Angels
Famous or respected graffiti artists who have died. People tag their names with halos above them or make tribute pieces with their faces or tag with the dates of their run or birth to death.
All city
The state of being known for one's graffiti throughout a city. Originally, this term meant to be known throughout the five boroughs of New York City through the medium of subway cars.
Back to back
Graffiti that covers a wall from end to end, as seen on some parts of the West-Berlin side of the Berlin Wall. Similarly, trains sometimes receive end to end painting when a carriage has been painted along its entire length. This is often abbreviated as e2e. End to ends used to be called window-downs but this is an older expression that is falling from popularity.
Backjump
A quickly executed throw up or panel piece. Backjumps are usually painted on a temporarily parked train or a running bus.
Black book
A graffiti artist's sketchbook. Often used to sketch out and plan potential graffiti, and to collect tags from other writers. It is a writer's most valuable property, containing all or a majority of the person's sketches and pieces. A writer’s sketchbook is carefully guarded from the police and other authorities, as it can be used as material evidence in a graffiti vandalism case and link a writer to previous illicit works.
Bite
To steal another artist's ideas or lettering schemes. Seasoned artists will often complain about toys that bite their work.
Bomb
To bomb or hit is to paint many surfaces in an area. Bombers often choose throw-ups or tags over complex pieces, as they can be executed more quickly.
Buff
To remove painted graffiti with chemicals and other instruments, or to paint over it with a flat color.
Burn
To beat a competitor with a style.
Burner
1. A large, more elaborate type of piece. The piece could be said to be "burning" out of the wall or train-side. Because they take so much time and effort, burners in downtown areas are more likely to be legal pieces, painted with the consent of the property owner. The early writers of New York also did burners illegally on trains, and adventurous modern writers sometimes still do large scale illegal pieces in heavily-trafficked areas.
2. More recently, any quick chrome bombing or throwup.
Burning
Any work having not been removed. "That piece is still burning on main street."
Cannon(s)
A slang term for spray paint cans. This term is thought to originate in Brooklyn, New York.
Cap (I)
the nozzle for the aerosol paint can, different kinds are used for styles.
Cap (II)
To cross out or in any other way ruin a piece made by others. Derives from a writer named "Cap" who was infamous for making throw-ups over others' pieces.
Crew
A crew, krew, or cru is a group of associated writers or graffiti artists that often work together. Some crews are members of gangs or are associated with gangs (sometimes for procurement of art materials or for protection while painting), but most crews are unaffiliated with gangs. Any group of friends can quickly and informally form a crew if they are interested in graffiti and want to start collaborating. There is a smaller risk of being held responsible for crew works if a single member gets arrested. From a legal point of view, the name could have been painted by anyone in the group.
Dropsy
a bribe.
Dress-up
To completely write all over a specific area like a door-way, wall or window that is untouched.
Dubs
London/UK style of graffiti executed in silver or chrome paint. Usually on railway walls or street locations, it is done quickly by a crew or group of writers.
Famous or respected graffiti artists who have died. People tag their names with halos above them or make tribute pieces with their faces or tag with the dates of their run or birth to death.
All city
The state of being known for one's graffiti throughout a city. Originally, this term meant to be known throughout the five boroughs of New York City through the medium of subway cars.
Back to back
Graffiti that covers a wall from end to end, as seen on some parts of the West-Berlin side of the Berlin Wall. Similarly, trains sometimes receive end to end painting when a carriage has been painted along its entire length. This is often abbreviated as e2e. End to ends used to be called window-downs but this is an older expression that is falling from popularity.
Backjump
A quickly executed throw up or panel piece. Backjumps are usually painted on a temporarily parked train or a running bus.
Black book
A graffiti artist's sketchbook. Often used to sketch out and plan potential graffiti, and to collect tags from other writers. It is a writer's most valuable property, containing all or a majority of the person's sketches and pieces. A writer’s sketchbook is carefully guarded from the police and other authorities, as it can be used as material evidence in a graffiti vandalism case and link a writer to previous illicit works.
Bite
To steal another artist's ideas or lettering schemes. Seasoned artists will often complain about toys that bite their work.
Bomb
To bomb or hit is to paint many surfaces in an area. Bombers often choose throw-ups or tags over complex pieces, as they can be executed more quickly.
Buff
To remove painted graffiti with chemicals and other instruments, or to paint over it with a flat color.
Burn
To beat a competitor with a style.
Burner
1. A large, more elaborate type of piece. The piece could be said to be "burning" out of the wall or train-side. Because they take so much time and effort, burners in downtown areas are more likely to be legal pieces, painted with the consent of the property owner. The early writers of New York also did burners illegally on trains, and adventurous modern writers sometimes still do large scale illegal pieces in heavily-trafficked areas.
2. More recently, any quick chrome bombing or throwup.
Burning
Any work having not been removed. "That piece is still burning on main street."
Cannon(s)
A slang term for spray paint cans. This term is thought to originate in Brooklyn, New York.
Cap (I)
the nozzle for the aerosol paint can, different kinds are used for styles.
Cap (II)
To cross out or in any other way ruin a piece made by others. Derives from a writer named "Cap" who was infamous for making throw-ups over others' pieces.
Crew
A crew, krew, or cru is a group of associated writers or graffiti artists that often work together. Some crews are members of gangs or are associated with gangs (sometimes for procurement of art materials or for protection while painting), but most crews are unaffiliated with gangs. Any group of friends can quickly and informally form a crew if they are interested in graffiti and want to start collaborating. There is a smaller risk of being held responsible for crew works if a single member gets arrested. From a legal point of view, the name could have been painted by anyone in the group.
Dropsy
a bribe.
Dress-up
To completely write all over a specific area like a door-way, wall or window that is untouched.
Dubs
London/UK style of graffiti executed in silver or chrome paint. Usually on railway walls or street locations, it is done quickly by a crew or group of writers.
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