smart crew usa

Tom Gould x Anna Delany "Two of A Kind" Opens Saturday 4/21

smart crew — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:52:08 GMT

Our crew member Tom Gould is having his first and last (for some time) show this Saturday 4/21! This will be Tom's goodbye show before he leaves (unfortunately) for a long time back to New Zealand. Also, this will be your last chance to pick up any prints from this talented photographer in the United States for many years to come. You will be missed Tom!

Tom Gould x Anna Delany "Two of A Kind"
Saturday 4/21 from 6-10pm

Klughaus Gallery
47 Monroe Street
New York, NY 10002 (Chinatown/LES)

rsvp@klughaus.net / 21+
http://klughaus.net/tom-gould-anna-delany

*The opening will be sponsored by Bomb Beer and Bushmills Whiskey.

Check out some of Tom's photos below:

Tom was also the one responsible for this classic graff/music video for Meyhem Lauren:

Smart Queens, Texas, Arizona, Europe, etc...

smart crew — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:53:34 GMT

A ridiculous new series about two Arizona club promoters...

Timeless Truth x Action... Flushing!

Spotted in Uruguay

AMAZE and SHAZ '98 downtown lot

"Been on the Honor Roll..." Rap & Spray (literally)

smart crew — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:30:55 GMT

Action Bronson x Party Supplies "Blue Chips" FREE Mixtape out today (sponsored by Reebok!) You can download it here: http://www.complex.com/music/2012/03/mixtape-premiere-action-bronson-party-supplies-blue-chips

Featuring Meyhem Lauren, Das Racist and Roc Marciano... Track listing below:

On to the sprays... It turns out we won this 2011 Ironlak production contest (North America region) for 500 cans! Thanks to everyone who voted for us, much appreciated. Always a pleasure painting with my Queens people: UEND, STAE2 & SETER...

click through for larger pics...

Other happenings...

This is what you should do over the next 2 weeks...

smart crew — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:15:33 GMT

TODAY:

New track by Action Bronson - "Nothing To Worry About"

Action wasn't on this 2012 XXL Freshmen List but it's definitely "nothing to worry about" if you actually care about good music.

THURSDAY 3/1

Todd James
King of the Wild Frontier
March 1 – April 21, 2012
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 1, 6-8pm

Gering & Lopez Gallery
730 Fifth Avenue
New York NY 10019

FRIDAY 3/2

The Fool’s Gold Artist Series #4
GROTESK

Come through to the opening on Friday, March 2nd from 7-9pm at the FG store on 536 Metropolitan Ave in Brooklyn. Artist will be in attendance, refreshments will be served, and limited edition shirts featuring Grotesk’s art will be available for purchase.

THURSDAY 3/8 & FRIDAY 3/9

Anti-Graffiti Doc “Vigilante Vigilante” Screening
with Director Max Good

Dates:
March 7th & 9th, both 7 pm @ Maysles.
March 15th, 8 pm @ IFC Center

Locations:
Maysles Cinema – 343 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York
IFC Center – 323 Avenue of the Americas New York

SATURDAY 3/10

OBLVN: 100 Paintings at Klughaus Gallery
47 Monroe Street
New York, NY 10002
http://www.klughaus.net/oblvn

MONDAY 3/12

Action Bronson x Party supplies will be dropping an album "Blue Chips" for FREE by Reebok. Stay tuned for the link and more info...

CARNAGE #2 - Profits will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project #RIPSURE

smart crew — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:33:49 GMT

I'm usually pretty hesitant when it comes to "graffiti" for sale by people who don't do graffiti (to make profits.) However, these Carnage Zines are put together pretty well and all profits are being donated to the Wounded Warrior Project as well as keeping the memory of SURE alive. In addition, knowing that SURE's family was supportive of this project made me more comfortable with being on board. With that said, please buy a copy to show your support! Limited copies of these zines are also available at Klughaus Gallery in Chinatown (open Thurs.-Sun. at 47 Monroe Street) Grab them as soon as possible because the last issue sold out pretty quickly. -D

"Carnage #2, featuring NYC’s ATM crew, will be available starting Friday, 2/17 at Klughaus Gallery (47 Monroe Street) and at carnagenyc.bigcartel.com starting Saturday, 2/18.

Issue #2 consists of 68 black and white pages with a double-layered, screenprinted cover in 300 hand-numbered copies and features an extensive interview with the crew and hundreds of previously unreleased images. Each copy comes with at least one handwritten sticker from an ATM member. $12 plus shipping.

There will also be a box set available in an edition of 25. The box set contains Carnage #2, a set of handwritten stickers by Kosbe, Ader, Faust, Overconsumer, Rex and Dceve, a 5x7” C-print, numbered and signed by Ray Mock, a Carnage T-shirt designed by Kosbe and a few other goodies. $75 plus shipping."

ALL profits from the sale of this issue will be donated to the USO’s Wounded Warrior Fund.

Smart Updates! New York City...

smart crew — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:22:21 GMT

Been slacking on this blog so here's some updates:

Kornberg x Smart x ATG x Too Much Posse

Poorly searched before being thrown into the precinct cell. Sick flick!

BQE Floaters

Action Bronson at Highline Ballroom:

Action Bronson & Statik Selektah "Cirque Du Soleil" (Directed By Rik Cordero)

Smart Spotting...

Anne Hathaway x Sinatra Smart.. Are these kind of spottings played out these days?

Queens team...

Action Bronson on fashion (hilarious):

tatik Selektah "Never A Dull Moment" Music Video feat. Action Bronson, Termanology & Bun B

Promo video by Tom Gould

Jesse Edwards - "Dialogue of the Streets" from Klughaus Gallery on Vimeo.

John Collett & GIGAN - Winter Tour Dates

smart crew — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:56:00 GMT

Fortunately, SMART doesn't just do hip-hop. John Collett and his space/metal band GIGAN winter tour dates. Support this man.

Dark Funeral, Abigail Williams, Inquisition, GIGAN

1/29/2012
Jaxx Nightclub 6355 Rolling Road
West Springfield

1/30/2012
The Gramercy Theatre 127 East 23rd ST
New York NY

1/31/2012
Trocadero Theater 1003 Arch St.
Philadelphia PA

2/1/2012
The Palladium 261 Main St.
Worcester MA

2/2/2012
Cafe Campus 57 Prince - Arthur
Montreal QUE

2/3/2012
Imperial 252 Saint Joseph Est.
Quebec City QUE
2/4/2012
Wreck Room 794 Bathurst M4M 1H1
Toronto ONT

2/5/2012
Montage Music Hall 50 Chestnut St.
Rochester NY

2/6/2012
Peabody's 2083 E 21 St
Cleveland OH

2/7/2012
Blondie's 2281 West Fort St
Detroit MI

2/8/2012
Reggie's Rock Club 2105 S State St
Chicago il

2/9/2012
Station 4 201 East 4th Street
St. Paul MN

2/10/2012
The Osbourne Village Inn 160 Osborne St
Winnipeg MB

2/11/2012
Exchange 2431 8th Ave.
Regina SK

2/12/2012
The Pawn Shop 10551 82 Ave
Edmonton AB

2/13/2012
Dickens 1000 9 Ave SW
Calgary AB

2/14/2012
Sapphire 238 Leon Ave
Kelowna BC

2/15/2012
Rickshaw Theater 254 East Hastings St
Vancouver BC

2/16/2012
El Corazon 109 Eastlake Ave. East 98109
Seattle WA

2/17/2012
Hawthorne Theater 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland OR

2/18/2012
The Grand Ballroom at the Regency Center 1300 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco CA

2/19/2012
Galaxy Theatre 3503 S. Harbor Blvd
Santa Ana CA

2/20/2012
Ruby Room 1271 University Ave
San Diego Ca

2/21/2012
House of Blues Sunset Strip 8430 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood CA

2/23/2012
The Complex 537 West 100 South
Salt Lake City UT

2/24/2012
Bluebird Theater 3317 E Colfax Ave.
Denver CO

2/25/2012
The Roxy 1164 N McArther BLVD
Ok City OK

2/26/2012
Trees 2709 Elm St.
Dallas TX

2/27/2012
Backstage Live 1305 East Houston
San Antonio Tx

2/28/2012
Scout Bar 18307 Egret Bay Blvd
Houston TX

3/1/2012
The Hangar 1511 S Rendon
New Orleans LA

3/2/2012
Orlando FL

3/3/2012
The Masquerade 695 North Ave NE
Atlanta GA

Facebook: www.facebook.com/giganmusic
Twitter: www.twitter.com/colletti2012

Videograf Productions 90's Nostalgia

smart crew — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:30:37 GMT

Meyhem mentioning Videograf today got me looking up some clips on Youtube. Watching these videos definitely brought back some memories. I guess the 80's had their Subway Art/Style Wars and our generation had Videograf. Peace to Carl Weston and Nic One for hyping us up through these vhs videos back in the day (even though we fast-forwarded through most of the piecing)...

Action Bronson "Not Enough Words" Video by Tom Gould & Alexander Richter

smart crew — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:59:52 GMT

Featuring guest appearances by Uncle Paulie and Meyhem Lauren. #smart

Cop the album "Well Done" when it drops tomorrow 11/22/11!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/well-done/id473288366

Smart Smart Smart Smart Smart

smart crew — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:54:04 GMT

Huzzah Remix // Das Racist Show // NYC

Action Bronson X Matt Going Ham

Action Bronson Live on Last Call with Carson Daly from Dante Ross NYC

According to the rap diagram from SPIN below, SMART rappers are running the "New York Rappers That Are At Least Mildly Interesting" section. Meyhem Lauren, Despot and Action Bronson. Click to enlarge.

Action Bronson x Terry Richardson x Happy Socks photo shoot:

Action Bronson performs "Ray Lewis"/"Typhoon Rap" @ CMJ 2011

Buy the new Action bronson x Statik Selektah album 'Well Done' out 11/22/11

Shaz Show Saturday

smart crew — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:15:16 GMT

September Smart Spottings

smart crew — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:58:53 GMT

Despot on the remix...

Was surprised to see this Action Bronson character (originally created by Mr. Kiji) recently painted by AROE MSK HA from the UK. Nice one.

No idea what is going on in the flick below...

Did some motivational street art in the abandoned Highland Park fire station.

Sureism Lives! All That Matters...

Abandoned Police Station/Municipal building in Highland Park. No need to shred any important court documents in this city.

Abandoned elementary school in Detroit. Apparently, books are the only things that are not looted from these buildings.

This one below is for Mikey. #curb

Get into the groove...

Fish Tank Flow... DCEVE x SETER x VOR138 x STAE2 #QUEENS

smart crew — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:00:11 GMT

Got a chance to paint this trailer over the summer with a few other QUEENS based guys.

