Books in the MCL: Life’s A Mission Then You’re Dead. REVS, XSOUP, and ARBOR

REVS, XSOUP, and ARBOR. Life’s A Mission Then You’re Dead. 2022

In the pantheon of New York graffiti legends at the turn of the century, few names resonate like REVS. Thanks to the regard other writers have for him “Life’s A Mission Then You’re Dead,” compiled alongside XSOUP and ARBOR, stands as a monumental tribute to the gritty essence and raw spirit of the city’s subterranean graffiti culture. The 510-page tome emerges not only as a collection of inside views but as an immersive chronicle of the lives, thoughts, and experiences of over a hundred NYC graffiti writers. Each account is a testament to the unvarnished reality of the streets, capturing the adrenaline, artistry, and audacity of those who dare to leave their mark in the most impermanent of all galleries: the urban cityscape.

REVS, a figure shrouded in as much mystery as infamy, once compelled New Yorkers to venture into the city’s underbelly to catch a glimpse of his diaristic tunnel entries; extensive and at times, colorful, personal accounts that are said to number 230 or more. Here he expands his canvas to include his peers, offering readers direct access to a world that, until now, has been preserved through underground storytelling in the subway corridors and alleyways. His collaboration with XSOUP and ARBOR transcends traditional graffiti documentation, presenting a narrative mosaic that pieces together the fragmented, vibrant, and often misunderstood subculture from which they emerge.

The book’s allure is enhanced by its unique aesthetic, with all covers hand-drawn by REVS himself, imbuing each copy with a sense of personal touch and authenticity. This physicality of the book mirrors the tangible, often perilous nature of graffiti writing itself—a medium where the act of creation is as fleeting as it is permanent

“Life’s A Mission Then You’re Dead” does more than archive the ephemeral; it delves into the psyche of the graffiti writer, exploring the paradoxes of visibility and anonymity, community and isolation, ephemerality and immortality. The narratives within, rich with individual truths, opinions, and emotions, serve not only as a record but as a lens through which the uninitiated can gain insight into the complex, contradictory world of graffiti.

The significance of this publication is not just for those within the graffiti world but also for scholars, historians, and enthusiasts eager to explore the layers beneath the spray paint. Through the collective voice of its writers, it narrates a story of resilience, rebellion, and the relentless quest for a semblance of immortality on the fleeting canvases of city streets.

Text: Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo Fotos: Sebastian Kläbsch