Style Wars (1983)

A documentary that exposes the rich growing subculture of hip-hop that was developing in New York City in the late '70s and early '80s, specifically focusing on graffiti art and breakdancing.

Director:

Tony Silver

Stars:

Demon, Kase 2, Eric Haze

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Demon	...	Self
Kase 2	...	Self (as Kase)
Eric Haze	...	Self (as SE 3)
D. 5	...	Self (as D-5)
Spank	...	Self
Trap	...	Self
Kay Slay	...	Self (as Dez)
Butch	...	Self
Skeme	...	Self
Zone	...	Self
Ces157	...	Self (as CES 157)
Kid167	...	Self (as Kid 167)
Min One	...	Self (as Min)
Cap	...	Self
Michael Martin	...	Self (as Iz the Wiz)

Storyline

A documentary that exposes the rich growing subculture of hip-hop that was developing in New York City in the late '70s and early '80s, specifically focusing on graffiti art and breakdancing.

---

Plot Keywords:

breakdance | subway | new york city | hip hop | graffiti | 

---

Genres:

Documentary | Music

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Graffiti-háború

Company Credits

Production Co:

Public Art Films

Technical Specs

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Henry Chalfant was originally against having Cap appear in the film because he had become friendly with the graffiti artists whose work Cap had ruined. But Tony Silver insisted that Cap appear because his name was repeatedly mentioned by the artists. Some of the artists felt betrayed by Chalfant because they felt that he gave Cap the attention that he sought.

---

Quotes

Cap: There's two styles of graffiti that are trying to, you know, co-exist with each other. But it ain't gonna work like that. Blood Wars, buddy. Blood Wars.

---

Connections

Featured in Anti (2016)

---

Soundtracks

Rockin' It
(uncredited)
Performed by The Fearless Four

User Reviews

Fantastic Documentary on Graffiti and Hip Hop in the Early Eighties

While searching my video shop for Hip Hop movies I came across this film. Having not heard of it before and the fact that it was a 70 minute documentary made me a bit skeptic about hiring it, but after reading a quote by Krs-One on the front cover saying it was what I had to see for true Hip Hop I was eager to get it out. It turned out to be a great documentary on graffiti and Hip Hop in the early eighties which I throughly enjoyed.

It was interesting to see how mixed the scene was race wise back then. This could be quite funny at times, like seeing a hardcore subway graffiti artist with a tight Van Halen t-shirt on and long red hair. This showed that graffiti, DJing, breaking and MCing weren't all considered Hip Hop back then. To do one didn't mean you were into the other.

Style Wars makes you understand the pride and enjoyment the artists get out of bombing trains, but you also realize how awful it is for the government to replace or clean trains and especially how bad it is for one bomber's mother.

Style Wars is primarily a documentary on graffiti but it also briefly touches on breaking and MCing. Funny that it doesn't mention DJing as a main part of Hip Hop, since that is considered the original and sometimes most important element these days.

Overall, Style Wars is a fantastic documentary and a must see for fans of Graffiti and early Hip Hop.