Phoenix’s Trill Hip Hop shop brings ‘The Warriors’ to life

When Trill Hip Hop Shop unveils its art show inspired by the “The Warriors” on Friday, it won’t just feature sketches of face-painted gangs and baseball bat-wielding misfits.

Trill owner Chuck Huus says more than 30 artists from Arizona and elsewhere contributed work to “W: The Art Show,” a tribute to the influential 1979 cult film. And their creativity cuts across multiple mediums.

There are hand-painted vests. Custom-decorated kicks. A model boxcar tagged with the film’s logo.
Action figures that give new meaning to the film’s oft-quoted line, “Warriors, come out and play.” Some artists even created trading cards.

Can you dig it, Phoenix?

“The pieces are just insane,” Huus says. “It’s all over the place.”

The variety of works in “W: The Art Show” and the creatives involved, which include locals like El Spawk and Robert Gentile, speaks to the movie’s enduring popularity. Nearly five decades after its release, “The Warriors” still resonates across hip-hop and street culture.

This weekend, fans get more than an eyeful of tribute art. On Friday, VIP attendees can meet cast members including Michael Beck, who played Swan, and Terry Michos, who played Vermin. Huus expects strong turnout for both the VIP event and Saturday’s public opening.

“It’s one of those movies that everybody knows,” Huus says. “And everyone digs it.”

Especially within hip-hop culture, where the film has been embraced as a formative influence.

How ‘The Warriors’ became a hip-hop blueprint

“The Warriors” turned New York City into a highly stylized gang battlefield.

Adapted from a 1965 novel by Sol Yurick, the film follows a Coney Island crew framed for murder and forced to fight its way home across a hostile NYC. The journey plays out like a comic book-style urban odyssey shot through a gritty lens.

Along the way, The Warriors clash with such over-the-top rival gangs as the face-painted Baseball Furies, the roller-skating Punks and the denim-clad Turnbull ACs.

The film’s visual language was not unlike the embryonic hip-hop culture that was emerging from the Bronx at the time.

“It feels like it’s one of hip-hop’s first movies,” Huus says. “People say it’s not true hip-hop. But look at the graffiti-covered subways. The unity of the gangs. Everyone rocking the same colors, like Rock Steady Crew or Zulu Nation in ‘Beat Street’ with their vests. That’s hip-hop.”

Over the next decade, soon-to-be-iconic rappers agreed. N.W.A referenced it in their tracks. So did 2Pac and Wu-Tang Clan. Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre echoed its gang pageantry in the video for “California Love,” swapping subway tunnels for a post-apocalyptic desert but keeping the theatrical crew energy.

The film continues to influence hip-hop almost five decades after its release. In 2024, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis used it as the basis for their hip-hop concept album “Warriors.”

For Huus, who first saw “The Warriors” while growing up in California, the film was formative.

“It’s the essential street movie,” he says. “I must’ve seen it more than 400 times.”

He remembers pausing scenes to study the subway graffiti. Rewinding to catch details in the tags covering train cars.

That obsession followed him into adulthood. It surfaced at his previous Scottsdale shop, the now-defunct Style Rock, where he displayed tributes to the film. It lives on at Trill, including a copy of the film’s soundtrack that signed by several cast members.

“It’s one of my most treasured possessions,” Huus says.

What to expect at ‘W: The Art Show’ at Trill

The lineup of artists participating in “W: The Art Show” includes heavy hitters from the street art scene in both Arizona and California.

Phoenix muralists El Spawk and Robert Gentile reimagined New York City subway maps with nods to “The Warriors.” Local aerosol artist Jeremie “Bacpac” Franko painted a vivid portrait of Luther, the film’s sneering villain.

Gila River Native American artist Jupiter contributed custom-painted sneakers and a bear figure transformed into a member of the Baseball Furies. Like Huus, Jupiter first saw the film as a kid.

“It holds a special place in my childhood,” Jupiter wrote on Instagram. “My dad gave us so many great flicks to watch, and this was probably the one that played the most on our VCR. I wanted to make something iconic that shows the best moments of the movie in the artwork I specialize in.”

California graffiti legend FEARO, founder of the Los Angeles-based crew DCV, is also contributing a piece.

“When people heard we were doing this show, they reached out about becoming involved,” Huus says.

Trill is adding its own spin. In-house designer Adam Dumper teamed up with Huus’ wife to create a series of plushies inspired by members of The Warriors crew for ticketholders to Friday’s VIP event.

Michael Beck, who played Swan. Terry Michos, who played Vermin. Thomas G. Waites, who played Fox. Rob Ryder, who portrayed a purple-faced Baseball Fury. They’ll appear at Trill for both Friday’s VIP event and Saturday’s public opening.

Autographs and photos are included with VIP admission Friday. On Saturday, signings and pics are $20 each.

DJ Jahi of Public Enemy will also be at Trill on Friday. The legendary hip-hop group is in the Valley for its Innings Fest gig in Tempe, and Jahi is stopping by the shop.

“This is almost like our version of a ‘Warriors’ convention,” Huus says. “Only we’re doing this for hip-hop culture.”

“W: The Art Show.” VIP event, 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 20, at Trill Hip Hop Shop, 4828 N. 16th St., Phoenix. Tickets are $161.89 and include actor autographs and swag. Free gallery opening, 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21.