Mural of New York City on Ann Arbor club vandalized with name of Queens rapper
Graffiti clutters the mural of New York City on the first floor of 210 S. First St. The name of the rapper Despot was put up by some of the artist's fans Sunday.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Frustration over Ann Arbor’s problems with graffiti were raised again this week after a local business owner found a rapper's name tagged all over a recently restored mural.
Nick Easton, owner of the Cavern Clubs Entertainment complex, said the tour bus for a rapper named Despot was parked Sunday outside the mural of New York City on the wall of Nick’s Gotham City, a club at 210 S. First St. Easton said Despot’s name was painted on various buildings in the mural when he saw it the next day.
“It’s frustrating; it makes me angry,” Easton said. “I called the police and there’s nothing they can do about it. There’s no video of it happening and we can’t really accuse anyone of it.”
Despot was one of the rappers on the bill at The Blind Pig Sunday night. The Queens, New York-native is touring the country this summer.
The rapper tweeted, “Someone wrote my name all over the wall by the venue! Cool! #crazedfans” at 12:46 a.m. Monday, according to his official page.
It’s the first time graffiti artists hit the building at 210 S. First St., save for the mural, which was painted in 2000 and has been kept up by the building’s owners. Easton said he doesn’t know how the paint will be cleaned off of the mural without damaging the original painting.
The mural covers about half of the building’s first floor and contains images of the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge and the World Trade Center. It had just been restored earlier this year, Easton said.
Ann Arbor’s graffiti issues have cost business owners thousands of dollars in cleanup costs, and police have been taking calls from residents who are angry about the vandalism. However, the cases are notoriously hard to prosecute unless the vandals are caught in the act, according to police.
Easton hasn’t talked to the city regarding the new graffiti. He said he thought Despot had done the tagging himself during the time the bus was parked in front of the building.
“My guess is he saw the mural and says, ‘It’s my hometown, I’m putting my name on it,’” Easton said.
Despot could not immediately be reached for comment.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Honez
Sat, Jun 8, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.
Why doesn't he bar have security cameras up for safety and liability purposes? Shame on the vandal but shame on the owner too. The cost of business includes cameras, especially when you serve alcohol. My house has locks as most responsible homeowner would have. A bar should have cameras. Then we could catch the perp and prevent them from doing it again.
15crown00
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 6:14 p.m.
It is what it is
Skyjockey43
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 11:31 p.m.
Once again I say that this problem won't be solved until taggers hit the non-functioning city hall urinal/water feature.
Jim
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.
OK, this is probably stupid, but isn't that graffiti essentially a signature? If Despot (or whomever) signs in that way, there would be other examples of it. Since signatures hold up in court, I don't see why this couldn't be used as evidence.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:02 p.m.
so theuy should shoot down the blind pig or ban Rappers ?
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 9:27 p.m.
so they should shut down the blind pig or ban Rappers * what a scandal misspelled words are :) I had the english snub's in shock.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 9:25 p.m.
snubs*
Madeleine Borthwick
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.
anti-thug, does your computer have spell-check?
Ross
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 5:18 p.m.
What are you talking about? Just curious, are you only 15 years old or thereabouts?
grye
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 3:41 p.m.
The rapper tweeted, "Someone wrote my name all over the wall by the venue! Cool! #crazedfans" The rapper is an idiot who doesn't value other people's property. Bet he would be happy if someone wrote their name all over his tour bus.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.
as much as I love and defend public aRT and world of warcraft , I dont think we should bring grief conslers into this cause , basicaly Ann Arbor sendin the message out that we do not talerate the Freedom of speach of an 'Rapper " (lyrist in this case) what Rapper said shoulnt be the target of the case instead , just fine the "Artist".
garrisondyer
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:20 p.m.
