"Joe Blows..." Review of new Vandal Squad book by Joseph Rivera
I got my hands on a copy of the book, "Vandal Squad: Inside the New York City Transit Police Dept." by Joseph Rivera. Overall, it was a little interesting to view the graffiti sub-culture from the perspective of the NYPD/TA. The book tells the brief history of the NYPD Vandal Squad and mostly covers Rivera's experience on the force from 1984-2004. It also includes some rare clean train photographs (taken by the mysterious, Mr. X). There is a notable flick of a REMO BTB clean train (will make sense when you see it.) Throughout most of the book, Rivera complains of not being promoted/getting his detective badge. He "quits" (or is possibly forced out?) after working 20 years WITHOUT a promotion and then goes on to write this book (which blows up a lot of spots on both sides if everything is true). Given these facts alone, would you consider this a credible person to have a biography published?
The book also contains a section of "Top Vandals" arrest stories that Rivera was involved in. The publisher (PowerHouse Books) was professional enough to reach out to some of the writers to verify his stories about them. One of the writers, we will call him "Mr. G", reviewed Rivera's story about his arrest and confirmed that a lot of it was pure bullshit (probably to make his book more interesting). "Mr. G" was honest enough to let the publisher know. As a result, his story was not published. This really discredited a majority of the content in the book for me. Rivera may have knowingly exaggerated some stories thinking the writers would not mind having some kind of "tough guy" or "outlaw" image. You have to take a step back and realize that this guy's job was chasing graffiti writers (Vandals department is a joke to most cops) and there's a reason why it was so hard to get a badge doing his job. I personally think that it is an embarassment to say you got a detective badge through Vandal Squad. There's a world of REAL criminals out there to deal with.
What really bothers me is the fact that Rivera encourages graffiti writers to make money off their "art". Doesn't he realize (after dealing with writers for decades) that you have to pay your dues in this culture before even considering selling out or making any kind of living off it. This whole art form was created in the streets by the rebellious youth and that foundation needs to be there for this culture to exist. Graffiti was never meant for galleries or for some kind of profit. On the other hand, Rivera clearly has NO problem selling himself out as evident by this book. In the end, he talks about the strain of his job on his life and his family. I guess it's not like HE played any part in ruining the lives of countless writers. Since it seems obvious that graffiti writers were the target audience for this book (Who else would want to read this?), doesn't it seem wrong of Rivera to try to make money off the art that he spent years of his life trying to put an end to?
In conclusion, don't support this guy! He spent years trying to benefit himself (which he ultimately failed at) at the expense of countless writers and the culture itself.
PS - This review was written by Mr. V (no affiliation to smart crew)
On another note: OBAMA
Even the cops make a mockery of this guy on their own forums: http://theerant.yuku.com/topic/3505
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Mr.X clearly means a snitch
3x+4=28
-4
3x=28
/3
x=snitch
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mr x gotta be eddie segie that cocksuker vandal squad midget
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Mr. X is the name of another VS cop who he won't say... This will be topic of tomorrow's trivia...
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fuck that dudes book.
that link to theerant is full of win!
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Wow, 3 smart heads on that list. That's almost 8% of the entire list.
I like math.
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Went to my local book store to purchase this book but my friendly clerk told me that someone came in and stole all 15 copies they had for sale.
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stealing the book still supports him, the book store will just have to re-order more... someone should just upload an e-copy for free download...
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this guy likes to kidnap kids, and tell their poor parents he has a warrant for their arrest, when in fact, he doesnt... so slick.
then proudly tells them his nickname is "joe blow" whom they never heard of. hoping it was bongos or someone more creditable
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you shouldnt even give this book any shine screw these phoney cops as far as cops go there the equivilant of meter maids..noone cares
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copy this book and put it online for free... fuck this dude
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I know he took out me!!
I am MR G when the publisher contacted my boy in regards to the book he got in touch with me and linked me to the publisher.
She sent me what was to be published as my story and guess what?
All BULLSHIT!
The book is all lies and none is true!!
true fucking story!!
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those are some vintage etch tags.
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Apple bottom jeans and boots with the fur!!
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I did not write that comment above. I am educated and can write the english language somehwhat properly. The review says it all.
Here is some free advice to the person who wrote that 'real Mr. G' comment.
Get a life.
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Mr.x is Eddie Seqi. he took over joes spot now hes the head of vandal squad.
the books not even worth racking
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yea mr x is eddie segi aka 9 fingers lol
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After all the yap going around about this book I felt compelled to seek it out, so my venture began I myself also went to a few shops where it showed up in stock but mysteriously could not be found, hmmm. Not a single copy. Myself being a writer for many years already had my suspicions where they went! But after a while my perseverance paid off, I got my copy and spent the weekend reading it... To my surprise it appeared that a lot of the content was infact true, Yes you read that right, that also goes for the Cope 2 issue circulating, the reason I know is I was down with him so I do know first hand... What a shame in that a writer who bad mouths so many others for being a snitch turns out to be the KING of snitches... Believe it or not!
