The 50 Greatest NYC Graffiti Artists

Let the debate begin.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Having a top 50 list with no explanations just doesn’t work, so I’ve carved the subway movement into sections and tried to work that way—tags, style, throwies, etc. Trying to figure out how much weight to give to a category of writing is tough. Even tougher for the writers is that each generation has to surpass the next in quantity and quality. This is particularly tough on writers in the '80s and '90s. I think most writers can agree on at least 40 of the writers, after that it probably becomes more subjective. When you get frustrated with my list do what I did, ask yourself which one of these greats would you take off to put in your candidate? Good luck. Let the debate begin.

The 50 Greatest NYC Graffiti Artists

Written by Chris Pape / FREEDOM.

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50. Ja

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49. Revs

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48. Tats Cru

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47. Cope 2

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46. Ces

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45. Sane/Smith

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44. Lady Pink

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43. Sento

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42. Ket

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41. Ven

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40. Reas

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39. Crash and Daze

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38. Mitch 77

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37. Ghost

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36. T-Kid 170

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35. Doc TC5

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34. Doze

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33. Zephyr and Revolt

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32. Min

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31. Haze

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30. Quik

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29. Iz

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28. Seen

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27. Kyle and Jon 156

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26. Noc 167

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25. Slave

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24. Kel 139

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23. Dondi

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22. Kool 131

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21. Chain 3

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20. Part

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19. Comet

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18. Jester

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17. In

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16. Butch and Kase 2

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15. Lee

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14. Cliff 159

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13. Caine 1

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12. Blade

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11. Ree 2

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10. Pel

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9. Billy 167

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8. King 2

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7. Pnut 2

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6. Tracy 168

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5. Superkool 223

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4. Riff 170

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3. Phase 2

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2. Stayhigh 149

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1. Taki 183

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