But art isn't cheap, anti-thug.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 3:59 p.m.
assuming this Rapper is an idiot is idiotic logic.....basicaly Im sure he was just flatterd , instead happy, anyone it not a big deal, paints cheap.
ccsummer
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
Personally, I consider much "graffiti" beautiful street art. However, defacing another artist's mural, inexcusable. I was going to suggest outside security cameras until I remembered that people who do stuff like this often spray paint the camera eye or otherwise disable the security cameras. Seems like there are so many insurmountable problems, huge and fairly small, with society. So tired of it all. Also very tired of all the unpleasant comments and exchanges on sites like this. Why can't we have civil discussion?
garrisondyer
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.
I'm going to give ccsummer the benefit of the doubt and assume s/he thinks it has a lot of value when it's done well and on some sort of neglected urban surface, not someone's property in a residential neighborhood.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
well its a shame that it happened but notthat big of a deal really. what about all abaneded eye sors not being taken down?
Unusual Suspect
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.
Would you like it on the side of your house, or just when it's done on other people's property?
Ross
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.
Ugh, what pathetic and immoral behavior. People who tag their names in public spaces are complete wastes of human life.
Knuckles
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:36 p.m.
This really bugs me. As a native New Yorker I get the whole obnoxiousness of people from NY and have been guilty of it myself. But Ann Arbor is such an amazing city and I'm proud to call it home. I love this mural because it combines my hometown with my current home. The fact that this idiot tweeted that it was cool that someone defaced such an awesome homage to NYC proves that he's an idiot - and makes NYers look like self-centered fools (which we can be at times but some of us try really hard not to be).
Madeleine Borthwick
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.
Knuckles, two knuckles up! WAY up! couldn't have said it better myself.
whodat
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 6:06 p.m.
Well said Knuckles ;)
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:13 p.m.
THE El -P 'S not aN idiot but an ,but musical and lyrical genius ...its not the act that he pround of.It flattering .
NewYorkerinAA
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
Well said Knuckles.
BOBBY
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
i bet you the rapper did it. .
smokeblwr
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 9:39 p.m.
anti-thug, you seem to have slipped into a dialect unfamiliar to those on this side of the tracks.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 9:31 p.m.
class* warfare
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 9:31 p.m.
trust me he's allot more famous and successful then bitter people on the internet. your not hip too it, well its not his lack of success.
Davidian
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 6:37 p.m.
I've never heard of him either.
Unusual Suspect
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 5:27 p.m.
"he has all the fame in world" I've never heard of him.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:01 p.m.
lol funny , he has all the fame in world, he those not need to write his nAME THIS ABOUT call warfare, about some rapper and no longer about grafatti...the local media is now saying "RAPPERS Are all bad.
tom swift jr.
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:34 p.m.
I didn't even know that the Queen even HAD a rapper! Good for her!
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 9:22 p.m.
lol
unclemercy
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
a nice collection of senseless and baseless comments right here.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 9:21 p.m.
Ann Arbor fool of nitwits I see, from these comments, get out some time!
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
the artist name is EL-P, so look up his music and before you judge the music. this isn't gangster rap or some ignorant shady club.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 9:17 p.m.
this man is so right! this has become an issue of bias against rappers.
drut_ferguson
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 5:55 p.m.
Have an apostrophe, guy!
UlyssesWrong1
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
I'm going to have to agree with you, unclemercy.
unclemercy
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:20 p.m.
it was a joke guy. relax guy. youre on the internets. here have a banana. to the other know not who is angry with people because of things they dont understand themselves that is not the rapper despots handwriting. of course it wasnt his tour bus either but what do facts matter when theres someone thats different than us to villify?
garrisondyer
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:14 p.m.
graffiti is plural, mr. plain english. plural of graffito.
Unusual Suspect
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.
