Normally, I have quite a large degree of sympathy for graffiti artists, but even I'm struggling to see the merit of this piece, mostly because of the message – "thug life" isn't exactly an endearing tag ;-)
Oh, and this is definitely one that benefits from the black theme.
captured camera lens aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
1.05pm on 18/9/07
Canon 5D
EF 35mm f/1.4L USM
f/6.3
1/250
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
minor
comment byAsh at 10:03 PM (GMT) on 22 September, 2007
It's also hardly graffiti "art". There are some pieces that have artistic merit. Thug Life however isn't one of them.
As always though, nice treatment to the photo.
comment byJem at 10:22 PM (GMT) on 22 September, 2007
Very nice post-processing on this shot Dave :)
comment byPaul at 11:51 PM (GMT) on 22 September, 2007
Well before the comments get tied into the 'yes, totally meaningless graffiti' path, may i point out that the subject matter relates to a branch of hip-hop music (which I know very, very little about - always been a Clash/Smiths aficionardo) built around Tupac Shakur (now deceased). Thug Life was an early group of his. How do I know all this a few months back in Hastings, England I saw a chap with 'Thug Angel' tattooed on his shoulders
I googled it to see if it meant something and sure enough it refers to a film starring Tupac Shakur. Thank you for listening...
comment bylasiate at 02:10 AM (GMT) on 23 September, 2007
un beau traitement pour une image qui ne le mérite pas vraiment
comment byJosef Renklint at 09:56 AM (GMT) on 23 September, 2007
So ghetto.
comment byAsh at 12:02 PM (GMT) on 23 September, 2007
Paul, I have two problems with this particular piece of graffiti. Firstly, it's simply not very well done. I've seen graffiti text that is beautiful and has artistic merit. This is not it. Secondly, I am aware that "Thug Life" is a reference to Tupac and his lifestyle/music. The problem is that the lifestyle and music in question is violent and misogynistic, and is hardly something that deserves to be glorified in any manner. I believe that tattooing and graffiti are two legitimate forms of modern art, but when they're associated with "thug life" or "thug angel" and all of the connotations that come with that association, further ammunition is given to the anti-tattoo/graffiti crowd who see it as "low class". Essentially what I'm trying to say is that just because something has a historical background and isn't a simple piece of graffiti taken out of context doesn't mean that it has any more merit or significance, and it shouldn't gain any further respect.
P.S. Dave, sorry for hijacking your comments box!
comment byRhys at 04:59 PM (GMT) on 23 September, 2007
Yep, nice shot, but the 'urban calligraphy' leaves a lot be appreciated.
comment byDominik Wójcicki at 05:08 PM (GMT) on 23 September, 2007
Great shot and contrast
comment by VP at 05:14 PM (GMT) on 23 September, 2007
this comment is to ash...you are clearly a one minded person who has her mind in like a tunnel vision. You type of people only talk about how hip hop is bad and this and that..when really it has helped young african americans get out of their poverty-ridden neighborhoods and make something with their lifes. Not only that, but it unites black people (I'm an African American) and it gives little kids hope. This picture I think has double meanings and it is your type that doesn't like to see african americans succeed. Lovely shot.
comment byRoy at 08:23 PM (GMT) on 23 September, 2007
Setting aside for one moment the social history behind the graffiti - and the doubtful merit of the either the message or the design - this is a great colour palette and positively eye-popping post-processing.
comment bydjn1 at 09:03 PM (GMT) on 23 September, 2007
I probably should have done a bit more research on this one before posting it.
comment byAlan Cotter at 07:03 PM (GMT) on 13 October, 2007
"Thug Life"... Isn't it just?
comment byJohn McNally at 11:16 AM (GMT) on 17 November, 2010
I don't normally like much graffiti, but for some reason I think this is quite funny.....In your face, not art, but it does what it says on the tin.
Normally, I have quite a large degree of sympathy for graffiti artists, but even I'm struggling to see the merit of this piece, mostly because of the message – "thug life" isn't exactly an endearing tag ;-)
Oh, and this is definitely one that benefits from the black theme.
camera
lens
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 5D
EF 35mm f/1.4L USM
f/6.3
1/250
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
minor
It's also hardly graffiti "art". There are some pieces that have artistic merit. Thug Life however isn't one of them.
As always though, nice treatment to the photo.
Very nice post-processing on this shot Dave :)
Well before the comments get tied into the 'yes, totally meaningless graffiti' path, may i point out that the subject matter relates to a branch of hip-hop music (which I know very, very little about - always been a Clash/Smiths aficionardo) built around Tupac Shakur (now deceased). Thug Life was an early group of his. How do I know all this a few months back in Hastings, England I saw a chap with 'Thug Angel' tattooed on his shoulders
pic of Thug angel
I googled it to see if it meant something and sure enough it refers to a film starring Tupac Shakur. Thank you for listening...
un beau traitement pour une image qui ne le mérite pas vraiment
So ghetto.
Paul, I have two problems with this particular piece of graffiti. Firstly, it's simply not very well done. I've seen graffiti text that is beautiful and has artistic merit. This is not it. Secondly, I am aware that "Thug Life" is a reference to Tupac and his lifestyle/music. The problem is that the lifestyle and music in question is violent and misogynistic, and is hardly something that deserves to be glorified in any manner. I believe that tattooing and graffiti are two legitimate forms of modern art, but when they're associated with "thug life" or "thug angel" and all of the connotations that come with that association, further ammunition is given to the anti-tattoo/graffiti crowd who see it as "low class". Essentially what I'm trying to say is that just because something has a historical background and isn't a simple piece of graffiti taken out of context doesn't mean that it has any more merit or significance, and it shouldn't gain any further respect.
P.S. Dave, sorry for hijacking your comments box!
Yep, nice shot, but the 'urban calligraphy' leaves a lot be appreciated.
Great shot and contrast
this comment is to ash...you are clearly a one minded person who has her mind in like a tunnel vision. You type of people only talk about how hip hop is bad and this and that..when really it has helped young african americans get out of their poverty-ridden neighborhoods and make something with their lifes. Not only that, but it unites black people (I'm an African American) and it gives little kids hope. This picture I think has double meanings and it is your type that doesn't like to see african americans succeed. Lovely shot.
Setting aside for one moment the social history behind the graffiti - and the doubtful merit of the either the message or the design - this is a great colour palette and positively eye-popping post-processing.
I probably should have done a bit more research on this one before posting it.
"Thug Life"... Isn't it just?
I don't normally like much graffiti, but for some reason I think this is quite funny.....In your face, not art, but it does what it says on the tin.