Wild Style (1983) was a film that documented the real world of hip hop before most people even knew what hip hop was. This film presents the four crucial elements of hip hop: animation, graffiti, break-dancing and DJing. These characteristics are the backdrop to the story of a graffiti artist named Raymond who lives in the South Bronx and goes by the name “Zoro,” played by famous New York graffiti artist Lee Quinones. The film traces the tribulations of his life and his relationship with Rose, while showing some of the historical aspects of hip hop. This film took place after graffiti had been so firmly despised. Craig Castleman argues this in his article "The Politics of Graffiti", when he reviews all the policies put in place by Mayor Jon V. Lindsay in 1972 to get rid of graffiti, while graffiti artists continued to do what 'they loved. (21-28). For these people, graffiti is not just an art, it is a way of life. This is shown in Wild Style, when Hector says there is nothing for Raymond and he responds "Yes, there is (looks at the graffiti, then back to Hector)... this." Wild Style recalls a golden age when graffiti had meaning. In the early 1980s, New York City was a brutal and pretty bleak place to live. It made sense to the taggers, it was part of their lives and a way to improve the streets of New York. In "The Politics of Graffiti," Richard Goldstein said that graffiti was "the first real teenage street culture since the 1950s." In that sense, it’s a lot like rock’n’roll” (25). For some, it might even be about getting that "stoned runner" feeling that they can't get from anything else. Raymond explains this in Wild Style by...... middle of paper...... (69). Through the influence of the film and the articles collected, it can be said that hip hop has grown significantly as a style of music. music and culture since the 1970s. Works Cited Castleman, Craig. “The Politics of Graffiti.” Rep. in That's the Joint!: The Hip-Hop Studies Reader. Ed. Murray Forman and Mark Anthony Neal. New York, New York: Routledge, 2004. 21-30. Print.Flores, Juan. “Puerto Rocks: rap, roots and amnesia.” Rep. in That's the Joint!: The Hip-Hop Studies Reader. Ed. Murray Forman and Mark Anthony Neal. New York, NY: Routledge, 2004. 69-86. Print.Ford, Robert Jr. "Jive Talking NY DJs Rapping in Black Nightclubs." Rep. in That's the Joint!: The Hip-Hop Studies Reader. Ed. Murray Forman and Mark Anthony Neal. New York, New York: Routledge, 2004. 43-44. Print.Wild Style, Dir. Charlie Ahearn. Perf. Easy AD, AJ and Almighty KG Rhino, 1983. Film.