"despots handstyles way more fresh than that but ill let the bagel skinned speculators whove never been to his club worry about his mural." I don't think anybody has any clue what you're talking about. Maybe that means we're all donut-skinned or something.
drut_ferguson
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.
you, sir, be illin'
unclemercy
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
if plain english causes such consternation its no wonder youd get twisted britches trying to read the graffitis.
drut_ferguson
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
what in gods holy name are you blathering about
smokeblwr
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
Bagel-skinned? Like a cinnamon raisin bagel or do you really mean a plain old white bagel?
unclemercy
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
despots handstyles way more fresh than that but ill let the bagel skinned speculators whove never been to his club worry about his mural.
smokeblwr
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:14 p.m.
Baseless? Despot goes Zeus on a local landmark and giggles about on the twitter and you don't expect the locals to get a little riled up? #imokwithvandals
smokeblwr
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:08 p.m.
Despot could have added "YOLO" for the lulz.
Unusual Suspect
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1 p.m.
"Someone wrote my name all over the wall by the venue! Cool! #crazedfans" Classy guy. #rapsucks
drut_ferguson
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 12:59 p.m.
Couldn't they just get a West Coast rapper to come and erase it from the mural?
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 9:16 p.m.
the moral issue isnt about Rappers here....how about getting rock stars to clean up all the heroin? ;)
towncryer
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.
LOL, good one!
DJBudSonic
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 12:16 p.m.
Just remember, 'rap' is short for 'crap'.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 9:15 p.m.
it only make's people look foolish , when they talk about something that they know nothing about . GO watch 30s of hip hop on vh1. besides graffiti this isn't about rap real, that not the moral issue here but your making "rapper and issiue"the rappers not a loser or a lowlife and besides that he's making money as we speak.
DJBudSonic
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 7:49 p.m.
No drive-by's now, I am just practicing my first amendment right to rhyme. I don't think it is all bad either, but since there is soooo much of it now, I would say statistically this statement holds up.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.
LOL not any wittyer are we.....
garrisondyer
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
A lot of it is, but there's enough of it that's not crap. See my comment from above.
Unusual Suspect
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.
Word
Wolf's Bane
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 12:13 p.m.
Oh, wait! I don't care.
mermaid72
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 12:03 p.m.
Classy! Probably just as classy as his "music", if that's what one calls Rap.
anti-thug
Sun, Jul 15, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.
lol classy indeded like a jerk with money.
garrisondyer
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:11 p.m.
Hey now, there's actually a good amount of rap that's really good. With a good message, too. It's just that most of the rappers on the radio are horrible. With that said, I just looked up some of his music, and I can't say I enjoy it at all. Crass, sounds like he's one of the rappers who focus on rapping pretty much about themselves and how amazingly awesome they are. Not a fan. In contrast, groups like Blue Scholars or Macklemore (both from Seattle) have both appealing music and a good message to boot.
actionjackson
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 10:45 a.m.
Isn't accusing someone, especially a well know person, against the guidelines of this blog?
anti-thug
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 8:43 p.m.
well know amoug young hip ,real hip hop fans. he sale more unites thre average middle aged and bold man in his mid life crisis :) did do it ? he has too much to lose to act childish . "The son of jazz pianist Harry Keys (born Harry Meline), El-P became involved with the hip hop culture of New York City at an early age. Meline decided to pursue a career in music. At his 18th birthday party, he met Mr. Len, whom he had hired as a DJ for the night. The two quickly became friends and formed Company Flow in 1993. They released their first vinyl single, "Juvenile Techniques", in 1993. Bigg Jus later complemented the group and in 1996 the trio released its debut EP, Funcrusher. Subject to a major-label bidding war after the success of the EP, Company Flow waited until it could get a contract on its own terms. The group eventually signed with Rawkus Records, and released its debut full-length album, Funcrusher Plus (1997)."
Kitty O'Brien
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 7:04 a.m.
"well known person" ??? No one has ever heard of him.
anti-thug
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 5:33 p.m.
Witch hunt know, back to salem.
Billy
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 11:26 a.m.
It's only against the rules when we make accusations in the comments. It's perfectly fine when staff writers do it however.... Lol Tonyowned once again....