DCEVE SMART x SETER DA GFR

STAE2 GFR x VOR138 DBI

No Promo #Friday

smart crew — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:09:16 GMT

Action Bronson at the BYOB BBQ video on Karmaloop TV. Good to see Action making some big moves. I'm sure you will all see/hear about it. Also, look out for the upcoming show GIRLHATTAN on Karmaloop coming soon.

The homie Wil Robson Scott's first video. Filmed Action here in NY.

Also, check out his new book Crack & Shine International that just came out (No Promo):

There will be a video series hosted by Vans (offthewall.tv) for each city featured in the book.

Action Bronson gettin' that G-Shock money. No Promo.

Peace to SKATEALLCITIES.com for "flowin" some of these over. For some reason, New Yorkers aren't usually big fans of streaks but I love them. Thanks. (No Promo)

Cool track by Shaz IllYork and Meyhem Lauren - "Low Down."

Some recent video work by the talented Tom Gould (No Promo)

Last but not least, here's one for a good laugh...

Next level train surfing in India

smart crew — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:45:15 GMT

Peace to Edward Seymour #spraypaint #history

smart crew — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:25:25 GMT

"Aerosol Spray Paint" in a can (as we know it today) was invented in 1949 by Edward Seymour of Illinois. Ed Seymour devised a novelty spray gun to demonstrate an aluminum paint he had created for painting steam radiators. Rumor has it that Edward's wife Bonnie had given him the idea of an aerosol applicator for paint (taken from spray deodorizers and insecticides at the time.) His "spray paint" invention was only intended to show sales prospects how the paint would look when applied to surfaces. However, it became so popular that Edward went on to create a company "Seymour of Sycamore, Inc." of Chicago, USA, to manufacture his spray paints. To this day, the company is still in operation with multiple facilities totaling 220,000 square feet in Sycamore, Illinois (60 miles west of Chicago.) It also happens that Aluminum, the first spray paint color created, still has the best coverage today.

Edward Seymour himself

Seymour of Sycamore, Inc. warehouse facilities in 1996.

We reached out to the company to see if they still had the first can of spray paint produced, as it would be very interesting to see. Unfortunately, they no longer had the inital cans nor photos. The did send over the photo below which is the oldest can in their possession from 1954. It is a chrome yellow can of spray paint with a soup-can like appearance. I believe that under the cap is a rubber nozzle and these cans had to be sprayed downward at a 45 degree angle (please correct me if I'm wrong.) I'm also sure there's all kinds of horrible chemicals in this can.

More Aerosol Facts:

Going further back, the aerosol can was invented by Erik Rotheim of Norway. On November 23, 1927, Rotheim patented a can with a valve and propellant systems - it could hold and dispense liquids.

The first aerosol can (a can than contains a propellant [a liquefied gas like flurocarbon] and has a spray nozzle) was invented in 1944 by Lyle David Goodloe and W.N. Sullivan. They were working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and were trying to find a way to spray and kill malaria carrying mosquitos during World War II for the soldiers overseas.

The 50's wasn't even that long ago and it makes you wonder... If aerosol spray paint was never invented, would graffiti be around as we know it today? If spray paint was invented sooner, would graffiti be at a more advanced stage than it is today?

-Smart Crew

Gimme the Loot... Gimme the Loot...

smart crew — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:39:29 GMT

In light of the UK riots, here's your daily dose of Looting videos...

The following two videos are after the Haiti earthquake. People looting supplies for survival is justifiable but still can be argued...

The following video of so-called "survival" looting in New Orelans after Katrina. This one may be pushing it. Just take a look at Japan after their devastating earthquake. There was not a single looter in sight...

The looting that stemmed from the 1992 LA Riots. People clearly just taking advantage of the chaos with the mobb mentality.

Korean business owners fighting (shooting) back at LA looters at the 1:35 mark. I heard the Turks and Asians fought back (and won) against the looters in Dalston as well.

Some looting footage from Birmingham and London over the last few days. Breaking into electronics and cell phone stores for survival.

A compilation w/ some hip-hop background music. Peace to the guy who installed the wall mount flat screen TV at the Ladbrokes (3:50 mark.)

Last but not least, these videos of looting in Vancouver after they lost the Stanley Cup this year are just purely criminal.

Action Bronson visits Meatopia x Gramercy Theater

smart crew — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:19:22 GMT

Highsnobiety TV - Action Bronson Visits Meatopia from Highsnobiety on Vimeo.

NY Times Music Review:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/arts/music/action-bronson-at-the-gramercy-theater-review.html

Efficiency

smart crew — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:13:50 GMT

Git 'er done...

Lacey Duvalle x Smart Crew

smart crew — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:08:02 GMT

This one for the graffiti nerds... Lacey x Smart x Kilz

That other "Smart Crew" #norelation

smart crew — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:34:18 GMT

So Many "Artists" Ruining Trends - Smart NYC Niches

smart crew — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:09:08 GMT

#TRENDING

While on the topic of annoying trends...

Smart Model AVN Receiving Talent, Ice La Fox

smart crew — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:58:28 GMT

Icey...

Spottings Mostly A-Round Town

smart crew — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:01:06 GMT

They got forensics out...

Bootlegging Season

Ice Cream Man... Sha $ Brrrrrr

Fuck yo' couch!

Ghostface, Action Bronson & Termanology - Meteor Hammers
...off the Wu-Tang - Legendary Weapons album

Shooting Mortars Above Raging Tenants - USA

smart crew — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:49:55 GMT

"Most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed."

July FOURloko (backstock poison) rooftop celebration

Who are these people?

CON's entrance #Freud

Shirt off immediately...

Action Bronson - Brunch (Video) by Tom Gould & Alexander Richter

smart crew — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:51:55 GMT

New video for "Brunch" directed/produced by Tom Gould & Alexander Richter.

Off the album, Action Bronson - Dr. Lecter album. The new album "Well Done" coming soon this summer.

Action Bronson - XXL Magazine Feature

smart crew — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:13:00 GMT

I know we're a little late with this, but here's a scan from this month's XXL "rap" magazine. Action Bronson being featured in the "Show & Prove" section. Stay tuned for another video off the Dr. Lecter album by the talented Tom Gould...

*click on image for the high-res version

IT'S A SUNNY spring day in New York City's Lower East Side, and Action Bronson is posted up outside of BaoHaus, one of his favorite restaurants, explaining how he differs from the current crop of up-and-coming rappers. "You see the way I look, you hear the way I sound," he says in his rough and rugged New York accent. "I'm not one these regular flamboyant fuckin' funny muthafuckas who's in the streets wearin' tight clothes." As he stands about 5 feet 7 inches and weights around 280 pounds, tight clothes aren't really an option for him- he's more of the XXL-size Carhartt and Polo type. And this graffiti writer turned real-life chef turned MC couldn't be regular if he tried.
    Born and raised in Queens's diverse Flushing neighborhood, the 27-year old ryhmer started rapping only three years ago, but with his witty stream-of-consciousness flow and lyrics replete with references to weed, women and fine dining, he's carving out a niche for himself as a witty street rapper in the vein of Big Pun or, his personal favorite, Kool G Rap.
    Bronson got his first mic time in early 2008, making guest appearances on DJ J-Love and rapper Meyhem Lauren's Outdoorsmen projects. And while his Action in the Kitchen YouTube cooking series, which began in 2009, displayed a sense of humor and skills as a chef, February 2011's The Program showed fans that seared ahi tuna wasn't the only thing Bam Bam Bronson could cook up. A month later, Dr. Lecter, the bearded bar spitter's first official LP, landed on the radar of influential New York radio DJs like Peter Rosenberg and DJ Enuff.
    With an upcoming mixtape strictly over classic Southern beats, Commanders Palace, slated for June, and a collaborative album with Statik Selektah due soon after, expect Bronson to become a favorite of fans of hardcore 1990s-style New York rap. Just don't call it throwback rap. "This might have a sound that's reminiscent of what you used to love, but this is something totally different," he assures. "No one's talkin' about preparing all kinds of meals the way I do. On every level, no one's doin' it like meat this point."
    Take a seat at the table. --TIMMHOTEP AKU

June 2011 XXLMAG.COM

Elk Street - Smart Crew NYC A-Z Streets Series

smart crew — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:44:00 GMT

Elk Street runs from Chambers St. on the south to Duane St. on the north. “At its greatest extent, at the turn of the last century, Elm Street ran from Reade Street north to Great Jones Street. In 1905 the stretch between Worth and Great Jones Streets became part of Lafayette Street.” Today, Elk Street stretches a mere two blocks, half of it blockaded from vehicle traffic into Federal Plaza.

“In 1939 the Council of the City of New York passed the following resolution: Be it resolved... that the two blocks remaining on Elm Street be known as Elk Street to pay tribute to the famous Order of Elks which was founded on that Street in the year 1867.” The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks then called the “Jolly Corks” started as “a private club to elude New York City laws governing the opening hours of public taverns.” Today, the Elks are one of the leading fraternal orders in the U.S., with nearly a million members and thousands of “lodges”. Elks Lodge #878 located on Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst “was once the largest Elks Lodge on the East Coast, with 60 rooms, bowling alleys, billiards, a ladies lounge, and a 50 foot bar.” I remember going there for a trading card show, looking to complete my 1993-94 Skybox Premium Thunder and Lightning set.

But I think many of us will remember the Elks Lodge as a staple and stomping ground for Extreme Championship Wrestling. In 1996 the lodge held an event dubbed “Massacre on Queens Boulevard”, which saw Taz defeating Chris “Lion heart” Jericho. Sadly, the only thing the steel chairs are being used for nowadays is to seat church goers of the New Life Fellowship, which rents out the space.

Elk Street gained national fame when in 1991, during the construction of Foley Square, 400 African bodies were found buried in the ground. “Historians estimate there may have been 15,000-20,000 burials there.” Further investigation revealed that during the 17th and 18th centuries, free and enslaved Africans were buried in a 6.6 acre burial ground in lower Manhattan outside the boundaries of the settlement of New Amsterdam, which would become New York. Over the decades, the unmarked cemetery was covered over by development and landfill. Elk Street is also named “African Burial Ground Way” and the site designated a National Historic Landmark and National Monument.

The Ancestral Chamber, which is the tall pointed structure in the image above, is 24 feet high and represents the distance down one would have to excavate in order to reach the level of the original burial ground. “These ancestral Africans were taken from their home land through a ‘Door of No Return.’ One enters the Ancestral Chamber through the ‘Door of Return.’ The Ancestral Chamber is a vessel that serves to take us back to an original place where we all began. It provides a sacred space for individual contemplation, reflection, meditation and prayer.”

Around the Libation Court, which is described as a Circle of the Diaspora, has signs, symbols and images engraved around its perimeter. The symbols are said to come from different areas and cultures from Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This circle serves as a “reminder of the complexity and diversity of African culture’s manifestation. They all come together to form a communal place and a reminder of the international center of gathering.”

