - PULL OUT This is essentially a five to fifteen minute layup. At
the end of some subway routes trains park in a tunnel for several minutes before going back into service. During this time the trains are written on. Due to time constraints(°***Á¦, ¾ïÁ¦) pull in - pull outs were generally utilized for throw ups.
It was one of the more dangerous approaches to writing.
RACKING OR RACKING UP Shoplifting or stealing.
RACK A store where shoplifting can be done.
RIDGIE Subway car with corrugated(°ñÀÌÁø), stainless-steel sides. An undesirable surface for burners. Ridgies ran on the BMT and IND divisions and were preferred by throw-up artists.
See image at NYC Subway Resources. Photo by Steve Zabel. Collection of Joe Testagrose
SCRATCHITI A media coined(»õ·Î¸¸µç) term for the scratchings rendered on to the windows of subway cars.
SLANTS IND R-40 subway cars with slanted(±â¿ï¾îÁø) face.
See image at NYC Subway Resources.Photo by Doug Grotjahn. Collection of Joe Testagrose
STEEL Any type of train. New school term used to distinguish train and wall work
THE SYSTEM The New York City Subway system
STYLE WARS 1. Competition between artists to determine superior creative ability.
2. Documentary film on Hip Hop by Henry Chalfant and Tony Silver. Proved to be an extremely inspirational element for the New School.
TAG (n) A writer's name and signature. (v) The execution of a signature.
TAGGING-UP The execution of a signature.
THROW-UP A quickly executed piece consisting of an outline with or without thin layer of spray paint for fill-in .
THROWIE Contemporary term for throw-up.
TOP-TO-BOTTOM
or (T to B) A piece which extends from the top of the subway car to the bottom
TOY 1. Inexperienced or incompetent writer
2. A small felt tip marker.
UP Describes a writer whose work appears regularly on the trains or through
out the city
WALL PAPER Repetition of a name written making enough coverage so that a pattern develops, much like wall paper.
WAK Substandard(Ç¥ÁØÀÌÇÏÀÇ) or incorrect.
WILD STYLE 1. Bronx crew from the 1970s led by Tracy 168.
2. A complicated construction of interlocking letters.
3. Classic film on Hip Hop culture directed by Charlie Ahearn.
WINDOW DOWN A piece done below the windows of a subway car.
WORK BUM New York City Transit Authority track maintenance worker.