The identity of elusive graffiti artist Banksy may have just been revealed — by accident. In an interview on an episode of the Distraction Pieces Podcast that aired June 20, British DJ and artist Goldie went on a potentially revealing rant on the commercialization of graffiti, saying: “Give me a bubble letter and put it on a T-shirt and write Banksy on it and we’re sorted. We can sell it now . . . No disrespect to Robert, I think he is a brilliant artist. I think he has flipped the world of art over.”Goldie’s passing reference to a “Robert” made waves across the Internet this week, with many Banksy-hunters pointing to Robert “3D” Del Naja, singer in the U.K. trip-hop group Massive Attack.Goldie and Del Naja were friends and competitors as graffiti artists in the late 1980s.Del Naja has been at the centre of Banksy rumours in the past, which he has denied. Speaking with the Daily Mail in September last year, he said “rumours of my secret identity are greatly exaggerated,” though he said he is friends with the artist.Banksy, known for iconic pieces of stencilled street art with striking political and social statements, has never been identified. There are striking similarities in the biographies of Del Naja and Banksy, including that both began their careers in Bristol, England, both are stencil graffiti artists and they have both referenced and contributed to each other’s work, the Independent reported. Goldie later tweeted that he had spoken to Del Naja, and that they shared a laugh about the apparent slip of the tongue.
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