# Style Wars > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Style_Wars > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Style_Wars.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Style_Wars > Source revision: 1340467820 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1983 American documentary film Style Wars Directed by Tony Silver Produced by Tony Silver Henry Chalfant[1] Starring Various Music by Various Production company Public Art Films[2] Distributed by PBS Release dates 1983 (1983) (on television) 1984 (1984) (in theatres) Running time 70 minutes 111 minutes director's cut Country United States Language English ***Style Wars*** is a 1983 American [documentary film](/source/Documentary_film) on [hip hop culture](/source/Hip_hop_culture), directed by [Tony Silver](/source/Tony_Silver) and produced in collaboration with [Henry Chalfant](/source/Henry_Chalfant). The film has an emphasis on [graffiti](/source/Graffiti), although [bboying](/source/Bboying) and [rapping](/source/Rapping) are covered to a lesser extent. The film was originally aired on the television network [PBS](/source/PBS) and was subsequently shown in several [film festivals](/source/Film_festival) to much acclaim, including the [Vancouver Film Festival](/source/Vancouver_International_Film_Festival). It also won the Grand Jury Prize: Documentary at the [Sundance Film Festival](/source/Sundance_Film_Festival).[3][4] The documentary captures and includes many historical moments of [hip hop culture](/source/Hip_hop_culture) during its earliest days in the 1970s onward towards the early 1980s. Many film elements from *Style Wars*, including outtakes, are now housed at the [Academy Film Archive](/source/Academy_Film_Archive) as part of the Tony Silver Collection.[5] ## Background The documentary explores divergent perspectives on graffiti, articulated by graffiti artists, city officials including former [New York City Mayor](/source/New_York_City_Mayor) [Ed Koch](/source/Ed_Koch), and other stakeholders such as police officers, subway maintenance personnel, and citizens. Prominent figures in the graffiti community, including artists [Kase 2](/source/Jeff_Brown_(artist)), [Dondi](/source/Dondi_(Graffiti_Artist)), Shy 147, [Seen](/source/Seen_(artist)), and Skeme along with his mother, feature prominently. The film also highlights contributions from graffiti documentarian and co-producer [Henry Chalfant](/source/Henry_Chalfant) and breakdancer [Crazy Legs](/source/Crazy_Legs_(dancer)) of [Rock Steady Crew](/source/Rock_Steady_Crew). While the documentary posits graffiti as a legitimate artistic expression, it concurrently portrays the vigorous efforts by municipal authorities and law enforcement to curtail this form of urban art. The administration under Mayor Koch undertook substantial measures, including the allocation of considerable funds towards anti-graffiti campaigns in subway systems, the construction of barriers at subway entry points to deter graffiti artists, and the deployment of police dogs to these locations. The narrative extends beyond mere criminalization, presenting viewpoints from established artists who argue that the lack of accessible venues drives young artists to express themselves on public and private edifices. This demographic, often marginalized, seeks to engage with the community and articulate their identities through visible, albeit illegal, marks on urban landscapes. The documentary navigates these complex social dynamics, positioning some participants as intermediaries who recognize the artistic value while critiquing the methods of execution, thus embodying a dual role in the discourse on graffiti as both art and act of defiance. ## Reception and legacy In 2009, [A. O. Scott](/source/A._O._Scott) of *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* examined the film: "*Style Wars* is a work of art in its own right too, because it doesn't just record what these artists are doing, it somehow absorbs their spirit and manages to communicate it across the decades so that we can find ourselves, so many years later, in the city, understanding what made it beautiful."[6] A 2018 review from *The New Yorker* also recommends the film, citing its soundtrack and its ability to capture the historical moment it centers on.[7] [Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website)) referred to the film as the "defining documentary of early hip-hop culture".