Top Ten Best Graffiti Throwies!
Top 10 Best Throwies in Graffiti
In this post, we’ll dive into the Top 10 Best Graffiti Throwies, showcasing the most iconic and impressive throw-ups, voted by the graffiti community. Before we get into the list, let's quickly explain what a "throwie" is. A graffiti throwie or "throw-up" is a type of graffiti that is simple yet stylish, usually consisting of rounder, fatter letters (what people might call bubble letters) with quick outlines. It’s designed to be painted quickly, making it ideal for artists who need to work fast. Throwies are distinct from more elaborate pieces because they emphasize speed, repetition, and recognizability. Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 throwies that represent some of the best graffiti styles out there:
10. Vayne
Starting off the list is Vayne! He’s mastered his style resulting in a very iconic-looking throwie that uses distinct sharp edges as well as rounded edges to make the letter. One aspect that helps to create such an iconic look is the fact that his name uses multiple really difficult letters such as V and Y. Normally these are letters people struggle with, and they struggle just as much to place letters beside the V and Y. His ability to do such clean yet stylish letters is a clear show of skill and mastery. Vain’s skills place him at the top in terms of graffiti throwies that are both bold and elegant.
9. Ghost EA
Coming in at number nine is Ghost EA who brings a fresh style to the table with an interesting use of letter positioning. His throwie stands out with a raised "O," held up by the "H" and "S," creating a unique flow. I personally really like this as normally letters in throwies are positioned in a very standard way, and when the position does get creative, its seldom done well, but Ghost EA pulls it off! Personally, I like the choice of a lowercase "H", its the easier of the two different H structures and in my opinion, the cooler looking one and better one.
8. Wire
The throwie by Wire makes the list for its clean and crisp lines, with a minimalist approach that still packs a punch. The straightforward design of his letters, combined with subtle stylistic elements, creates a visually appealing throwie that’s simple yet striking. Sometimes simple is better, and knowing how to rock simple yet effective letters is easier said than done. Many intermediate artists will over stylize letters in an attempt to hide fundamental issues. Issues that would be exposed in more simple work. Wire doesn’t have this problem, they know the basics and their simple letters show their experience.
4. Pemik
The throwie by Pemik might be small in size, but it’s loaded with style. This throwie catches the eye with its instantly recognizable design, which is crucial for graffiti visibility. It has a distinctive look that stands out even from a distance, making it perfect for any walls, freeways or otherwise.
5. Fer
At number six, Fer brings a funky twist to his throwie with a unique handling of the letter "F." The lower half bends forward, giving it a lively and dynamic appearance. It’s a great example of how you can manipulate letters in graffiti throwies to make them pop.
6. Suffer
Suffer’s throwie combines rounded shapes with wavy lines, creating a harmonious mix of letterforms. The letter "F" in his throwie stands out with a creative top curve, making this design flow smoothly from one letter to the next. If I had to describe Suffer’s throwie, I’d say its a good example of controlled chaos. Many of his letters are doing very different things, and some have these huge extensions that only make them stand out even more. However, Suffer takes all of this, and ties it all together in a beautiful throwie. Its no easy task to slap on multiple very different, contrasting features and make them flow, but through the use of letter uniformity/similarity with his shapes he’s able to make it all work.
7. Ryme
You can't talk about iconic throwies without mentioning Ryme. This guy singlehandedly defined a whole generation of writers back in the early to mid 2000’s. I lived in NJ (where rime painted) and I remember seeing him rise to fame. When this happened EVERYONE began biting his work, it was kind of amazing. It’s rare to see such a unique style, and when you do, it’s even more rare to see that style explode in popularity to this scale! His work was loved by all and people were copying not only his tags, but his throwies and his pieces, hell, even his cartoons weren’t safe.
8. Mike Giant
A true legend in the graffiti world, Mike Giant is synonymous with clean and crisp throwies. His graffiti throw-ups are renowned for their perfect execution and simple elegance, setting the standard for what a top-quality throwie should look like. One thing to note about Giant, is his sheer consistency as well, overall just a crisp writer through and through.
9. Meres
Meres’s throwie skills are nothing short of extraordinary. Meres and my mentor Demer are very good friends and like to paint with one another so when Meres showed up to one of our gallery shows we were throwing at Dems shop it was no surprise. This was one of the first few times I had met Meres, and it was the first time I had seen his skills on display for myself. Someone asked Meres to hit their book with a throwie, so he took the book in his hands, turned it upside down, and did his throwie backward while having the book upside down! To this day I still have yet to see anything like that.
10. Shetu
Closing out the list is Shetu, whose actually from where I grew up, NJ! They’ve got a unique style and this throwie isnt some run of the mill simple and easy throwie either. While those are certainly dope, (and even my preferance), you have to recognize that doing something with this much style takes skill! What’s impressive is that this throwie manages to be both technical and clean, making it a perfect example of graffiti throwies done right. The consistency of his style across different throw-ups is impressive, making his work recognizable and respected.
