Graffiti is writing or drawings made on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from simple written words to elaborate wall paintings, and has existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire.

The link between hip hop and graffiti evolved as a competition, much like the breakdance moves that my cousin practiced on cardboard in my grandparents’ backyard in his early teens. Graffiti flourished in hip hop culture as a way to tag your “crew” on the subways of New York City….