TAKI 183 was one of the most influential graffiti writers in its history. His "tag" was short for Demetaki, a Greek alternative for his birth-name Demetrius, and the number 183 came from his address on 183rd Street in Washington Heights. He worked as a foot messenger in New York City and would write his nickname around the streets of New York City that he frequented during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
On July 21, 1971, The New York Times ran an article about him on the front page of its inside section, titled "Taki 183" Spawns Pen Pals. TAKI 183 spurred competitive tagging in NYC as his tag was mimicked by hundreds of youth across the five boroughs. The kids who got their names up the most and who developed signature tags became known in their communities. Graffiti became a way for many young kids to try to get attention and the attention TAKI 183 received spurred this on.
Although TAKI 183 was the first to be showcased in a publication it is said that Julio 204 began writing his tag in NYC first. However Julio did not write outside his own neighborhood of Inwood in Manhattan, and this is arguably the reason why he never received the media-attention TAKI did.
Everything I do Is all done for you
Lady I'm yours
And everywhere I go
You're always on my mind
You're all I adore
And I'll go
Outta my way
Just to assure
That our love endures I'm yours
Girl I'm never far away I'll be right there (right there)
To keep you nice and warm I'm rushing right home
Girl I'm never far away I'll be right there (right there)
To protect you from the storm I'm rushing right home
Girl I'll be there I'll be right there
I don't need you say
That I love you
A million times a day
Just the little things I do
All done for you
That's how I display
Love
And I'll go
Out of my way
Just to assure you baby
That our love endures I'm yours
Girl I'm never far away I'll be right there (right there)
To keep you nice and warm
(Girl I'll keep you nice and warm,
You know I'll keep you nice and warm
You know I'll keep you nice and warm)
Girl I'm never far away I'll be right there (I'll be right there)
To protect you from the storm I'm rushing right home
Girl I'll be there I'll be right there
You don't have to go and check my pager
Check my phone and search my pants to figure me out (ha)
Cause I'm an honest man
Don't need a plan, a stronger man
Cause girl there is no doubt
My love's real (as real as it comes)
Even though we are a million miles away from each other
I'm still right here, right here for you
(Here for you, here for you) I could search a million years
And still I wouldn't find anyone as beautiful as you
So rest assured our love endures I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, I'm coming home baby) I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, home baby, home baby) I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, I'm coming home baby) I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, home baby, home baby) I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, I'm coming home baby) I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, home baby, home baby) I'm never, never, never, never far Never, never, never, never far
Never far, never far I'm never far away I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, I'm coming home baby) I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, home baby, home baby) I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, I'm coming home baby) I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, home baby, home baby) I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, I'm coming home baby) I'm never far away...
(I'm rushing home baby, home baby, home baby) I'm never, never, never, never far Never, never, never, never far