“Urban Styles: Graffiti in New York Hardcore”, is the debut book from author Freddy Alva. The book is a tribute to some of the most vibrant and gritty street culture New York has ever produced. The book is focused around the hip-hop and hardcore scene in the 80’s and 90’s. Through a series of in-depth interviews with graffiti writers, bands, crews, and historians, Urban Styles examines both the sociological and artistic impact that an outlaw movement of visual art and visceral music had on a generation of disenfranchised youth. The book also includes over 180 vivid photos, most never seen before, tracing the lineage of kids from the hardcore scene and the influence hip-hop and graffiti had on them. The book covers mainly well known NYHC bands such as Murphy’s Law, Burn and Frontline.
“Urban Styles” is a unique tale of two very similar factions of subculture, it is also a study in sociology and youth culture. It is a story about New York City and its boroughs; it is the preservation of a culture and a history many have dedicated their lives to, and it celebrates a time when the city was a wild playground for some of the art form’s greatest visionaries.