Story: Hip hop

Graffiti piece by Smooth Inc crew, 1980s

Graffiti piece by Smooth Inc crew, 1980s

This back-to-back piece on an Auckland building site wall was created in the mid-1980s by early street art collective Smooth Inc. Hip-hop-inspired graffiti art like this started appearing on urban streets after the American documentary Style wars aired in New Zealand in 1984.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Creative New Zealand Collection (PA-Group-00064)
Reference: PA12-5859-09

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

April K. Henderson, 'Hip hop - Graffiti art', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/46435/graffiti-piece-by-smooth-inc-crew-1980s (accessed 7 May 2024)

Story by April K. Henderson, published 22 Oct 2014