“The idea that knowledge is the fifth element of hip-hop is credited to Afrika Bambaataa, an influential DJ in the early days of hip-hop. He considers knowledge to be the most important element of them all. According to him, a person cannot MC, DJ, breakdance, or make graffiti without having knowledge, the fifth element that ‘brings it all together.’”
“These incidents spotlight a dilemma about public art and public taste. The censorious tend to assume that the line should be theirs to decide, claiming reasons like protecting children, but maybe just projecting their beliefs. The open-minded wonder how something so mild can offend and why society keeps getting denied wider views.”
“A debate about street art has emerged in Bangkok, with some people calling for strict prosecution of vandals who defaced commissioned murals, while others argue that the acts were part of the normal “bombing” culture in graffiti art.”