Elk Street is also home to the former Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank headquarters, built in 1912, and was one of the largest bank buildings in the United States. Emigrant Savings Bank was founded in 1850 by 18 members of the Irish Emigrant Society and is the oldest savings bank in New York City. The bank provided financial services for the rising Irish Catholic immigrant population, which would later give birth to the half-Irish, half-gorilla, and half-Jewish abominations we see today. The address of the building is actually 51 Chambers Street, but the side of the building with this painted advertisement is on Elk Street.

In the 19th century before Elk Street was absorbed by Lafayette Street, New York City’s major prison was located on Elk Street. Nicknamed “The Tombs”, the Manhattan Detention Complex, now located on 125 White Street has undergone three reconstructions since the original in 1838. The current building was built in 1974 and holds about 900 short term inmates. It was named the Bernard B. Kerik Complex by Rudolph Giuliani in 2001, honoring the chauffeur whom Giuliani had elevated to police commissioner, however, after Kerik's many ethical failings came to light, the name was removed by Mayor Bloomberg. Among the notable criminals held here are Sid Vicious, ~~Sean "Puffy" Combs~~ Swag and more recently Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

The first complex to have the nickname was built during 1838, and was designed by John Haviland. The design was based on an engraving of an ancient Egyptian mausoleum. The building initially accommodated about 300 prisoners. It occupied a full block, surrounded by Centre, Franklin, Elm (today's Lafayette), and Leonard Streets.

The Original Tombs Building, 1896

The block on which the building stood had been created during 1811 by the filling-in of the Collect Pond, a small lake that had once been an important fresh water source for colonial New York City. Industrialization and population density by the late 18th century resulted in the severe pollution of the Collect and it was condemned, drained and filled in. The landfill job was poorly done and in a span of less than ten years the ground began to subside.

This is probably shittiest and most neglected and poorly maintained parks in lower Manhattan.

The prison was well known for its corruption and was involved with numerous scandals and successful prison escapes during its early history and, by 1850, many people were endorsing its destruction. The original building was replaced during 1902 with a new one connected by a "Bridge of Sighs" to the Criminal Courts Building on the Franklin Street side. The bridge got its name because inmates on death row would be lead under the bridge and into the courtyard where they would be hung.

This Elk St. post was brought to you by WORK925.

Sources:

http://www.oldstreets.com/index.asp?letter=E
http://www.ashlandelks.org/html/history/elkst.html
http://www.africanburialground.gov/ABG_Main.htm
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/elmhurst/elmhurst.html
http://www.nysonglines.com/white.htm

Sorry, we don't do "art"

smart crew — Fri, 27 May 2011 16:52:00 GMT

Spottings:

Shaz - "Air Unlimited" Mixtape

smart crew — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:30:38 GMT

Shaz - "Air Unlimited" Mixtape Download

Pixação (Sao Paulo)

smart crew — Fri, 20 May 2011 20:15:39 GMT

Damn... at 2:17 the camera pans back to the kids climbing down and one of them is missing. #RIP

A little accident at 0:37

Action Bronson - New York Times

smart crew — Sun, 15 May 2011 16:02:00 GMT

Just peeped this in the Arts & Leisure section this Sunday morning:
http://www.actionbronson.com

(click to view large)

(click to view large)

PS - This is NOT a hip-hop/music blog. PLEASE STOP sending us tracks. Thank you.

"White Boys"

smart crew — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:53:00 GMT

Riding low in vintage VW's and Chevy's...

Peace to the 2011 Smart Crew sponsor:

Avenue D - Smart Crew NYC A-Z Streets Series

smart crew — Tue, 10 May 2011 15:16:00 GMT

Avenue D runs from Houston St. on the south to 14 St. on the north. It is the last street on the east end of "Alphabet City." Avenue D was home to many different groups of immigrants over time. Unfortunately, it was also plagued with crime and poverty throughout much of its history up until the 2000's. Regardless, it is one of the last few areas downtown that still has the old New York "neighborhood" feel to it. Not to worry though, the rich h*psters are slowly creeping east to this final NYC frontier (if not already evident.) Avenue C has already been plagued with hungover 20-somethings eating "brunch" with their shades on.

Neighborhood Fact: Alphabet City actually sits on an ex-salt marsh that was drained around the early 1800's so that developers could build on top of the newly reclaimed land. Today, the only natural, remaining salt marsh in Manhattan is located in Inwood Hill Park uptown.

In the mid 1800's, Avenue D was once part of a "Little Germany" that was home to many German immigrants. The next wave of immigrants coming to this area up until the early 1900's were the Eastern European Jews, Irish and Italians. This area became one of the worst slums in the city cluttered with tenement housing that had no running water. Only by the 1960's did Avenue D started seeing the increase of Puerto Rican immigrants for the next two decades. By 1980, the area was home to "a mix of Puerto Rican and African American families living alongside struggling artists and musicians (who were mostly young and white)." Today, the area is becoming less and less associated with the low rent, violence, drugs and creative atmosphere that it once was known for.

A huge Con Edison plant is located at the north end of Avenue D. The four towering smoke stacks from this plant are visible throughout the neighborhood. This power plant has been blamed for high rates of asthma in the neighborhood. The Avenue D Pump Station (also known as the Manhattan Pump Station) is located just south of the Con Edison plant. Put into service in 1965, this pump station serves about one-third of Manhattan and pumps sewage beneath the East River through a tunnel that is 8.5-ft in diameter, 7500 ft long, and 300 ft deep. The tunnel connects to the Newtown Creek Water Pollution Control Plant located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn where the wastewater is treated. Currently, the Manhattan Pump station is being upgraded and scheduled to be completed next year (2012.)

"Pretty much, this shitty pump station pushes all our shit from 1/3 of Manhattan through a big "shit tunnel" running under the shitty East River." - Jim Lahey

A strange East 13 Street street sign located in the Riis Housing Projects.

Jacob Riis Houses is a large public housing complex built in 1949 located between East 8th and East 13th Streets. It was named after a Danish-born photojournalist who documented New York tenement life. His stories in newspapers about slum dwellings and abuses in lower class urban life were collected in "How the Other Half Lives (1890)." Riis dwelled on the city's slum tenements and how the people there lived. Jacob Riis Houses on Manhattan's Lower East Side has 13 buildings, covers almost 12 acres and has 1,187 apartments housing some 2,903 residents.

One of my favorite NYC photographs: Bandit's Roost (1888) by Jacob Riis, from How the Other Half Lives. This image is Bandit's Roost at 59½ Mulberry Street, considered the most crime-ridden, dangerous part of New York City.

Dry Dock Playground is a small park with a pool on East 10th Street and Avenue D named for the neighborhood's former shipbuilding hub in the 1800's. A recent article from DNAinfo says that the park will receive a major facelift that includes an expanded playground, improved lighting and new domino tables in a plan unveiled by the city. When most of Alphabet City was known as the Dry Dock District, it was the center of the shipbuilding industry. "Not only did the number of ships built in the East River Yards exceed the number built in any other section of the country, but exceed the total number produced in all the other states of the Union combined."

Photo of the Dry Dock Playground in 1987 and again in 2011. The kids these days don't have all the crazy shit to climb in playgrounds that we used to have. Another reason why the young kids rather stay at home on the computer instead of going out to the park. Now, it's all about "safety" and the fear of getting sued by parents who go overboard in keeping their kids "safe."

This was the corner of 10 Street and Avenue D. The site of Corn Exchange Bank and Trust Company in 1937.

"Off The Grid" is doing a series of research articles (1,2,3,4) about the oldest building in Alphabet City located at 143-145 Avenue D (constructed in 1827) which was originally the Dry Dock Banking House. "The General Glass Industries Corporation was also located in this building until 1973. The attached five- and six-story brick buildings, which had teemed with light manufacturing activity since the early 1900s, quickly fell into decay. Drug addicts and alcoholics increasingly used the buildings as a crash pad in the following decades."

143-145 Avenue D - This is the oldest building in Alphabet City with a lot of history behind it.

When 143-145 Avenue D was a squat known as the Glass House. Artist(s) and year unknown.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Solomon and family at 133 Avenue D (between 9 & 10 St) in 1936. The photo on the right shows the view out the back window of the tenement. For some reason, there are many sources online that incorrectly label this address as 333 Avenue D (which would place it at the site of the Con Edison plant.)

A photo of what 133 Avenue D looks like these days right across the street from the Riis houses.

East 9 st. at FDR Drive. This is the plot that would eventually become the Jacob Riis houses.

Neighborhood Fact: Note the gas tanks in the photo above. Stuyvesant Town is located at the north end of Avenue D at 14 St. right above the Con Edison plant. Better known to locals as "Stuy Town," this housing complex was originally built over the old Gashouse District. The area got its name from the large gas storage tanks located there. (These gas tanks constantly leaked and made the area very undesirable to live in.) The Gashouse District was also the home to the Gas House Gang. "Specializing in armed robbery, the gang was estimated to have committed between 30 to 40 robberies a night as well as extorting money from local residents and operating brothels. Since there was little to steal on their own turf, they would travel to other neighborhoods and rob the criminals there. The gang would continue to control the district for over two decades until it was eventually absorbed by the Five Points Gang in 1910." As part of an urban renewal project, the Gashouse District was leveled in the 1940's. Almost 11,000 people were forced to move from the neighborhood in order to make room for the construction of Stuy Town.

Looking north on Avenue D before the Riis Houses were built in 1941 and then 70 years later in 2011.

The 8th Street Playground Igloo at the Jacob Riis Houses seems to bring back a lot of memories for those who grew up in the neighborhood.

Avenue D and East 8 Street across the street in 1987 and then again in 2011. It looks like the store fronts have been removed. The building to the left also seems to have been demolished since 1987. I would only assume that new condos are coming next.

Looking north on Avenue D 24 years apart. The tenement on the corner has been replaced with a new building. It is now the Housing Works Day Treatment and Residential Program, declared a "special project of national significance" by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Lillian Wald Houses, named for Lillian D. Wald (1867-1940) stretch from Houston Street to East 6 Street on Avenue D. Medical care in the city’s poorest slums was pretty nonexistent in the late 1890s. So social reformer Lillian Wald established a visiting nurses service. Her Nurses’ Settlement eventually had a staff of about 100 blue-uniformed nurses who went from tenement to tenement offering free or low-cost check-ups and treatment, mostly for immigrant mothers and kids. The housing projects has 16 buildings 10, 11, 13 and 14-stories tall with 1,857 apartments housing an estimated 4,536 residents. It was completed on October 14, 1949.

A hand painted Lilian Wald Houses sign.

Rather than climbing all those tenement stairs on their rounds, the nurses simply hopped from rooftop to rooftop, like this nurse is doing here (1890s.) This photo reminds me of Mary Poppins.

The Lillian Wald Houses in 1974 and in 2011.

On Avenue D, singer Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots was busted for heroin possession on June 1, 1998 outside of the Lillian Wald houses.