[8] ## Featured graffiti artists - Demon - [Se3](/source/Eric_Haze) - Spank - [Dez](/source/DJ_Kay_Slay) - Skeme - Ces 157 - MinOne (NE) - [Iz the Wiz](/source/IZ_(graffiti_artist)) - Quik - Sach - [Dondi](/source/Dondi_White) - [Seen UA](/source/Seen_(artist)) - Seen TC5 - Dust - [Zephyr](/source/Zephyr_(artist)) - Revolt - Wasp 1 - Noc 167 - [Mare 139](/source/Carlos_Mare139_Rodriguez) - [Kase2](/source/Jeff_Brown_(artist)) - Dee 5 - Butch - Trap - Duro - Soe - Spin - Zone - Kid - Cap - Daze - [Crash](/source/Crash_(graffiti_artist)) - [Paze](/source/Erni_Vales) - [Cey](/source/Cey_Adams) - [Futura](/source/Futura_2000) - [Fred](/source/Fab_Five_Freddy) ## Featured breakers - [Crazy Legs](/source/Crazy_Legs_(dancer)) - [Frosty Freeze](/source/Frosty_Freeze) - [Ken Swift](/source/Ken_Swift) - [Lenny Len](/source/Rock_Steady_Crew) - [Kippy Dee](/source/Rock_Steady_Crew) - [Lil' Crazy Legs](/source/Rock_Steady_Crew) - [Take One](/source/Rock_Steady_Crew) - [Ty Fly](/source/Rock_Steady_Crew) - [Mr. Freeze](/source/Rock_Steady_Crew) - [Doze](/source/Rock_Steady_Crew) - Kid Glide - Wavy Legs - Kid Freeze - Nelly Nell - Eddie Ed - Flip-a-matic - Lil' Flip - Junior Fastbreak - Joly ## Featured music - "[8th Wonder](/source/8th_Wonder_(song))" by [The Sugarhill Gang](/source/The_Sugarhill_Gang) - "[The Message](/source/The_Message_(Grandmaster_Flash_and_the_Furious_Five_song))" by [Grandmaster Flash](/source/Grandmaster_Flash) - "[Beat Bop](/source/Beat_Bop)" by [Rammellzee](/source/Rammellzee) and [K-Rob](/source/K-Rob) - "[Pump Me Up](/source/Drop_the_Bomb)" by [Trouble Funk](/source/Trouble_Funk) - "[The Wanderer](/source/The_Wanderer_(Dion_song))" by [Dion](/source/Dion_DiMucci) - "[Rockin' It](/source/The_Fearless_Four_(band))" by [The Fearless Four](/source/The_Fearless_Four_(band)) - "[Jam Hot](/source/Jam_Hot)" by [Johnny Dynell](/source/Johnny_Dynell) - "[Feel The Heartbeat](/source/Treacherous_Three)" by [Treacherous Three](/source/Treacherous_Three) ## DVD release The digitally remastered DVD edition also contains: - 23 minutes of outtake footage - Commentary and interviews by Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant - Interviews with *Style Wars* editors Victor Kanefsky and Sam Pollard - Art galleries by Blade, Cap, Cey, Crash, Crazy Legs, Daze, [Dez](/source/DJ_Kay_Slay), [Dondi](/source/Dondi_(Graffiti_Artist)), Doze, Duro, Duster, Frosty Freeze, IZ the Wiz, Case/[Kase 2](/source/Jeff_Brown_(artist)), Kel First, Ken Swift, Lee, Mare139, Min One, Noc 167, Paze (Erni), [Lady Pink](/source/Lady_Pink), Quik, [Rammellzee](/source/Rammellzee), Revolt, Sach, [Seen UA](/source/Seen_(artist)), Shy 147, Skeme, Rafael 666, Tracy 168, and [Zephyr](/source/Zephyr_(artist)) - Tributes to [Dondi](/source/Dondi_(Graffiti_Artist)) and Shy 147 - Guest interviews with Blade, Lee, Kel First, [Seen](/source/Seen_(artist)), [Tracy 168](/source/Tracy_168), Cap, MIN (NE), QUIK, [IZ the Wiz](/source/IZ_(graffiti_artist)), [Fab 5 Freddy](/source/Fab_5_Freddy), [Goldie](/source/Goldie), [Guru](/source/Guru_(rapper)), [DJ Red Alert](/source/DJ_Red_Alert), and photographer [Martha Cooper](/source/Martha_Cooper) ## 2011 restoration auction On June 9, 2011 it was announced that [Red Hot Chili Peppers](/source/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers) bassist [Flea](/source/Flea_(musician)) along with actors [Brad Pitt](/source/Brad_Pitt) and [James Franco](/source/James_Franco) and director [Spike Jonze](/source/Spike_Jonze) were donating items to an [eBay](/source/EBay) auction that would raise money for restoring the film negatives for *Style Wars*. The auction ended on June 11, 2011.[9] ## References in other media DJ Mutt used quotes from the movie in his song titled "Big Lights, Big City" taken from his album *Treading Water*. [Black Star](/source/Black_Star_(rap_duo)) used a clip from the movie in the intro to the song "[Respiration](/source/Respiration_(song))" on [the Black Star album](/source/Mos_Def_and_Talib_Kweli_are_Black_Star). The [Drum and Bass](/source/Drum_and_bass) group Ganja Kru, composed of [DJ Hype](/source/DJ_Hype), [DJ Zinc](/source/DJ_Zinc), and Pascal, used quotes from the movie in their song titled "Plague That Never Ends". Swedish band [The Radio Dept.](/source/The_Radio_Dept.) used audio samples from the film in their single "Never Follow Suit" from the album *[Clinging to a Scheme](/source/Clinging_to_a_Scheme)*.