The Art of Getting Over by Stephen Powers
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Book Reviews of The Art of Getting Over
Book Review: Three Words
Summary: 5 Stars
RAZZ, KADISM and SUROC! You can read about New York writers in any book. Reading about these Philadelphia standouts is worth the price alone.Book Review: A word is worth a thousand pictures...
Summary: 4 Stars
Stephen Powers, aka ESPO, gives to the world of publishing, The Art of Getting Over. No, it is not a self-help book, but a journal documenting the escapades and works of Graf kings past and present. Bound in black ( thus resembling a graf head's "peice book" ) it contains hundreds of full-colour and black white pictures, showing the different styles and forms of graffiti and the evolution thereof. Also, within the pages contains excerpts of the lives of the various artists, from the interesting ( The REVS ) to the near tragic ( GKAE from L.A. in particular ). Though at times one could get lost from the numerous crew & name dropping, it is noteworthy enough to warrant a place in Hip-Hop history. The highlight of this book is, of course, the amazing art displayed, featuring Mr. Powers' impressions of the various faces of graf: wether it be block letters, wild styles, throw-ups, to the basic tag. It would have been of particular interest to have put in words the aesthetics of graf in greater detail by someone who is active in the art ( especially to the laymen ), but we only have tidbits here and there scattered through out that leaves the reader wanting some more. An excellent addition to any Hip-Hop library, it might just make a graf head out of you.Book Review: true subculture
Summary: 4 Stars
I had the honor of being in a major NJ Graf crew in the 90's, of which Espo and Sater (From Philly) were affiliated. These guys are true artists and have cultivated what's known as "Philly Style" all over. Being one of the more junior members at the time, I cannot describe the influence these guys and the older NJ heads had on me and my artistic direction. It's an art form seldom understood and rarely fully appreciated. Writers who weren't around back then need to check this book out, to see how everything went down in the pre-internet days. The only way to get fame back then was to do work. It was a true subculture, separate rules, separate language, separate values, with no regard for what outsiders think or feel. Take a look into another world.Book Review: Inspiring Misdemeanors.
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is poorly written, but I'm doubt that anyone is buying it for that. There is a nice chronological progression of pictures of various examples of grafitti - some of the stuff at the beginning of the book looks like real trash to me, but towards the end the bigger production pieces are really inspiring. I mean, how many ways can you write your moniker? Apparently the sky is the limit. This book is sure to inspire an idea or two into aspiring illustrators since "Bad artists copy. Good artists steal." (from the book) heh heh heh.Book Review: Borish speaks...
Summary: 4 Stars
I thought that ESPO did a great job in creating this book. He took it from a different point of view, from a fellow artist's point of view. He took us back through history, from old Philly style to NY and then took us to the present with writing bout today's greats. But I thought that he could of done a little history on the old school Chicano/Pachuco styles that began in the West in the 30's y 40's. But still a great job by ESPO and still a great book. Support our struggle and buy his book