From a 2005 New York Times article about Avenue D and the Wald Housing Projects:

"Some people say change can only help Avenue D, but people like Mario Aponte, a 56-year-old native, remember an era when things weren't so bad. Mr. Aponte, a garrulous building mechanic, grew up in the Wald houses in the 1950's, a time when every side street off Avenue D boasted its own innocuous little gang. The Eastmen were on Third Street, the Sportsmen on Fourth, the Untouchables on 11th. Mr. Aponte got involved with the Bopping Bailerino Dragons, and quickly learned that being in a gang in those days was mostly about hanging out in hallways, waging frivolous battles over girls and, above all, looking sharp, by way of aggressively pressed chinos. gleaming cordovan dress shoes and snappy fedoras.

"The biggest thing was dressing," Mr. Aponte said. "We had to have creases in our pants. People would see us and say, gee, I like your crease. Even when I thought I was a hippie in the 60's, I still had to have my crease."

Except for the crease, little on Avenue D stayed the same in the 60's and surely the 70's. Drugs saturated the neighborhood, helping mire Mr. Aponte's buddies in far more trouble than turf battles over girls. A friend named Agar got 25 to life for robbery and attempted murder. One of the Maurice boys overdosed on heroin, the other was snuffed out by amphetamines. The Jackson boy, the Tolliver boy - both ended up dead. Mugsy was supposed to sell $5,000 worth of cocaine for a guy up in Harlem called Goldfinger. He screwed it up, and was found bound to a chair and shot in the eye on Fifth Street, just off Avenue D..."

Corner building at Avenue D and 4 St. 66 years apart. Most of the buildings to the left from the original photo in 1945 are no longer there today.

Lower East side resident's growing up on the streets of Alphabet City, Ave D East 2nd street to East 10 Street. Baruch & Lillian Wald houses. All Photo's donated by KAZ - CBS:

Disclaimer: Smart Crew may be "writers" but they don't claim to be actual "writers." Now hiring editors that work for free.

Sources:
http://www.thevillager.com/villger_293/concernsonconed.html
http://myantiquefamily.com/
http://gvshp.org/blog/2011/04/25/the-strangers-hospital-143-145-avenue-d-part-4/
http://gvshp.org/blog/2011/03/29/the-decline-of-the-dry-dock-district-143-145-avenue-d-part-3/
http://gvshp.org/blog/2011/03/16/from-banking-to-biscuits-part-2/
http://gvshp.org/blog/2011/03/15/from-banking-to-biscuits-part-1-2/
http://www.dnainfo.com/20110415/lower-east-side-east-village/domino-tables-included-alphabet-city-park-renovation#ixzz1LtE9Fds6
http://academic2.marist.edu/foy/clan/essays/saint_brigid_and_dry_dock.htm
http://www.nysonglines.com/avd.htm

What a society we live in...

smart crew — Mon, 02 May 2011 15:34:00 GMT

Save Money And Rack That ™

smart crew — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:16:00 GMT

Spring Break 2011...

Smart Crew tribute piece painted by a fan.

Bootleg Smart Crew Locksmith Stickers

smart crew — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Recently, we have been getting feedback about these "Smart Crew Locksmiths" stickers. Smart Crew said they had no idea what these people were talking about but started noticing them on their own shortly afterwards. The funny/strange thing is that Smart Crew are NOT the ones responsible for making, nor putting up these stickers. We called the phone number on the stickers and it turned out to be an actual locksmith service. A lady picked up and we asked her if this was "Smart Crew Locksmiths" and she replied "Yes it is, How can we help you?" We asked her about the logo on the stickers and she claimed to have no knowledge of these particular stickers. This whole incident has been beyond strange but we wanted to share this on the blog because it does call out an interesting issue:

How can one prove that a company/individual is responsible for ALL illegally posted stickers of a unique design? These days, it's becoming easier and easier to bootleg designs (as apparent with these Smart Crew Locksmith stickers.) Third parties can also be hired to put up the stickers. In this case, the locksmith company claims no knowledge of these stickers even though their phone number is on them. The Smart Crew claims no knowledge of these stickers even though someone placed their logo on them.

Was this some kind of ingenious marketing tactic by the Locksmith company to try to put the blame of the vandalism on the Smart Crew but reap the rewards of the sales at the same time? If so, we do applaud them for a "smart" and well executed plan.

We looked into the Locksmith Sticker Law signed by Bloomberg in 2004:

The existence of the stickers themselves is a violation of New York State penal law 145.30, which states:

1. A person is guilty of unlawfully posting advertisements when, having no right to do so nor any reasonable ground to believe that he has such right, he posts, paints or otherwise affixes to the property of another person any advertisement, poster, notice or other matter designed to benefit a person other than the owner of the property.

This part makes sense. The person getting caught putting up the sticker gets in trouble for putting up that specific sticker (that they were caught putting up.) This is considered vandalism after all. Since the Smart Crew does not put these up, they have no worries here.

2. Where such matter consists of a commercial advertisement, it shall be presumed that the vendor of the specified product, service or entertainment is a person who placed such advertisement or caused it to be placed upon the property.

This part is a little unclear. How do they determine the vendor in this case when the logo and business phone do not match? Does this also mean that you can cause companies legal troubles by just throwing their phone numbers, addresses, names or logos onto illegally posted stickers? Hopefully, the Smart Crew will not have to deal with any kind of legal issues since the stickers are in fact BOOTLEG and false advertising. For the record, Smart Crew is NOT a locksmith/marketing company and has never posted a sticker up illegally!

Here is a recent article from the NY Post about an insurance salesman who was framed by another unrelated company for posting fliers and slapped with more than $48,000 in fines by the Department of Sanitation:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/the_tix_of_the_litter_trEpp59z6wjVNLmjfvzXCL

*UPDATE: One of our readers spotted a "food delivery guy on a bike" putting up these stickers over the weekend. When approached about the stickers, he claimed that he was hired by a marketing agency off Craigslist? Apparently, he did not speak too much English. (Hiring a multi-tasking immigrant to do your dirty work? Another excellent plan if this locksmith company is behind it all.)

Caught in the act...

F*ck What You Heard Mixtape - Free Download

smart crew — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:59:00 GMT

Here's a FREE mixtape download featuring Action Bronson, Meyhem, Shaz, and Trybueno...

*Sponsor

Good one Einstein... (RIP The Rock)

smart crew — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:09:00 GMT

"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth" - Albert Einstein

Photo by Tom Gould

Last but not least... RIP ROCKSTAR BAR

The above are all examples of LEGAL, commissioned graffiti murals. Please see blog post below.

Flaws of the NYC Graffiti-Free Program

smart crew — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:49:00 GMT

For those who don't already know, there is a new policy of the NYC Graffiti-Free Program that has been in effect since 2010. This new policy has resulted in a LOT of old graffiti being painted over causing the history of our city to slowly disappear. The new policy, taken directly from the NYCEDC web site states the following:

"Anyone can report graffiti on any property in New York City. Simply call 3-1-1 and The City will mail a Notice of Intent to Remove Graffiti to the property's address as well as the owner's address if different from the property in question. Once the notice is delivered, the property owner/representative will have 35 days to contact The City to decline graffiti removal services or request an extension. If the property owner/representative takes no action within 35 days, we will remove the graffiti free of charge..."

At the same time, New York City Graffiti Law states:

“No person shall write, paint or draw any inscription, figure or mark of any type on any public or private building or other structure or any other real or personal property owned, operated or maintained by a public benefit corporation, the city of New York or any agency or instrumentality thereof or by any person, firm, or corporation, or any personal property maintained on a city street or other city-owned property pursuant to a franchise, concession or revocable consent granted by the city, unless the express permission of the owner or operator of the property has been obtained.”

It appears that the city no longer follows their own graffiti law with this new policy. "If you want to keep the graffiti on your property and do not want it cleaned, you must also call 311 within 35 days." Is that considered "express permission" to "paint a mark of any type" on your property? It sounds more like implied logic than express permission, but what do we know? Under the old policy, if you received the notice, you still had to give the city permission to clean your property. If you did not reply with "express permission", the city had no right to clean the graffiti from your property. This old process was reasonable and made total sense (even as a supporter of graffiti art.) Let's look at some of the flaws of this new policy:

When you get sent the "Notice of Intent to Remove Graffiti" notice, this letter is NOT sent by certified receipt. You could have been on summer vacation and not have received the letter until you got home. Snail mail also gets lost all of the time. The same goes for your reply letter.
This new policy is similar to asking Starbucks by mail if you can go ahead and change their logo because you think it looks ugly. When they don't respond, you just assume that it's okay. Then, you go out and start altering all their stores' logos so that it looks "better" for everyone's sake. Just because you notified them, it doesn't make it okay or legal.
To take it a step further, couldn't we just use the same logic to make "Notices of Upcoming Graffiti?" We could send these notices out (with certified-receipt as proof) to different property owners all over the city. These notices will let them know that we will be coming to paint our "art" on their property and they have 35 days to let us know if they DON'T want our FREE service. Something tells us that we wouldn't get many responses back so that would mean "express permission" these days right?

The following is the Graffiti-Free NYC stance in regards to murals:

"It is the current policy of Graffiti-Free NYC not to remove murals. If we receive a request for removal of a mural, our current policy is to contact the property owner for information regarding the mural and refer the matter to The Mayor's Office's Community Affairs Unit for further investigation."

Who is the city to determine what is considered a "mural"? Below, are photos of legal/commissioned "murals" by a gallery but it sure looks a lot like what most people consider "graffiti" in the streets.

A piece that will be featured in an upcoming graffiti exhibit at LA's Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)

Under the new policy, what stops the city from going ahead and painting over LEGAL murals like the ones above?
Photos by Sabeth718

This is all just food for thought. It's just the age old issue of the government breaking the law to enforce the law. In the end, NYC is still better off than other cities that don't require any property owner permission at all to paint over what the city deems "graffiti."

If you would like to make a complaint regarding this new policy, please contact the NYC EDC at: GraffitiFreeNYC@nycedc.com (in a professional manner.)

Here are some examples of how "graffiti removal" can go terribly wrong:

Content taken from REVOK's blog:

"These guys thought it would be a good idea to remove the gate off the hinges and enter into this fenced in property… Then start painting over the legal mural my friends and I painted. Once some folks from the neighborhood realized what was happening they called the police and the owner of the building(Wonder Woman) jammed down there and got in their ass… Lynda is super bummed, the entire neighborhood dug our wall… were not too stoked either."

Read more...

Content taken from ASKEW's blog:

"Last Monday Component from Cut Collective turned up at my studio to tell me about the contractors painting out a mural site I have painted and maintained since 2001. I left my studio immediately and drove up to the wall to speak with the contractors, just to grasp how this had come to be. They were nice polite guys, both a little shocked that they were ordered to remove this mural and had actually thought it must be a mistake. I was told that it was due to a complaint from the owner as apparently the wall was illegally done. They said Tony Capton had made the call and it had maybe come from higher up. I was shocked to hear this, I new it was likely a mistake as although I wasn’t certain at the time whether the tenant I got permission from was the landlord or not – I was curious to investigate and find out conclusively..."