[10] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Style Wars (eVideo, 2011)-WorldCat.org](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/867046488) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["AllMovie"](https://www.allmovie.com/movie/style-wars-v158386). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200815083741/https://www.allmovie.com/movie/style-wars-v158386) from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Fox, Margalit (March 5, 2008). ["Tony Silver, 72, Documentary Director, Dies"](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/movies/05silver.html). *New York Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160403160356/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/movies/05silver.html) from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["sundance.org"](https://www.sundance.org/blogs/style-wars/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211203224822/https://www.sundance.org/blogs/style-wars/) from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Tony Silver Collection"](https://www.oscars.org/film-archive/collections/tony-silver). *Academy Film Archive*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200405214521/https://www.oscars.org/film-archive/collections/tony-silver) from the original on April 5, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Scott, A.O. (April 20, 2009). ["Critics' Picks: 'Style Wars' - The New York Times"](https://www.nytimes.com/video/movies/1194747016962/critics-picks-style-wars.html). *Critics' Picks: Style Wars*. New York Times. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200320141605/https://www.nytimes.com/video/movies/1194747016962/critics-picks-style-wars.html) from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The New Yorker Recommends: "Style Wars" and the Dawn of Hip-Hop Culture"](https://www.newyorker.com/recommends/watch/style-wars/amp). *www.newyorker.com*. June 25, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200320141605/https://www.newyorker.com/recommends/watch/style-wars/amp) from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Pearce, Sheldon (May 15, 2020). ["Style Wars Is Still the Defining Documentary of Early Hip-Hop Culture"](https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/style-wars-is-still-the-defining-documentary-of-early-hip-hop-culture/). *Pitchfork*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240323071445/https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/style-wars-is-still-the-defining-documentary-of-early-hip-hop-culture/) from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Flea donates bass guitar to charity auction"](http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/251365/Flea-donates-bass-guitar-to-charity-auctionFlea-donates-bass-guitar-to-charity-auction#ixzz1Oi6gtFKU). Express.co.uk. June 9, 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110612175334/http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/251365/Flea-donates-bass-guitar-to-charity-auctionFlea-donates-bass-guitar-to-charity-auction#ixzz1Oi6gtFKU) from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["The Radio Dept. - Never Follow Suit (Song Lyrics)"](http://www.theradiodept.com/lyrics-n/never-follow-suit-lyrics). *The Radio Dept. Official Site*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150524212602/http://www.theradiodept.com/lyrics-n/never-follow-suit-lyrics) from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2015. ## External links Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Style Wars](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Style_Wars)***. - [Official site](http://www.stylewars.com/) - [*Style Wars*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177262/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [*Style Wars*](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/style_wars) on [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes) - [*Style Wars*](https://www.folkstreams.net/film-detail.php?id=161) on [Folkstreams](/source/Folkstreams) - [*Style Wars* on MUBI](https://mubi.com/films/style-wars) Awards Preceded by - Sundance Grand Jury Prize: Documentary 1984 Succeeded by Seventeen v t e Hip-hop Beatboxing Breakdancing DJing Graffiti MCing Rapping Culture Artists Battle rap Dance Diss tracks Fashion Activism Feminism Feminist activism LGBTQ Festivals Music Production Theater Genres History African-American music Five-Percent Nation Universal Zulu Nation Old-school New-school Golden age Bristol underground scene Subgenres General Alternative Hipster hop Boom bap Bounce British Road rap Chipmunk soul Chopped and screwed Chopper Cloud rap Comedy Crunk Crunkcore Drill Brooklyn drill Jersey drill Sample drill UK drill East Coast Frat rap Freestyle rap Hyphy Jerkin' Instrumental Latin Chicano rap Lofi Lowend Miami bass Mumble rap Nerdcore Chap hop Political Progressive rap Religious Christian Jewish Snap music Southern Turntablism Underground Internet rap Hardcore Dirty rap Gangsta rap G-funk Horrorcore Memphis rap Trap music Afro trap Digicore DMV HexD Jerk Latin trap Phonk Plugg Rage Sigilkore Tread UK trap Fusion genres General Country rap Electro Emo rap Hip-hop soul Hip house Industrial Jazz rap New jack swing Pop rap Psychedelic rap Punk rap Ragga Rap opera Rap rock Trip hop Rap metal Nu metal Regional Afroswing Bongo Flava Boomba music Cumbia rap Genge Hip-hop galsen Hipco Hiplife Igbo rap Kwaito Low bap Motswako Nā mele paleoleo Nuyorican rap Romani hip-hop Songo-salsa Scam rap Stronda Urban Pasifika Vigilante rap Zenji flava Derivatives Electronic Breakbeat Baltimore club Florida breaks Ghetto house Ghettotech Glitch hop Grime Illbient Latin Freestyle Mahraganat Wonky Other Funk carioca Reggaeton Alternative reggaeton Samba-rap Regional scenes African Algerian Angolan Beninese Botswana Gambian Ghanaian Ivorian Kenyan Malawian Mauritian Moroccan Namibian Nigerian Port Harcourt Nigerien Senegalese South African Tanzanian Togolese Zambian Zimbabwean Asian Armenian Azerbaijani Bangladeshi Burmese Chinese Indian Desi Indonesian Japanese Korean Malaysian Mongolian Nepalese Pakistani Philippine Singapore Sri Lankan Taiwanese Thai European Albanian Austrian Belgian Bosnian and Herzegovinian British Celtic Scottish Welsh Bulgarian Croatian Czech Dutch Finnish French German Greek Portuguese Hungarian Icelandic Irish Italian Macedonian Montenegrin Norwegian Polish Romanian Romani Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Swiss Ukrainian Middle Eastern Arabic Egyptian Iranian Israeli Lebanese Palestinian Saudi Arabian Tunisian Turkish Yemeni North American United States: East Coast Baltimore New Jersey New York City Philadelphia Washington, D.C. Midwestern Chicago Detroit Minneapolis/St. Paul Milwaukee Omaha Southern Atlanta Memphis Miami West Coast Alaska Bay Area Northwest Asian American Latin Native American Outside the US: Canadian Cuban Dominican Haitian Mexican Salvadoran Oceanian Australian New Zealand Samoan South American Brazilian Brasília Chilean Colombian Other topics Auto-Tune Bling Classic hip-hop Contemporary R&B Disc jockey DJ mixer Record player Turntablism Drum machine Griots and Hip-hop Hip-hop skit Mixtape Music sequencer Partner violence in hip-hop Sampler Social injustice Synthesizer Video vixen Category v t e Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary Soldier Girls (1982) Style Wars (1984) Seventeen (1985) Private Conversations (1986) Sherman's March (1987) Beirut: The Last Home Movie (1988) For All Mankind (1989) H-2 Worker/Water and Power (1990) Paris Is Burning/American Dream (1991) A Brief History of Time (1992) Silverlake Life: The View from Here (1993) Freedom on My Mind (1994) Crumb (1995) Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern (1996) Girls Like Us (1997) The Farm: Angola, USA/Frat House (1998) American Movie (1999) Long Night's Journey into Day (2000) Southern Comfort (2001) Daughter from Danang (2002) Capturing the Friedmans (2003) Dig! (2004) Why We Fight (2005) God Grew Tired of Us (2006) Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) (2007) Trouble the Water (2008) We Live in Public (2009) Restrepo (2010) How to Die in Oregon (2011) The House I Live In (2012) Blood Brother (2013) Rich Hill (2014) The Wolfpack (2015) Weiner (2016) Dina (2017) The Price of Free (2018) One Child Nation (2019) Boys State (2020) Summer of Soul (2021) The Exiles (2022) Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project (2023) Porcelain War (2024) Seeds (2025) Nuisance Bear (2026) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Style Wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Style_Wars) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Style_Wars?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.