Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure

Walk down nearly any bustling urban metropolis or suburban town and you are bound to stumble upon graffiti in some form.

An intricate mural of a hometown hero, tags shouting out a collective, or perhaps a reclusive artist. Graffiti constantly walks a fine line between considered art or vandalism. 

 
 

In 1993, Marc Ecko, a young painter and graffiti artist, began to solidify his name with Ecko Unltd. Originally developed as a t-shirt brand, Ecko was a contributing factor in slowly familiarizing and changing the public’s idea on how graffiti could be perceived and consumed. Steadily gaining traction among hip-hop artists and skaters before advancing into the mainstream in a new millennium. Besides a streetwear brand, sponsorships and numerous events, Ecko also pushed his brand and image into the virtual realm. 

 
 

“Marc Ecko’s Getting’ Up: Contents under Pressure” was a graffiti themed video game that was released in 2006. Featuring a musical soundtrack by hip-hop artist RJD2, the game centers on an amateur graffiti artist named Trane who uses tagging as a way of protesting against the corrupt, dystopian city of New Radius, a future society where freedom of expression is under threat by a tyrannical government. 

 
 

With a high-profile ensemble cast of voices celebrities and hip hop artists; Talib Kweli, Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, RZA, Charlie Murphy, and graffiti art legends: Shepard Fairey, COPE 2, Futura, and many more. Teaching the player several styles of tagging to make a name for themselves.  

 
 

However, the controversial nature of graffiti is something that intrigues and draws viewers in. The game was notably refused classification and banned in Australia citing that the game promotes and ‘provides’ instruction for illegal graffiti acts.