New York City 1980's Subway Graffiti

smart crew — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:54:00 GMT

I have no idea how I missed this one... Amazing footage.

Canal St. - Smart Crew NYC A-Z Streets Series

smart crew — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:23:00 GMT

When you think of Canal St. these days, you may think of bootleg designer handbags/watches, knock off perfumes, odd retailers, Chinese fish markets, tourists, traffic, Scrap Yard/Bomb The System, art supplies, etc... But way back around 1805, there was actually a canal built on Canal St. with the purpose of draining the nearby polluted Collect Pond into the Hudson River. By 1821, the canal had gotten to the point of smelling so foul that the city covered it up and turned it into an underground sewer. Water still flows beneath Canal St. to this day. This is also the main reason why there are occasional cave-ins on the street above. There was an “urban exploration video” by Andrew Wonder that recently made its way around the internet. In the video, they briefly explored the west portion of this existing underground waterway. UNDERCITY - http://www.vimeo.com/18280328 (check it out at the 12:00 mark)

“Illustration of west Canal Street in the 1800’s depicting a street about a hundred feet wide with a ditch or open canal in its center concealed with a row of lovely trees shielding the new tenements and businesses surrounding it.” (...and you thought living in Staten Island smelled bad?)

1805 plan of the canal from a park plaque. It appears that the canal was designed to accommodate a small boat.

Photo of the existing waterway that runs below Canal St. today. (photo stolen from internet)

Up until the early 1840’s, the eastern section of Canal St. that runs from Centre St. to Division St. was originally named Pump St. “One of the principal fountains of the Collect Pond was located at Roosevelt and Chatham Streets and was known as the Teawater Pump, since the locals used it as a freshwater spring for their favorite beverage. A resort known as the Teawater Garden arose in the region. By 1829, though, the resort had disappeared, though it lent its name to Pump Street.” (Forgotten NY)

Map of the old Collect Pond that the canal was originally built to drain. They later built a prison known as the "Tombs" right over the area where the pond was. Needless to say, the marshy land cause some horrible conditions (even for a prison.) The original structure was replaced by a large grey guilding in 1902 and is now known as 100 Centre St. aka Manhattan bookings. The "Tombs" nickname still remains today.

On the eastern end of Canal St. sits Seward Park. In 1904, the first permanent, municipally built playground in the United States opened here. The park included the first public bath in a New York park which was demolished in 1936 and replaced by a recreation building in 1941.

Lawn-tennis and volleyball games played by girls in 1905 at Seward Park. There are still tennis courts at this park today.

31 Canal St. (between Ludlow and Essex) was once the entrance to Loew's Canal Street Theatre opened in 1927. It seated up to 2,279 people and is now home to ABC United Trading Corp, an electronics store. If you go around the block north on Ludlow St. you can see the structure of the large theater. They showed movies here up until 1960’s. As of last year in 2010, the Landmark Preservation Commission declared this site a landmark. There are rumors of this site becoming a “hip” hotel in the near future.

Photo of the entrance to the Loew's Canal St. Theater in the 30's and the same entrance about 70-80 years later.

West on Canal St to Allen St from East Broadway showing the 2nd Ave El Canal St. Station and Seward Park to the right c.1930. You can see the Loew's Theater marquee to the right.

You can see the massive side structure of the theater in this 2011 photo looking north on Ludlow St.

Photograph of the landmark "Jarmulowsky Bank Building" on Canal St. and Orchard St. built in 1912.

Photo of Canal St. at 46 Forsyth in 1920 and about 91 years later. The old P.S.65 schoolhouse was replaced with the new Pace University High School building.

As you go further west on Canal St. you run into the Manhattan Bridge Arch and Colonade. This structure was designed by Carrere & Hastings who also designed the New York Public Library in midtown. “This horseshoe-shaped arcade was built in 1910-15 to provide an impressive entrance to Manhattan.”

In the early 90's, the base of the Manhattan Bridge approach was a shantytown known as "The Hill." Today, it's all cleaned up and transformed into the bike/pedestrian lane ramp to the bridge (reopened in 2007.) It's pretty crazy to imagine people once living in tepees made of blue tarp and wood there but it was definitely a unique part of town back then. "The Hill-as the settlement alongside the Manhattan Bridge was known to its residents and neighbors-was small: only about twenty people living in fifteen structures. Of all the city’s current shantytowns at the time, however, this one may have been the most permanent-looking. A majority of the huts were made of wood, and most had locks." (Bowery Boogie)

Photo taken from Ethan Wolff's flickr: Shantytown with teepee on the Chinatown side of the Manhattan Bridge, 1992.

Construction of the Citizens Savings Bank in 1920 on Bowery and Canal St. The landmark building is now occupied by HSBC Bank.

Phone booth at the corner of Bowery and Canal St. in the 70's and the same location in 2011. You might recognize the asian guy sitting on the steps as a neighborhood "crazy guy."

Corner of Mott St. and Canal St. looking south. Little things like that old Chase logo reminds me so much of the 90's. Didn't get my camera out in time and literally just missed a Postal truck in the exact same spot. It would of made an awesome photo for comparison.

At the southwest corner of Mott St. and Canal St., there is a pagoda-like structure that was built in 1950. “This was the headquarters of the On Leong Tong, once one of Chinatown's most feared gangs, with Mott Street as its territory. As late as the 1990s, On Leong leaders were running protection rackets with the Ghost Shadows street gang. Today, it seems to be more what it always pretended to be; an association of Chinatown businessmen.”

The Vietnamese gang Born To Kill had a chapter known as the Canal Street Boys. The gang rose to power around 1986 and they took over the area of Canal St. from Broadway to Lafayette. The gang was heavily involved in extortion, robberies, assaults and murders, killing members of other gangs and bystanders. Most of the gang's members grew up in a culture of guns and drugs in Vietnam. "When the B.T.K. popped up on Canal Street, they were the craziest group that anybody had ever seen." In 1990, 21 year old Thomas Vu (No. 2 man of BTK at the time) was killed in a drive by shooting on Canal St. and Broadway. At Vu’s funeral in New Jersey, a rival group opened fire on over a hundred mourners. BTK returned fire resulting in a shootout at the cemetery with people jumping into open graves for cover.

BTK/Canal St. Boys were one of the few Asian gangs without direct ties to century old Tong gangs. (Click to enlarge)

The leader of BTK was David Thai. Thai admitted publicly to making 13 to 15 million dollars just from the manufacture and sale of counterfeit watches. When Thai was arrested in his home on Long Island, 5,000 counterfeit Rolex watches were found in his basement. In a way, David Thai and his operations birthed the Canal Street counterfeit market and made it a worldwide tourist visit location for bootlegged items. Thai is currently service three consecutive live sentences in federal prison.

David Thai - Leader of BTK

Pre and Post VICIOUS SEVER spot at Mulberry St. and Canal St.

Entrance to the old Chung Kou theater at 202 Canal St. in 1976. The theater was known as Jade Cinema from 1968-1971.

Illustration of the junction of Canal St. & Walker St. in 1860. For you graffiti people, this would be the location of the famed "JAYA" roof over 150 years ago!

Another early photograph of the same location above. Not sure of the year but looks like late 1800's. The "PAINTING" sign on the building is foreshadowing.

Junction of Canal St. and Walker St. in 2008. This has become one of the so-called "most famed rooftops" for street graffiti in NYC.

No matter who hits the spot these days, JAYA will always be the first in 1998. (DIRT roller on top *RIP)

At the northwest corner of Canal St. and Centre St. there is a “building with a red pagoda roof and a facade decorated with dragons and phoenixes. This was the Golden Pacific National Bank, which opened here in 1983 and went under only two years later, taking $17 million in local deposits with it.” In 1989, the former president of the failed bank, Kuang Hsung J. Chuang was only sentenced to 5 years in prison on 22 counts of making false statements to the Federal Reserve, misapplying bank funds and defrauding bank customers.

The Oltarsh Building on the northeast corner of Broadway and Canal was built in 1927 as the 599-seat Major Theatre by David M. Oltarsh, a major in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It was known as Cinema Giglio by 1963 and Canal Cinema in 1978. “Today, much of the exterior still exists of the Major Theater including the marquee although the interior has been converted to retail and flea market like space.” A Verizon store took over the space last year in 2010.

Verizon making use of the old theater marquee out front.

Sorry for the small photo but here you can see the Major Theater in its glory days.

In the Canal St. BMT (N,Q,R) subway station, there is a mosaic by the artist Van Everen (circa 1905-1920) that depicts the corner of Broadway and Canal St. According to Forgotten NY, they believe that Van Everen based the mosaic on an early 1800's woodcut showing the Stone Bridge Tavern. The stone bridge in the foreground carried Broadway over the canal. When the canal was filled in, the bridge was buried under the street. It may still be there, although subway construction may have uprooted it. It’s pretty hard to believe that’s how the intersection of Broadway and Canal used to look!

Early woodcut illustration of the intersection of Broadway and Canal St. The bridge going over the canal at the time was called the "Stone Bridge."

Looking North on Broadway from Canal St. 120 years apart. There seems to be construction of a trolley track in the 1891 photo.

Looking West on Canal St. from Broadway 119 years apart. Some construction workers were nice enough to let me into a hotel that's being built on the corner to mimic the old shot taken from above.

Looking west on Canal St. from Broadway in 1860.

Looking east on Canal St. at Varick St. (Year unknown)

Canal St. at Watts St. in 1999 with graffiti by KERN, MERZ, CES, ENO, SERP, REMO, FETISH and some others I can't make out.

Canal St. at Hudson St. (year unknown)

Looking East on Canal St. from West St. 89 years apart. You can see the Ninth Ave. el tracks in the distance in the 1922 photograph.

Looking West on Canal St. from West St. 89 years apart. There appears to be a large pier structure in the old photograph that no longer exists today.

...And that's all we have for you even though we can go on forever with Canal St.'s rich history. Let's hear some suggestions for the next "D" street to cover.

Sources:
"History of the City of New York: Its Origin, Rise and Progress, vol III", 1877.
www.forgotten-ny.com/streetnecrology/lowereast/lowereast.html
digitalgallery.nypl.org
www.nysonglines.com/canal.htm
www.nytimes.com/1989/03/04/nyregion/a-new-gang-s-violent-role-in-chinatown.html
query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0DC1539F935A35752C0A967958260&pagewanted=all
query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE1DE1F38F933A05754C0A966958260&pagewanted=all
http://www.lowermanhattan.info/news/smoothing_out_canal_street_99774.asp
www.boweryboogie.com/2011/03/the-shantytown-of-the-manhattan-bridge-approach/

More SMART Spottings...

smart crew — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:28:00 GMT

All photos spotted and stolen from all over the internet/television...

