Most people can distinguish between art and vandalism. However, graffiti has a special place in art. Graffiti has been around since the times of ancient Rome and Greece. People have been “tagging” for hundreds of years. However, it was in the 1970s and 80s that this art form was created. With the creation of hip hop, graffiti began to become very popular, especially in African American communities like the South Bronx. Graffiti is considered a visual form of hip hop, but it may not be considered art because of its canvas. People “tag” public buildings and subway cars. This is where the line between vandalism and art lies. The artist must decide where to place their art and whether or not its location is safe. Graffiti has evolved a lot over the years. It evolved from bands marking their territory to an expressive art form. At the panhandlers, people used markers and simply chanted their names on the walls. Since then, it has evolved into actual murals that tell stories using spray cans. Graffiti is also used as memorials to deceased hip hop and graffiti artists. Today, graffiti is a way to send a message to the public. When New York City taggers began their art, it was for local fame. These artists tried to mark as many places as possible to gain recognition. Darryl McCray or “Cornbread” would be the first tagger. When he was in a juvenile prison, he wrote his tag "Cornbread" all over the prison. He continued to date outside of prison and it spread to New York. It was until Taki 183 that this art form gained national recognition. On July 21, 1971, the New York Times published a front-page article titled "Taki 183... middle of paper ... sparked interest in graffiti again. This film follows a French immigrant to Los Angeles and his obsession with street art. It shows the difficulties that a modern-day graffiti artist must go through to be recognized. The film is debated as to whether or not it should be taken seriously, but it nevertheless has a serious impact on the artistic community. The First Amendment states that people have freedom of speech. Does graffiti have this freedom? People see graffiti in two ways: either it is art or it is a crime. People put time and effort into their work, but abandon it because of where it is. Buildings like 5 Pointz allowed people to express their art legally, but then their work was taken away from them overnight. Artists such as Lee Quinones, Fab 5 Freddy and Bansky have proven themselves in the art world, but they still aren't as respected as they should be..