KILL THA G WORD – The Italian Years of P.H.A.S.E. 2

New York originated PHASE2 (†) was one of the most influential and important writers in the history of graffiti. Starting in 1971 he was a main driving force in the development of the graffiti piece, inventor of the bubble-style and wildstyle and also the first writer to use arrows and background clouds. Besides his trailblazing stylistic inventions he was known as graffiti theorist, publisher of the IGTimes, author of the 1996 Style: Writing from the Underground, and fighter against the use of the term ‘graffiti’ for the writing culture.

KILL THA G WORD is a 2024 publication by Maurizio D’Apollo on the Italian years of PHASE2 starting with his first visit in Europe 1982, the Arte di Frontiera exhibition in 1984, and various ongoing travels to Milan, Rimini, Napoli, Torino, Bologna, Pisa, Genoa, and many other cities in Italy. In chronological order and through tons of never before published material the reader is able to follow his stylistic evolution and gets an insight on his in-depth theories on writing and style.

The 416 pages are fully packed with pieces, exhibition shots, canvases, sketches, newspaper clippings, shirt and skateboard designs, record covers, flyers, original text excerpts and interviews with magazines, scanned letters, text chapters from TRAP, NO SURRENDER, PZYKO VISION, TRIBE, JUICE or AL Magazine. Besides this biggest collection of PHASE2 works ever the hardcover includes memories of various companions from the Italian graffiti and hip hop scene.

Featuring Rae Martini, DJ SKIZO, DELTA2, KAY ONE, Sara Nitti, TOPCAT, Sean Martin, Michele D’Anca, SHADRACK, Alberto Scabbia, BREAD, DROP C, KID, STEVE DJ, FACE, FLASH, DJ ENZO, DOSEY, SKY4, Costanza Magnocavallo, RUSTY, DADO, Yared Grand Daddy Kush, TAWA, CANO, Miky Degni, SIR TWO, NOISE, THE NEXTONE, POLO, Maury B, ROSE, SID, Paolo Zukar, Adolfo Rossomando, WIZARD, DRAW, CHIEF, GALANTE, WYZE, Esa aka El Presidente, KAOS ONE, Silvia Volpato, LEVA57, Fabiola Naldi, and more.

For fans of the graffiti originator and everybody interested in the history of stylewriting this tome is a must!

416 pages, 24,6 x 30,5 cm, hardcover
Language: Italian/English
Release date: November 2024
Author: Maurizio D’Apollo
Publisher: Spectrum