Action Bronson - Barry Horowitz (Dr. Lecter) video by Tom Gould

smart crew — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:26:00 GMT

Here's a brand new Action Bronson video by Tom Gould for the single "Barry Horowitz" off the Dr. Lecter album that was released yesterday. Great job as always considering this was just filmed a few days ago! Enjoy...

Also, Action's album Dr. Lecter was released on iTunes yesterday. Go purchase it! I guarantee you will enjoy if you are a fan of 90's hip hop. This might be the best album I heard in years... For those of you really stuck in the 90's, you can cop the phyical copy at http://www.actionbronson.com

"Urban Hillbilly"

Clarification on Smart Crew stickers.

smart crew — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:07:00 GMT

For the record, we DO NOT put up stickers as a form of "bombing." Smart Crew does not do illegal graffiti of any kind. If you have ever noticed our stickers around on the streets, the only purpose was to cover something up that may have been offensive to the public. To clarify this, we have added disclaimers to our stickers. These stickers are always given out for free at NYC community board meetings and we encourage you to ask property owners for permission before placing these on anything that does not belong to you.

-Thank you.
(Structural Maintenance And Repair Team)

*Please note that we are aware some people find the word "Jew" offensive. We apologize for whoever did not cover up the later part of this vandalism.

*This is for one of our sponsors DCEVE
(Distinguished Communities Eradicating Vandalism Everyday)

*This one is from our African sponsors Nigerian Emailers / Zimbabwe Ministers. We are currently looking into the possibility that this one may have been a scam. Please be weary of using these stickers in the mean time.

There are free public programs such as Graffiti Free NYC that keep our city clean/censored, but they are very backed up with jobs/complaints. We thank you for using our stickers to keep NYC a safe place for our children in the mean time!

For more information on upcoming NYC community board meetings, please see to the following links:
Brooklyn: http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb_brooklyn.shtml
Bronx: http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb_bronx.shtml
Manhattan: http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb_manhattan.shtml
Queens: http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb_queens.shtml
Staten Island: http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb_statenisland.shtml

Broad St. - Smart Crew NYC A-Z Streets Series

smart crew — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:01:00 GMT

There's Broadway, Bowery, Bleecker, etc. but we wanted to cover one of the most historic streets in the financial district known as Broad street. Sure, it may be full of suits and tourists during the weekdays, but its a great (and very quiet) area to roam around at night or on a weekend.

Broad street is located at the southern end Manhattan. It runs from Wall Street on the North to South Street on the South. Up until in 1676, Broad street was actually a canal connected to the East River known as the Broad Canal. It was a small inlet used by fruit and vegetable traders to sell their wares, in what was then New Amsterdam. It was paved over after most boats became too large to use it. The street still bears the name of the original canal.

Illustration of the Broad Canal in 1659 (East River)

Castello Plan Map of New York - 1660

In 1909, the Beaux-Arts structure known as the Battery Maritime Building (BMB ) was built as a terminal for the Brooklyn ferry. It is the last surviving East River ferry building from an era when 17 ferry lines traveled between Manhattan and Brooklyn. This service ended in 1938 and the building has been used for various purposes since. In 2008, plans were approved to build a four-story glass addition that include public indoor space, a rooftop bar and restaurant, and a 140-room boutique hotel.

The BMB (right of the Staten Island Ferry terminal) back in 1936 and today 2011.
What a drastic change in the skyline over those 99 years!

The BMB today and a concept rendering of its future.

On the corner of Broad and Pearl streets sits Fraunces Tavern. It is currently a museum, tavern, and restaurant is the oldest building in Manhattan originally built in 1719. This tavern was an underground meeting place of the Sons of Liberty. This was also where George Washington gave his farewell speech before resigning as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1783. Little did he know, he would return to New York six years later and become the first president of the United States.

Fraunces Tavern over the years - The oldest building in Manhattan

There was a deadly bombing at Fraunces Tavern on January 25, 1975. The bomb was set off in the doorway of 101 Broad street and tore into the Tavern injuring many of the people in the dining room. Four people had been killed instantly, and at least fifty others had been injured in the blast. The Puerto Rican nationalist group FALN had claimed responsibility for planting the device. No one has ever been charged with the bombing.

1975 Fraunces Tavern Bombing - NYPD first respondent

Boarding up the damage after the 1975 Fraunces Tavern bombing.

Continuing up Broad street, we were able to capture some before/after shots. Most of the photos from 1999 came from the New York Public Library.

Broad street x Bridge street - Vintage postcard (date unknown) to 1999 to 2011

Broad street x Beaver street - Pre and Post Revs, one of the only pieces of street graffiti in this whole area.
I miss the small things of the NY I grew up in like the old Walk/Dont Walk signs.

65 Broad street (corner of Beaver street) - 1906 to 2011. Absolutely no signs of the past here!

Looking up at Wall street on Broad street in 1936. Almost all of these buildings are the same in 2011.
One of the few areas in New York where all the architecture is preserved.

An interesting phone booth at Exchange Place. Inside the phone booth, it says KINGS PRODUCTS LIMITED (Canadian company.) If you know more about this, email us at mail@smart-crew.com.

The corner of Wall Street and Broad has been home to the the J.P. Morgan & Co. Bank since the 1880s. Morgan demolished and rebuilt it in 1913 to create the building that stands there today.

"At noon on September 16, 1920, a horse drawn buggy loaded with 100 pounds of dynamite and 500 pounds of cast- iron slugs exploded across the street from the J.P. Morgan bank headquarters in downtown Manhattan, New York. The explosion blew out windows for blocks around, killed 30 immediately, injured hundreds of others and completely destroyed the interior of the Morgan building.. Those responsible were never found, but evidence in the form of a warning note received at a nearby office building suggested anarchists."

1920 JP Morgan Wall street bombing and the same location 91 years later.

Damage from the 1920 bombing that is still visible in 2011

Most people don't know that the famous "Charging Bull" statue was originally what people nowadays call "street art." "The bull's artist, Di Modica spent some US $360,000 to create, cast, and install the sculpture following the 1987 stock market crash as a symbol of the "strength and power of the American people." The sculpture was the artist's idea, not the city's. In an act of "guerrilla art", he trucked it to Lower Manhattan and on December 15, 1989, installed it beneath a 60-foot Christmas tree in the middle of Broad Street in front of the New York Stock Exchange as a Christmas gift to the people of New York. That day, crowds came to look at the bull, with hundreds stopping to admire and analyze the gift as Di Modica handed out copies of a flier about his artwork.

The police seized the sculpture and placed it into an impound lot. The ensuing public outcry led the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to install it two blocks south of the Exchange in the plaza at Bowling Green. It is still there facing up Broadway today." We tried reaching out to Di Modica and searching for photos of the statue when it was originally installed on Broad street but I had no luck. If anyone has them out there, feel free to send them over!

That's all we had time for to cover on Broad street. If you have any ideas for a street starting with "C" next, send over your ideas to mail@smart-crew.com. We are trying to do different neighborhoods for each street and we're also open to doing all the boroughs.

Sources:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_6081437_history-broad-street-new-york.html
http://www.nysonglines.com/broad.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_bombing
http://terrorism.about.com/od/originshistory/p/WallStreetBomb.htm

Village Voice - Meyhem Lauren & Action Bronson

smart crew — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:32:00 GMT

We are 100% aware of how annoying hip-hop promotion is these days (especially on the internet.) We are also NOT a hip-hop blog, no offense. However, let us just say that we would not stand behind Smart Crew artists like Meyhem Lauren and Action Bronson if we did not truly enjoy their music. I mean, if you enjoyed NY hip-hop in the 90's then how can you not like their work? With that said, here's a little write up on them by Phillip Mlynar for the Village Voice:

See the full article here: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2011/02/last_year_somet.php

Last year a small, underground pocket of NYC-based hip-hop found its voice again. With Roc Marciano's unimpeachable Marcberg album as the catalyst, a crew of loosely associated artists shook off that tired cliché about our city's commercial-outsider status and, for the first time since the height of the Dipset era, reaped the dividends of pulling from their immediate environment. They dropped tracks paying tribute to graffiti culture, rattled off rhymes about various Queens neighborhoods as if reading from a street map, shot videos on the type of deli-and-produce-stand-populated blocks you walk down every day, and, fittingly for a city where everyone's an amateur chowhound, embraced a recurring culinary sub-theme: mixtapes titled after ghee, say, or raps mentioning pan-seared tilapia and heirloom vegetables.

There's no snappy, collective tag for the sound, and no sense that the whole thing's about to be co-opted by major labels and established artists. It's not led by teenagers, and there's certainly no quirky signature dance. But that all just adds to the organic charm. It's healthy hearing local artists celebrating the city around them -- consider it the aural equivalent of shopping at outer-borough mom-and-pop stores, rather than indulging the big-box invasion of Manhattan. Here, then, are the five leading rap acts chronicling the authentic sound of New York in 2011...

Meyhem Lauren, Action Bronson and Despot in the 90's
(No mystery who they are anymore these days)

MEYHEM LAUREN

When Meyhem Lauren wrote "Got the Fever," he intended it to be "just my personal tribute to the culture of graffiti." His salute resonated, with the accompanying YouTube video (by Tom Gould), which shows graff artists getting up against the stark beauty of the city's concrete and metal frame, clocking up over 100,000 views and inspiring comments like, "Hello hip-hop -- nice to see you again!" It's a just acknowledgment for Meyhem, whose rapping roots go back to his first mixtape in 2004, but who hopes to cash in on the years of hard work with the release of the 41-track Self Induced Illness (out this week on iTunes, with a physical release to follow later this month) and two other full-length projects, featuring production from Just Blaze and Large Professor, to be released before 2011's end.

Lauren is a pivotal figure in this strata of New York hip-hop -- he's worked with everyone else on this list -- and the Ralph Lauren Polo clothing aficionado has coined something of a statement of intent by heading up the posse cut "Ray Lewis" with fellow members of the Outdoorsmen crew Action Bronson and A.G. Da Coroner (not related to D.I.T.C.'s A.G. the Giant). Over a lumbering, horn-driven beat, the MCs define themselves as offering up "HBO rap, not regular TV."

When not making music, the Queens-based Meyhem prides himself on being a "food connoisseur." He named his last mixtape Clarified Butter, after the pure butter fat commonly used in Indian cooking. "It's a more refined butter, like our music," he says.

The 41 track debut album out on itunes yesterday for only $9.99
CLICK TO PURCHASE: MEYHEM LAUREN - SELF INDUCED ILLNESS

ACTION BRONSON

Flushing lifer Action Bronson can lay claim to probably the only hip-hop song to include the ad lib, "Is that prosciutto?" It's fitting, as the 27-year-old rapper holds down day duties as a chef, has dropped a series of instructional YouTube spots showing how to sear Ahi tuna and correctly chop an onion, and readily references James Beard and Napa Valley vineyards in his lyrics. But if the culinary arts give Bronson the type of background that would at one time have seen him touted around by an a&r as something like "the hip-hop chef," his raps are straight-up serious: On last year's "Imported Goods," his densely stacked lines bring to mind the (literally) breathless flows of the late Big Pun as he drops localized slang and weaves in vignettes of the crime life.

