R.I.P. IZ THE WIZ

It is with great sadness that I announce that the legendary IZ THE WIZ has passed on.

A lot of people like me knew of him through first watching Style Wars in the 1980's. He struck me as someone who delved a bit deeper into graffiti scene. Quite literally in Style Wars, when he spoke of his trips far into the subway system; "a city under the city" as he remarked.

I was quite alarmed when I saw him again in the dvd release for Style Wars more recently as he was looking very frail. More shocking was when he commented that he would give up all his past fame for full health as he talked about his many years of breathing in the toxic fumes of the paint.

The following is from http://www.at149st.com/ .

"IZ THE WIZ is without question one of New York City's most prolific writers.

IN aka KILL 3 is credited with the most extensive all-city bomb in NYC during 1975 and 76, but IZ was the longest reigning all-city king in NYC history, taking the title many times throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

IZ was well known for his throw-ups in the mid 1970s on the IND and BMT subway divisions. In the late 1970s he broadened his focus by working on top-to-bottoms, burners and scenery whole cars on the presteigious 2 and 5 lines of the IRT subway division.

During this period he silmultaneously maintained all-city throw-up king status. He painted for a variety of top level crews. He has served as president of The Master Blasters and the Queens division of Prisoners Of Graffiti. He has also painted for The Odd Partners, The Crew, The Three Yard Boys and others too numerous to mention.

IZ appeared in the documentary film Style Wars and portrayed a transit police detective in the film Wild Style.

Aliases: IZZY, CI (CRAZY IZ), IKE 327,

Started: 1972

Primary affiliations: TMB, POG, TOP, 3YB, TC

Local origin: Queens, NY

Main lines: ALL CITY"

After struggling with kidney failure for many years, Iz passed away on the 17 June 2009.

I therefore posthumously dedicate my Style Wars soundtrack to him.