Throw up (graffiti)

Throw ups,^[a] or throwies, are a form of graffiti that fall between tags and pieces in complexity.^[1] The name comes from the way they are designed to be "thrown" onto a surface as quickly as possible. They are almost always done with aerosol paint.^[2]

A hollow throw up using the letters SPLEEN.

Form

Throw ups are typically the writer's moniker in large "bubble-letters", with or without a fill. Throw ups without fills are called hollows.^[3] Throw ups are sometimes done using only the first two or three letters of the moniker in a throw up to quicken the process, especially if the writer uses a longer name.^[4][5] Throw ups are done with fast, pre-planned body movements to enhance speed.^{[citation needed]} This speed means that writers can produce large amounts of throw ups in a short time, especially when compared with pieces.^[6]

Defining characteristics of skilled throw up include letter height consistency,^[7] letter shape conformity along the top and the bottom,^[7] minimal negative space,^[8][9] and clean lines. The line between pieces and throw ups is sometimes blurred, but throw ups tend to be faster to paint, have fewer colours, and prioritise speed over style.^[10]

History

Throw ups originated in the New York City Subway in the 1970s^[11][12] and started as larger versions of tags^[13] before evolving into their own style.^[4][10] Compared to tags and pieces, throw ups have not changed as much since their origins.^[14]