Brilliantly, Bronson's videos showcase the type of lo-fi slices of NYC life that wouldn't look out of place on something spliced together by Ricky Powell back in his days running around town with the Beastie Boys. "Imported Goods" is like a promotional spot for Flushing; "Get Off My P.P." showcases Bronson rapping on an overpass at La Guardia Airport. And on "Shiraz," home to the aforesaid prosciutto ad lib, Bronson -- "heavy-bearded like I'm Jesus" and rocking "Fila jumpsuits, sandals" -- frames coarse braggadocio over a beat anchored by a sleazy flute sample crafted by Team Facelift's Tommy Mas while mingling with former addicts in a park in the Bronx. ("You can't pay for talent like that," he says.)

Presently out of action in the kitchen after breaking his ankle, Bronson is recording tracks for a collaborative project with the producer Statik Selektah while readying the release of his debut album, Dr. Lecter, which will drop in early March. "You're not gonna hear catchy hooks, I'm not gonna be doing any dances along to my songs, and I don't have any hidden agenda," he promises. "I'm just here to bring good music to the people for your enjoyment."

Actioin Bronson recently released a FREE EP for the Superbowl titled "The Program."
You can download it here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=B1F2BZHW

*Shout out to the homies Timeless Truth who also got a mention in this write up.

Smart Blog Material #spottings

smart crew — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:30:00 GMT

via: http://doingallthedrugs.tumblr.com

Allen St. - Smart Crew NYC A-Z Streets Series

smart crew — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:16:00 GMT

There's always request for more graffiti on this blog. As a result, we will do the opposite and start featuring bits of history of NYC street names from A-Z. To kick off the series, we will start with a little history about Allen Street in lower Manhattan.

Allen Street runs north-south and currently stretches from Houston Street on the North to Division Street on the South. It was originally named Chester Street prior to 1799 and then renamed "Asylum Street" in 1806. In 1833, it was renamed yet again to Third Street and then finally to Allen Street which it remains today. The street name's origin comes from William Henry Allen (from Providence, RI) who was the the youngest person to command a Navy ship in the War of 1812. He died in action at the age of 29.

The address 70 Allen Street is believed to be the birthplace of Billy the Kid in 1859. The original location no longer exists because the east side of Allen Street was demolished due to slum clearance in the 1930's. If you look at the map above, you will notice that the blocks between Allen Street and Orchard Street are about half the size of other blocks in the neighborhood as a result of the clearance.

This ELMO (smart) throw-up would have been located in the once-backyard of Billy the Kid

Looking at Allen Street today, you would never guess that there used to be an elevated IRT Second Avenue Line running its full length. “This line was constructed in 1878 and blocked out most light from this narrow street at the time. Partly because of the El, Allen Street became one of the poorest and least desirable parts of the Lower East Side. The street was noted for its houses of prostitution, which were the shame of the Jewish community that dominated the neighborhood.”

This public bathroom on Allen/Delancey is one of the few remnants of the El. (Photo: 2011)
Many public bathrooms were built on or under transit lines at the time.

Looking North at Allen St. x Delancey St.– July 5, 1907

Looking east at Allen St. on Delancey St. c.1907

Same location as above photo 104 years later less the El structure with the Subway running underneath on Delancey these days. (Photo: 2011)

Canal St. station on the Second Avenue El above Allen St. (pre-slum clearance) c.1928

Allen Street was known as a red light district plagued with crime and overpopulation. As its peak, there were over 2,000 residents living there in crowded tenements. "On September 17, 1903, a gun battle was fought beneath the El tracks at Allen and Rivington Streets between followers of Paul Kelly, leader of the Five Points Gang, and the rival gang of Monk Eastman. At one point a hundred men joined the fray, with police driven off by gunfire. Three men were killed and numerous innocent civilians were injured."

Fire destroyed an overcrowded tenement on Allen Street in March 1905, claiming the lives of twenty people. The five-story building at 105 Allen Street (above) housed 200 people. (Photo: 2011)

As a form of urban renewal, the entire east side of Allen Street was cleared out which resulted in wider streets split by a pedestrian walkway which still exists today.

The buildings on the West side of Allen St were shaved off as part of the slum clearance program as seen here looking North on Allen St showing the 2nd Ave El structure at Stanton St c.1928."

The same photo 83 years later less the El structure with addition of disgusting hipster aura. (Photo: 2011)

View from the tracks of the El turning onto Allen St. from Division St. The "Manhattan Railway Co. Station 5" sign and building you see on the left still exists today. c.1931 (Check out the feature that Forgotten NY did on Division St.)

The view of Allen St. x Division St. from the street level c.1931

Same view as photo above about 80 years later. Note that the building was shaped that way to accommodate the El train making the turn. (Photo: 2011)

A little graffiti throwback c. 2005 at the same spot VYELS (smart), GOAL (smart), JUST (Photo: stolen)

The 90’s serial killer Joel Rifkin picked up his final victim on Allen Street in 1993. The victim, Tiffany Bresciani, 22, was the girlfriend of Dave Rubinstein (a.k.a. Dave Insurgent, a member of the 1980s punk band Reagan Youth.) She was a prostitute who worked on Allen street. A New York Times article from 1993 noted that "The women who work as prostitutes along a park-like strip of Allen Street said yesterday that they recognized police photographs of Joel Rifkin and remembered him as a man who frequented the Lower East Side looking for sex."

Prostitution still existed along this strip until the Giuliani era.

The Allen St. creep himself, Joel Rifkin

"Allen Boys" mural painted by Lee Quinones c. 1982

Remnants of the mural 29 years later. (Photo: 2011)

There's tons of history all around us in New York City. If you're interested in learning more about this area, you should definitely check out the Tenement Museum that's located at 108 Orchard St. You can get some insight into the living conditions of a LES tenement back in the day.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Street_(Manhattan)
http://picasaweb.google.com/MercuryWW/NYC2ndAveEl#5442243714413324322
http://www.justenladda.com/pages/pages%20public%20art/pages%20Allen%20Street/Allen%20Street%20History.html
http://www.nychinatown.org/allen.html

Tom Gould - Hurt You Bad Q&A

smart crew — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:30:00 GMT

The folks over at HurtYouBad did a little feature on Tom Gould.

"A few months back we got word of a video from one of our NYC friends. We checked it out and we literally couldn’t wait until it was over before posting it here on HYB. It was a rare gem, one which fused nice photography with hardcore graffiti action without coming across staged or cheesy.

That video was Meyhem Lauren’s ‘Got the fever ‘, directed by New Zealand born, New York based Tom Gould .

Soon after seeing the video we decided to get in touch with the man behind the lens to get a better idea of his background and how the video came to be..." Click here to read the rest of the interview on HurtYouBad.

For anyone who missed it, here's some of the video:

BARRY BONZA & MIKE PIPES - 'CATCH YOU UP' from TGS on Vimeo.

Action in The Kitchen - Season 2 Preview / Meyhem Lauren - Queens

smart crew — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:21:00 GMT

A little teaser for Action in The Kitchen - Season 2: Cooking up some Frittata Neopaletana
(As you all know, the commentary is the best part of the series so we're looking forward to the new episodes.)

Meyhem Lauren - Queens produced by J-Love

Shaz - Die Dreaming

smart crew — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:09:00 GMT

Rap gang.

Happy born day.

The Vandals (1972) New York City

smart crew — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 17:13:00 GMT

An ABC special on "Vandalism" with Harry Reasoner written by Andy Rooney. I know this video has been around for a minute but wanted to share with those who never seen it. A lot of amazing footage from NYC in the early 70's.

NYPD Vandal Squad - Tom & Jerry

smart crew — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 03:45:00 GMT

Smart Crew - Ivy League Vandals 2010

smart crew — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:02:00 GMT

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." -Albert Einstein

Every now and then we have to release some graffiti photos to make this a relevant blog. But, don't forget that graffiti still has much more of an impact when seen in person BEFORE the internet. With that said, let us ruin some graffiti for you. Happy Holidays!

full size

Action Bronson - Get Off My P.P. (Video)

smart crew — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:19:00 GMT

Shorts year round and occasionally shirtless in the winter time. This video made my day.

Sure ATM - Rest in Power

smart crew — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:11:00 GMT

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." -Albert Einstein

For SURE - I tried my best but it's definitely not an easy task to replicate his style. I just hope that somewhere out there, he approves of this. Everyone should know that he died doing something that he was very passionate about. Let his memories and name live on forever through his family and friends. -D

SURE ATM
(1986-2010)
SALUTE

http://www.12ozprophet.com/index.php/news/sure_rest_in_peace
http://www.12ozprophet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137102
http://www.flickr.com/groups/restinpeacesure/
Video: http://www.12ozprophet.com/index.php/handselecta/entry/sure_r.i.p/

rfid chip? No Thanks (Electronic Pickpockets)

smart crew — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:03:00 GMT

"Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal. " - Albert Einstein

If the news is only catching on now, you know that people have been up on this for a minute already. I guess they would still need billing info. and a PIN but it wouldn't be hard to find/crack. Still pretty crazy though.

Brack Flyday Sale - Smart Stocking Stuffers

smart crew — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 07:24:00 GMT

In honor of the absolute WORST day to do any type of shopping, here are a few holiday gift ideas brought to you by the Smart Crew:

Vintage Rust-Oleum Playing Cards (Dual Deck w/ Suede Case)

More Rust-Oleum Playing Cards

Rust-Oleum "Industrial Choice" Utility Packs

Vintage Rust-Oleum Zippo Lighter (70's)

Kilz Cap (literally)

Kilz Polo Shirt

Kilz Mug

Canine Graffiti Denim Jackets

Please contact us for overpriced sale inquiries.
Happy Holidays!

Sunnyside Ups

smart crew — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:13:00 GMT

Greetings from Sunnyside, Queens. Home of the Smart Crew.

Mobe-load (n) (v)

smart crew — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:33:00 GMT

Mobe-load -noun Media (photograph/video) uploaded to the internet via any wireless telephone that operates over a relatively large area, as a cellular phone or PCS phone. -verb The action of uploading media to the internet via any wireless telephone. "Nev is going to mobe-load the photo he took on his roof to Facebook right now."

The Profiles - REMO Bronx To Brooklyn

smart crew — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:01:00 GMT

video credit: Gifted Hoods

Action Bronson - Shiraz (Video)

smart crew — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:17:00 GMT

This guy...

9 to 5 / 5 to 9

smart crew — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:54:00 GMT

Good Morning...

I take my coffee "regular"

Work/Play/Fail...

"Do you think I can I have a few cookie bags?"

