THE RISE OF KUNLE MARTINS AND NYC’S GRAFFITI LEGENDS

Kunle F. Martins, famously known by his graffiti alias EARSNOT, stands as a pivotal figure in New York City’s vibrant street culture. Raised amidst the gritty urban life depicted in Larry Clark’s 1995 film Kids, Martins grew up in downtown Manhattan where he skated, shoplifted, and tagged walls, building a name for himself within the city’s underground scene.

 His teenage years were defined by chaos, danger, and graffiti, and rather than shying away from this lifestyle, Martins thrived in it. “It was everything I wanted it to be,” he once told GQ, reminiscing on his youth.

In the mid-90s, Martins founded the IRAK crew, a collective of graffiti artists that left an indelible mark on New York’s art and street culture. IRAK earned its legendary status through relentless bombing, tagging walls and structures across the city, and creating artwork that captured the visceral energy of downtown New York’s rebellious spirit. 

Alongside fellow artists like Ryan McGinley, Dan Colen, and the late Dash Snow, Martins helped drive a cultural revolution that extended far beyond the city’s graffiti scene, shaping global art movements with their raw, rebellious style.

While IRAK disbanded after its heyday, its impact on graffiti culture is undeniable. The crew’s members went on to exhibit their works in renowned galleries worldwide, demonstrating how street art could transcend its illegal roots to become a celebrated art form. 

Martins himself has shifted his focus from the streets to portraiture, embracing his birth name as he moves into a new chapter of his artistic journey.

 Despite this evolution, he continues to honor the legacy of IRAK, a crew that shaped not only his life but the wider world of graffiti and contemporary art.