The point of graffiti writing is to get up; to be everywhere and to be seen by everybody, earning a reputation for audacity and an original style. The advent of graffiti crews allowed writers to get up more efficiently than before. However, crews proved a revolutionary innovation that would change the game. The Ex Vandals pioneered this innovation. Established in 1971, they are the oldest graffiti crew extant, with chapters around the globe. I got the chance to meet some of the group’s key members; there, I was afforded a glimpse into the genesis of the graffiti writing movement through the anecdotes of those who helped start it.