The Lost Boyz: A Dark Side of Graffiti

For those who equate graffiti tagging with the cosy quirkiness of Banksy or the colourful artistry of wasteground murals - this book will be a real eye-opener. 'The Lost Boyz documents Justin's road to change and redemption. This is the story of almost feral youth, spraying their mark on the urban chaos of pre-millennium London. A story of what it's like to grow up as a confused and mentally unstable child of mixed race in a predominantly white area. A story of mental torture, racism and extreme violence. The Lost Boyz takes the reader through the dirty back streets and dark alleys of south London where vicious gangs of graffiti taggers fought an all-out turf war that left many victims and casualties in its wake. The Lost Boyz squandered their youth in a nihilistic rush towards oblivion. And some did not survive the journey. Justin Rollins was one of the lucky ones...He spent years in prison before managing to wrest back some control over his life. Now in his mid 20s Justin is a changed man, hardly recognisable (both physically and mentally) to the youth I first met. He now has a young daughter of his own and is reconciled with the family he once felt so distant from. He no longer drinks or takes drugs, and nor does he see himself as separate from the rest of society. In writing this book, which was a long and painful journey for him, Justin hopes to lay his ghosts of the past to rest. And if it serves as a warning to even one kid who may be starting out on the same road, then it is a job well done': Noel 'Razor' Smith, crime writer (from the Foreword) .

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Dedication Foreword In memory of Introduction: A Happy New 2001! 1. Born and Bred 2. Going Off the Rails 3. The Railway Children 4. Runaways and Robberies 5. Mind Games 6. Porridge and On the Buses 7. The House of Horrors 8. Warriorz Come Out to Play 9. When Morden Became a War Zone 10. One Too Many Psychopaths 11. Rich Pickings in the Smoky City 12. Come Home Joe 13. Once We Were Warriorz 14. The Train to Hell 15. Persistent Young Offenders 16. Crazy Buster and the Bully Boys 17. Loony Bin Number One ... 18. Self-harmer Central Epilogue Index

About the Author :
Justin Rollins grew-up on the streets of south-London. He is now a professional graffiti artist and works to steer young people away from a life of crime. Noel 'Razor' Smith is the best-selling author of A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun and works for the prison newspaper Inside Time.

Review :
'This is simply 100% raw talent being unleashed right from the start... This book is a must-read for the prison population, academics and politicians': Inside Time. 'Reading this book is a little like living a nightmare, but you can always close the book, Justin Rollins actually lived this life; what a nightmarish time': Graphotism. 'This book confirms that the effects of childhood trauma can take their toll on some individuals, depending on how they're dealt with - and it also confirms that the age-old effect of peer pressure can really make young people do some crazy stuff... but there are some real dark moments in there so be prepared': Keep the Faith. 'In writing this book, which was a long and painful journey for him, Justin hopes to lay his ghosts of the past to rest. And if it serves as a warning to even one kid who may be starting out on the same road, then it is a job well done': Noel 'Razor' Smith, crime writer (from the Foreword).