Graffiti, an element of the young hip-hop culture, is making its way to metro’s urban clothing and lifestyle. Tribal Gear resident artist Abel (pronounced ey-bel) dropped by Manila (not to educate MMDA chair Bayani Fernando on how to do the real stuff apart from his MMDA Art along EDSA, but) to bring out the aesthetic value of graffiti internationally. Abel’s recent graffiti showcase at the Megastrip, dubbed Atomize Manila, is an effort to introduce graffiti a part of street wear scene.

Still unpopular to most Filipinos, graffiti is widely appreciated in the US and Europe’s hip-hop clan. The appreciation for the once mere street-life form of expression is now being viewed as art, despite how authorities still see it as vandalism.

More than the illustrations and images it represents, graffiti has a growing popularity and diversity that suits up the daring, expressive and idealistic nature of today’s youth.

"This will never get out of the streets," Abel said, referring to then to underground graffiti. He proved himself wrong afterwards. Graffiti now transcends its canvass from concrete walls to cotton cloth—a must have fashion statement.

Tribal street wear is eight years in the business, attributing its brand name to designs inspired by Mayan and Aztec art. Tribal released their first graffiti inspired shirt by Dyse One of San Diego. Since then, mad urban crowd designs have been a part of Tribal clothing line. Caps, belts, shorts, pants, jackets and accessories are also available to complete a cool get-up.

Abel’s craft as graffiti ‘artist’, working with spray paint in hand, brightens a drab urban area and adds color to a sterile concrete jungle. His lifelong experience in illustration, using a variety of mediums including crayons, pencil, pen, ink, acrylics, watercolors, air-brush, aerosol even Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, makes him work in a variety of styles.

Abel started doing graffiti when he was 13. Watching music videos and other styles influenced him to create his own.

"He (Abel) does everything. Amazing! He brings imagery with what it brings to the world, his style is so Southern California," said Tribal Wear owners, Bobby Ruiz and Carl Arrelano.

Abel further states that graffiti is hip-hop, like break dancing, rapping, and disk jockeying (DJ).

Tribal fashion, on the other hand, is far different from the usual hip-hop we get to see— not the loose shirts, baggy jeans and all. Theirs is a mix of rock and hip hop, much like what Limp Bizkit, Beastie Boys and Linkin’ Park have in common.

Tribal street wears are mostly black with a bunch of shouting hues. "I’ve tried to veer away from using a black background but it can make colors powerful and subtle if done right," Abel said. This harmony of black complementing the colorful shows the merging of hip-hop and rock and roll cultures.

"Graffiti adds spice to hip-hop and rock and roll because it lets you go back to the streets. Graffiti subjects are more street-related," Abel said.

Travelling across boundaries is a big canvas to get down on, according to Abel. Abel sees no difference between graffiti and formal art. "It makes no difference. It’s just that some look down on graffiti as more of vandalism. But it goes back to the expression, like what fine arts do. You can paint whatever you want. It’s your canvas. It’s your way of giving message to the world. It can be political, personal, you have the control over it," he said. Abel mentioned that there have been gallery pieces in Europe where graffiti has been greatly recognized.

Abel believes that graffiti might as well make an impact in Manila’s ever-growing urban culture. "Those kids making kites, people talking on the streets, writings on the walls…I can relate to them because I was born in a similar world that is Mexico. There’s an artist everywhere, living within the community, where artists can be freed," Abel narrates, but insists that within each piece of graffiti is an identity all unique on its own