Today In Hip Hop History: The Source Remembers Graffiti Pioneer PHASE 2 Five Years Later

Screenshot 2024 12 12 at 9.27.51 AM

Screenshot 2024 12 12 at 9.27.51 AM

On This date in 2019, graffiti icon Michael Lawrence Marrow aka True Mathematics Allah aka PHASE 2 passed away in his hometown of NYC from complications of Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 64 Years Old.

Phase 2 was one of the first graffiti artists to become popular in his community. He was a DJ, made flyers with the famed Buddy Esquire for Bronx Hip Hop functions and was a member of the B-Boy crew Electrified Movement. Phase 2 is also widely recognized for creating the “Bubble” letter style of graffiti.

As aerosol art took off during the late 1970s, Wood engaged himself in spreading the developing Hip Hop scene from the Bronx to Manhattan. Since the beginning of his career to now, Phase 2 has demonstrated his works in various global presentations devoted to urban art and aerosol.

PHASE 2 is undoubtedly recognized as the father of modern day graffiti as was one of the legends of the world renowned “Writer’s Bench” at the 149th Street  subway station in the South Bronx. As an innovator of style, PHASE 2 drifted away from simple tags to a more unconventional, “hieroglyphical calligraphic abstraction” style of writing tags.

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The Source Magazine Remembers Graffiti Legend PHASE 2 Four Years After His Passing

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On this date in 2019, the graffiti world took a great loss with the passing of graff pioneer Lenny Wood aka True Mathematics Allah aka PHASE 2. For many who live the culture of graffiti, PHASE 2 is considered one of the originators of the modern version of this art form, which was born in the slums of NYC and Philly in the late 60s.

Born Michael Marrow on August 2, 1955, the BX native is widely recognized for inventing the “bubble” style of letter writing and was also a known DJ, made flyers and was a member of the B-Boy crew Electrified Movement. As the spray painting society took off during the late 1970s, Marrow engaged himself in spreading the developing Hip Hop scene from the Bronx to Manhattan.

Hip Hop pioneer Debbie D tweeted about PHASE’s passing back in 2019, saying,

“In the 70s, he and Buddy Esquire were the ‘go to’ flyer makers. If you couldn’t get one, you got the other! Two of the best flyer makers to ever do it!!! Rest those hands, my brother!”

PHASE 2 passed away in NYC in at the age of 64 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, which is most commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

PHASE 2 still continues to influence the ever evolving world of graffiti and will be eternally honored as one of graffiti’s trailblazers.

The post The Source Magazine Remembers Graffiti Legend PHASE 2 Four Years After His Passing first appeared on The Source.

The post The Source Magazine Remembers Graffiti Legend PHASE 2 Four Years After His Passing appeared first on The Source.