Queen West Graffiti Walk Toronto
The best graffiti in the city!
Are you seeing the trend here? Best neighbourhood, best graffiti…best everything…not quite, but close. Queen West shines again as one of Toronto’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. “The West is the best!” Said lots of people.
Now when I was a young teenager in the Summer of 96′ or 97′ (holy crap, that long ago), my friends and I went to this thing called the 416 Graffiti Expo in downtown Toronto. Just so happens that it took place in Queen West. This wasn’t the Queen West it is today, it was actually kind of shady (some parts still are). The expo took place right next to the Bamboo Club (now a clothing store?) parking lot at Queen Street West and Peter Street. It’s still a parking lot, but owned by a Green P.
So this expo was all about Hip Hop culture. I had always been into rap and break dancing in my early years, but I was learning more about graffiti or “street art”. I’m not very artistic myself, but I appreciate and respect all forms of art. At the expo they had battles all over the place. Freestylin’, breakin’, graffiti bombs and pieces. There was a circle around two MCs dropping rhymes back and forth then the crowd would decide who won by loudest cheer. Cardboard was down in the lot for breaking, around the back alley graffiti pieces were being thrown up. It was the coolest thing, eyes wide open! My buddy had this video camera taping everything. I remember seeing Mood Ruff (didn’t know who they were at the time) guys jumping in battlin’. Proof ( I distinctively remember his teeth) was there handing out Eminem promo tapes before Eminem was Eminem. He gave them to us. 3 songs all short verses, I don’t give a F*ck and I can’t remember the others. I wish I still had that tape and video.
Fast forward to Summer 2014 I’m back at the same parking lot, but it’s full of cars and it’s the meeting point for the Toronto Graffiti Walk.
Queen West Graffiti Walk Toronto
My brokerage is so cool that my manager Larry decided to organize this walk for us. We have a downtown office in Queen West near Trinity-Bellwoods and only blocks away from the walks end. The plan was to meet, do the walk and then go back to the office for a little World Cup party. Sage Rocks!
Kit was our tour guide. He’s an interesting guy. Actor, Rapper, Writer Director…Tour Guide. Follow him @kitknows. You can feel his passion when he speaks about the culture. I was intrigued from the get go as I used to walk these same alleys with my buddies checking out the graffiti. Kit was very knowledgeable and involved us in the tour. He didn’t just spit out dribble like every other tour I’ve been on. He asked us questions, our opinions, broke down different types, artists, outlined good and bad practices in the graffiti world. He broke down the local history. I learned a lot and it brought back some great memories.
I would suggest this walk to anyone who wants to know more about Toronto’s Underground History or has an interest in art and Hip Hop Culture. Go experience it for yourself and see if you can request Kit.
Queen West Graffiti Walk Toronto
Check it out at www.tourguys.ca.
If you want to know more about the Queen West neighbourhood or are thinking of buying or selling contact david@davidspeedie.com or by text/call 647 244 3931.