Good Night

Repeat

Team Facelift - "Heart Attack" Video

smart crew — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:38:00 GMT

#PPP, Four Loko, Smoke Bombs

Megatouch Mondays: Graffiti Photo Hunt Vol. 8

smart crew — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:31:00 GMT

Spot the 10 Differences in the two photos below (best viewed large):

You can play by adding notes on the flickr page. Smart Varsity Jacket and Smart Hand-Knit Sweater NOT FOR SALE.

Click here for previous photo hunt answers.

Meyhem Lauren - "Got The Fever" Video by Tom Gould

smart crew — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:08:00 GMT

Seven Million Arab Rebel Terrorists...

youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg5cJu1Zcws
http://www.meyhemlauren.com
http://www.tomgouldshoots.com

Support on iTunes! Meyhem Lauren - Clarified Butter Mixtape

Meyhem Lauren feat. Action Bronson & AG Da Coroner - Ray Lewis

smart crew — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:58:00 GMT

Peace to Dallas Penn

Smart Crew Keychain Bottle Openers

smart crew — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:40:00 GMT

Keychain = Promo item that is most likely to be thrown out the next morning.

Pimp your keys or keep it in your wallet. Cheers!

"Jail Recipes" Episode 1 feat. Thirstin Howl III

smart crew — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:46:00 GMT

Following in the footsteps of Action Bronson, Thirstin' Howl III does a cooking show with a hip-hop spin to it...

Smart Crew Graffiti Sliding Puzzle

smart crew — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:04:00 GMT

"If this doesn't work on your browser, upgrade your browser or try a different one." - Smart Tech. Team

Smart Crew sliding puzzle game

The country with the most prolific shoplifters in the world... India

smart crew — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:09:00 GMT

Megatouch Mondays: Graffiti Photo Hunt Vol. 7

smart crew — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:43:00 GMT

Spot the 10 Differences in the two photos below (best viewed large):

You can play by adding notes on the flickr page. Peace to KA TVT on this one.

Click here for last week's answers.

Smart Week in Review - "Goodbye Summer 2010"

smart crew — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:24:00 GMT

Last, but not least this is courtesy of LEAD's flickr:

#FAIL

Photography Feature: Tom Gould Shoots

smart crew — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:17:00 GMT

Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, Tom Gould is a talented photographer who is currently based in New York City. For more of his work, check out his blog and his website. (http://www.tomgouldshoots.com) Also, be on the look out for for a music video he has been working on for the queens-based rapper Meyhem Lauren titled "Got The Fever."

THIRSTIN HOWL III from TOM GOULD on Vimeo.

Graffiti has nothing to do w/ violence pt. 1

smart crew — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:37:00 GMT

(but apparently the west coast likes to film fights)

@ 1:42

Scott Stringer for Smart Crew

smart crew — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:53:00 GMT

The Manhattan Borough President himself...

Megatouch Mondays: Graffiti Photo Hunt Vol. 6

smart crew — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:18:00 GMT

Spot the 10 Differences in the two photos below (best viewed large):

You can play by adding notes on the flickr page.

Click here for last week's answers.

Megatouch Mondays: Graffiti Photo Hunt Vol. 5

smart crew — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:36:00 GMT

Spot the 12 Differences in the two photos below (best viewed large):

You can play by adding notes on the flickr page.

Click here for last week's answers.Stay tuned as we are working on some actual prizes from a few sponsors...

Throwback Thursdays - Painting Fakie / Painting Switch / Painting Lefty

smart crew — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:58:00 GMT

We heard that these days, if you don't post it on the internet first, you don't get any credit.

Not much of a "throw back" really since this is only from early 2009 (it was freezing that day.) This was painted by Dceve™ using ONLY his left hand (he is normally a righty.) I guess there's no way to really prove this by a photo, but those who were there know it was done 100% all lefty! Maybe he's actually a lefty and this was done all with his right hand? Maybe this was just an excuse for a bad piece? The world may never know...

Professional Sticker Eater

smart crew — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:26:00 GMT

Megatouch Mondays: Graffiti Photo Hunt Vol. 4

smart crew — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:03:00 GMT

Spot the 11 Differences in the two photos below (best viewed large):

This week's photo hunt courtesy of Reverend Nezm™

You can play by adding notes on the flickr page.

Click here for last week's answers.Stay tuned as we are working on some actual prizes from a few sponsors...

Anti-Graffiti Advert #FAIL

smart crew — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:29:00 GMT

Starts off as tpyical anti-graffiti video: Kids bombing with hoodies and respirators on, excessive can shaking noises, smoking, security comes, blah blah...then...

...Did I miss something here?

Megatouch Mondays: Graffiti Photo Hunt Vol. 3

smart crew — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:44:00 GMT

Spot the 7 Differences in the two photos below (best viewed large):

Photo stolen off the internet™

You can play by adding notes on the flickr page.

Click here for the answers to last week's. Congratulations to the winner (from Mt. Vernon, NY) who got a free one year subscription to Polish Food magazine:

Action Bronson - Imported Goods Video (Flushing)

smart crew — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:22:00 GMT

Good Old Queens!

Berlin Poker Heist

smart crew — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:30:00 GMT

As per usual, another Euro-Heist . These guys apparently got away w/ 800,000 Euro in Chips.

The Balaclava is an essential in any heist. Buy one in the online store (quantities limited.)

^Last but not least, you gotta throw that one in there if there's Poker involved.

Throwback Thursday - Kids these days...

smart crew — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:10:00 GMT

Signs that your child could be a "tagger":

A+ quality parenting...

"Asian Baby Running with Scissors"
Photo by: Marxist
Circa 2008

Loss Prevention (n) - Those who failed at becoming cops

smart crew — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:44:00 GMT

Pretty much, this deaf guy got tackled by LP at a Forever 21 in LA when he walked out of the store w/ his deaf friend and couldn't hear the alarm ringing. The video starts with the deaf guy being choked and practically turning purple. The guy filming the video says that off camera, the guy in white was assuring they paid for the items by showing the security guard a receipt. Overall, this is a horrible LP stop. If these guys really didn't shoplift anything, they have an amazing lawsuit on their hands.

Description from YouTube:
This is what I know, The two guys who are deaf were in the Clothing store XXI and apparently they were shopping, Staff must have seen them do something to suspect them of stealing, but that doesn't have any support or facts. Before I started filming. The Big Black dude in Jeans who mighta been a store detective jumps and tackles the large hispanic deaf guy. from there I remembered my new phone and turned on the camera,

There was who looked to be the manager of XXI that said to turn off the camera because they didn't want to get exposed for harassing and dealing with a situation that turned sour.

From there, you get to see the turn of events and then in the aftermath, the sorting out of exactly what happen. From what I saw that you guys can't, the deaf guy in the white shirt was apparently assuring the store with receipts for what he was carrying.

If you guy are better than I at figuring this out or have the facts then PM me and I'll post it in the Description here below. Also if this was a whole misunderstanding, then those deaf people have a case and someone needs to help them. And if you are the ones who were in this situation, then contact a lawyer and have them look at this video. It's proof positive that the Black guy did not know how to restrain you, More over, he was nearly choking you to deaf by the purplish color you had on your face.

Someone get these LP guys a subscription:

"It's smart. It's a smart line, and a smart crowd will appreciate it..."

smart crew — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:25:00 GMT

"...and I'm not going to dumb it down for some bonehead mass audience!" - George K.

Some recent random spottings from the internet...

(via http://ninjastatus.com )

(last two via http://thearabparrot.com)

Megatouch Mondays: Graffiti Photo Hunt Vol. 2

smart crew — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:36:00 GMT

Spot the 7 Differences in the two photos below (best viewed large):

Original photo courtesy Tom Gould™.

First one to email us (smartcrewusa@gmail.com) the correct answers (along with a ship address) gets a package in the mail. This could be a good thing or a bad thing.

You think anyone blogged this yet? "Don't Do It" 1988

smart crew — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:38:00 GMT

Some cliche graffiti blog material:

Note: Whistling while committing crimes makes it look less threatening.

Megatouch Mondays: Graffiti Photo Hunt Vol. 1

smart crew — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:36:00 GMT

Spot the 15 Differences in the two photos below (best viewed large):

Since this is the first week we are doing this, click here for the answers.

Next week, the first person to find all the differences will win ~~some useless shit~~ a Prize from us!

"There might be a chance of nego-gee-ating with the outside."

smart crew — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:56:00 GMT

or not...

Swedish Helicopter Heist 2010

smart crew — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:07:00 GMT

These fuckin' Europeans...

Something like the Trump/Lufthansa Operation (confidential) that involved cat pee stained hockey bags. Fun times.

The come off in Moving Images... Pt. 1

smart crew — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:03:00 GMT

Lloyd Banks rap video:
http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhl5F2XZWB3D75tZjD

The Pink Panther:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AieAXf8Zbg

Sweet Home Alabama (beginning):

Hypebeast: Name Tagging with Martha Cooper:
http://hypebeast.com/2010/06/name-tagging-martha-cooper/

Law & Order

BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=kaJNfIB0BV8
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=1Hv3DemLnTY
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=fMnA7JKIbk4

Flight of The CONchords:

U-God Feat. Method Man - Wu-Tang:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOjrQolpxpc

Jedi Mind Tricks - Heavy Metal Kings feat. Ill Bill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNITJsOrHr0

"Special Edition" of New York Post:
http://vimeo.com/6676567

The Writing On The Wall????:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egtsFFLsbZg

You just don't get the same level of satisfaction when coming off in videos/movies anymore these days...

SAKE - Montreal, Quebec, Canada, North America

smart crew — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:52:00 GMT

If you're talking about Montreal graffiti, you definitely can't forget to mention this guy...

Sorry, We Moved

smart crew — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:02:00 GMT

"What? This ain't Crown Heights, this Bed Stuy, they some dumb niggas..."
- Kid on bike to his friend

The SkinNY (trailer)

smart crew — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:05:00 GMT

RIP Brooklyn Banks (goodbye for now)

smart crew — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:35:00 GMT

In case you didn't know, Smart Crew is made up of mostly pro-skaters/bikers/parkour/scooter kids. Needless to say, it is sad news to report that the Brooklyn Banks is officially closed and fenced off on both sides as of yesterday. It will be completely closed for 6 months, then partially closed for another 4 years. More information and a detailed timeline here. They will be fully re-opened in 2014 (so they say.)

Fortunately, Smart Crew is continuing to fund the LES Skate Park nearby under the Manhattan Bridge to keep the "youts" outta trouble.

High-five to SMART!

photo courtesy: Anna Delany

Smart Crew Feature - Art of Rolling Magazine: Issue 7
http://issuu.com/artofrolling/docs/art_of_rolling_issue7

Keep it X-TREME!

wiki wiki... Smart Crew

smart crew — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:15:00 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Crew

Apparently, we have a wiki page. Thanks to whoever wrote this I guess. Pretty accurate on the origins at least. The "internets" is a funny place.