IZ the Wiz

Michael "Iz the Wiz" Martin (November 8, 1958 – June 17, 2009) was one of the most prominent graffiti writers of the New York graffiti hobby of the late 1970s and prematurely 1980s.

Martin was from the New York City borough of Queens, a Rockaway Beach native. Beginning in 1972, he became a long reigning All-City king of New York, known primarily for his quick, simple two letter tag, 'IZ'. IZ represented a new breed of fame-obsessed writers concerned subsequently finding the absolute balance amongst quantity and quality. He in addition to wrote "CI" (for Crazy IZ), and "Ike", (short for Mike). He rolled with few crews, the most notable inborn TMB (The Master Blasters), RTW (Rolling Thunder Writers), and TPA (The Public Animals). He wrote graffiti on every train origin in New York City. IZ was moreover prominently featured in the 1983 documentary Style Wars.
IZ THE WIZ started writing in the same way as Evil 13
FI 1 and after going through a variety of names BENZ CLICK2 SCAT he wrote his declare Mike later dropped The M and chose IKE327. He started to write IZ first past VINNY and in 1976 past the movie the Wiz cane out, the advertising posters on the subway stations stateD the Wiz is a Wow. So IZ thought if the wiz is a wow why can’t IZ be THE WIZ.
So was born the declare IZ THE WIZ.

On September 29, 1990, Martin married Katherine M. Lucev, also from the Rockaways, in St. Rose of Lima Church in Rockaway Beach, New York.

IZ was diagnosed later than kidney failure in 1996 after years of using toxic aerosol products without any type of protective mask. In beforehand 2000, in an interview for Style Wars revisited, he commented that he would give up everything his following fame for full health. In August 2003 he self-curated a solo gallery exhibition in New York City showcasing his true artwork.

IZ plus had his art play-act video games such as Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure and The Warriors. His tag is with seen in the 1979 cult movie The Warriors. His acquit yourself is plus mentioned in Lauren Wilkinson (writer)'s book "American Spy" in a scene where the protagonist is walking the length of a NYC street covered by IZ tags.

Martin died of a heart attack on June 17, 2009 in Spring Hill, Florida.