Graffiti World Mourns the Loss of Legendary Writer Phase 2 and ZEXOR WTO
Last Thursday (December 10) was a dark day, as the graffiti community lost two of its own.
Early in the day we were rocked by the news of Mathew Rodriguez (aka ZEXOR WTO), son of ASP, passing away. He had just returned from Art Basel when he died from complications due to sleep apnea. The 28-year-old is survived by his son, Jason.
Born and raised in Ridgewood and adjacent Bushwick, Rodriguez was known for brazen top-to-bottom fill-ins in broad daylight.
As the #RIPZEXOR social media tributes and a subsequent Go Fund Me flooded newsfeeds, rumors trickled in about the possible passing of Bronx native Lonny Woods, the graffiti and hip hop pioneer known on the street as PHASE 2.
By 8 pm, it was no longer a rumor. Published reports indicate that he was in the hospital since August battling Lou Gehrig’s disease.
PHASE 2 was legendary, and considered the founder of the bubble-letter graffiti style that everyone uses today. In the early 1980s, Woods had also been the go-to guy for show flyers. The first being for Grandmaster Flash.
We debated as to how to pay our respects or how to have people pay theirs then realizing so many people already have. Below is a small collection of tributes located on Instagram. Please feel free to use our comment section as a memory board. Rest in Paint, as it’s said, PHASE 2 and ZEXOR WTO.
Phase 2 tributes:
Recent Stories
Under Presure from Chinatown, Mayor Pledges $80M to Restore 70 Mulberry Street
The fire-scorched school building at 70 Mulberry Street will see life anew, thanks to massive city funding. Mayor de Blasio announced yesterday in his morning press briefing that the new budget contains a line item for $80 million dedicated to restoration of the historic building. Hizzoner spent a solid four minutes discussing how Chinatown was […]
Fearing COVID-19 Resurgence, De Blasio Halts Indoor Dining Indefinitely
Not so fast. Phase 3 of the reopening plan is slated to launch on Monday. However, it arrives without the resumption of indoor dining at bars and restaurants, as initially conceived. Mayor de Blasio announced the news at his morning presser yesterday, citing the nationwide surges of COVID-19 cases and the elevated dangers of indoor […]
When Rivington House Wouldn’t Clean its Garbage Mess, a Neighbor Stepped In
A Good Samaritan took responsibility where a multimillion-dollar hospital system would not. As previously reported, the outside of Rivington House – future home of Mount Sinai’s future Behavioral Health facility – essentially devolved into decrepitude with the accumulation of trash at the doorstep. Untouched for days on end. But one Lower East Sider took matters […]
Chillhouse Shutters Original Essex Street Spa
The list of coronavirus-related business closures is getting longer by the week. Today brings word that an Essex Street newcomer has bitten the dust. Chillhouse, a millennials-style spa at 149 Essex Street, is the latest to fall. Ownership announced the permanent shutter in an e-mail to customers Tuesday afternoon. “As we all know too well […]
Hamilton Fish Park Pool to Reopen by August 1
In an about-face, the city announced yesterday that at least fifteen public pools will reopen across the Five Boroughs. Included in the lucky list is the Hamilton Fish Park pool, known to locals as the “Pitt Pool.” But the cooldown will have to wait another month. The reopenings are scheduled for August 1, and are […]