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Ya see guys the moral of the book in a nut shell is this: Don't be like Cope 2! Because as we all can see sooner or later you will be caught!!! And if you don't have the in, or grease a few palms you will wind up snitching your boys out only to save you own skin! We now know Cope 2 did, but then again so did a few other big name writers who obviously were a lot smarter who obvious had good layers who made sure their records were sealed unlike Cope 2. Way to go Cope 2 You are now hereby dubbed the official True King of snitches!
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WOW! its true what you saying no wonder this guy cope2 making all these books and videos showing his face all over new york city and going over true street writers like fec tfv. hows that posible that this guy could get alway going over street bombers and not getting caught.Dont you think that everybody and even the vandal squad reconized knew tags on the street and not pick cope2 up!!! but they just go after the ones that taking the risk like fec tfv!!! fec is the one the earn this credit and not cope2
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Kid, Cope 2 is a Fat Snake who apparently knows how to slither his way through the streets, believe me when I say this. I hung out with him enough to know what the kid is and was capable of doing. The guy would actually brag about the niggah's he set up the times he got bagged by the 50 his remark would be Fuck That it was either them or me. I guess what he did not expect was that one of his under handed DL arrangements with the 50 would come to light as it now has. To be honest I can not believe people give this fool any respect or props at all! His history is Fake, look through his book and you'll see many scrap trains which he tries to pass off as the real deal! To those of us who know and have been around for a minute know the deal. I doubt he bombs anymore because he played his last card for the COPE 2 DVD which brought his Fat Ass into the system... I'm sure he's a good boy now, all the shit he talks is just Flim Flam. If he's caught even J-Walking he's done!
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AWWWW SHIT OMG!!! IM TIERD OF THIS SHIT YO! SO FUCKEN WHAT U FAKE NIGGAI WAS THERE I DID IT!!! WUT YOU GONNA DO IT WAS THEM OR ME U GOTS THAT RIGHT NIGGA. I AINT STUPID. CALL ME OUT FOR SELF WHATEVA I DONT GIVE A FUCK YO!!!! AND IF U SUPOSEDLY MY BOY WHY U UP HERE TRYNA PLAY ME LIKE THIS!!!! SHITS NONE OF UR FUCKEN BUSINESS AND I WAS THERE IF I EVA FIND OUT WHO U R YO IMA BEAT YO ASS. THATS RIGHT IMA TRUE NIGGA JUST GOIN FOR MINE
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This message is in response to the apparent two preceding imposter Mr. G's I mean really guys did you think I would just sit back and not defend myself. To start off I honestly did not realize I was so loved, I'm speechless. Well to start fellahs the article is indeed false well part of it! I felt compelled to get that out of the way, I mean really... Did you guys actually believe I would put in all that time and effort chasing young boys for nothing... No sir ree Bob! As most Law officials know the type of jobs we do obviously does have it's perks, the real pay offs are the under the table monetary compensations ... We on the Force all do it... hey its nothing new.
Mr. G
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please keep "graffiti beef" on saster and 12oz.
closing all comments unless related to this book directly.
thank you...
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we gettin arab money!!!!!!!1
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BUYING or STEALING this book HELPS put money in this pig's pocket.
If you're that hard up to read this dribble, wait till someone posts it as a pdf. for free.
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KGK all the way..Fuck Joe Blow!! Who's the master??
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Man! Graffiti, it's innovators and real heads, as well as the guys who played the game with us on the other side of the tracks sure has (have) changed. It just blows our minds!
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MOG LOLOLOLOL LOOK AT ALL THESE ASSHOLES AND HATERS OH PLEASE NONE OF YA FAGGOTS KNOW ME READ THE BOOK REAL WELL PAGE 112 U FAGGOTS AND THE BACK OF IT!! AYO TOM I KNOW ITS U FEC U GOT IT COMIN KID YA CAN SAY WHAT EVER YA WANT YA JUST A BUNCH OF HATERS ON MY DICK YA KNOW IM TO REAL ME A SNITCH LOLOLOL OH PLEASE!! THIS SHITS SO PLAYED ALREADY OFF MY FAT DICK YOU FAGGOTS ALL OF YOUS!!! IM RUNNING NY WORLDWIDE MOBB FIGURE U BITCHES!! STOP HATIN SO DAM MUCH!! REAL NIGGAS KNOW ME SO WHATEVER!!
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JOE BLOW IS A CULTURE THIEF TRYING TO CAPITALIZE OFFA SOMETHING HE SUPPOSEDLY SPEND HIS SO-CALLED "CAREER" FIGHTING.
HYPOCRITE DOUCHEBAG LIKE EVERY OTHER COP, EXCEPT TWICE AS STUPID.
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NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR U COPE...
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well this book didnt make any benifits for joe it only made him look stupider lol. well im a vandal and i have to say id read that book only to see if i am in it........ so he made that book for no purpose but for writers to read it an see if there shit is shown its not like any non-writer is gonna buy that book . so who was he targetin in selling it to?
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I heard Bongos is making a movie about the real deal Graffiti Vandals Squads Bullshit The hype and the snitches
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