The Father of Hip Hop

• Kool DJ Herc• Parties in his apt building

1520 Sedgwick Ave, Bronx• “Birthplace” of Hip Hop

The First B-Boys• Kool Herc parties – “The Break” of a record• Break – the drum beat• “Break” – going off, losing your mind• People would dance to the break• Break boys B-Boys

The First B-Boys

• Spy, JoJo, Beaver, The Legendary Twins (many more)

• Undocumented in early years – word of mouth• Kool Herc bboys, Zulu Kingz

Foundation

• Toprock - Indian step, crossover, truck driver - Entrance into circle – announcement

• Footwork - Shuffles, swipes, sweeps, 6-step - Flow – high energy• Freezes - Baby, chair, poses, bboy stance

- Stop action• Air moves - Backspins, headspins, windmills

- Flashy, crowd pleasers

Rock Steady Crew• Formed in 1977 – Bronx – JoJo & Jimmy D• Crazy Legs – Manhattan• Other members: Ken Swift, Frosty Freeze (RIP),

Buck 4 (RIP), Kuriaki (RIP), Mr Freeze (more)• Worldwide recognition – Movies, shows, etc

New York City Breakers• Originally “Floormasters” - Bronx• Michael Holman – Manager• Dynamic moves – More spins, power moves• 1984 Olympics• Mr Wave – Electric Boogie

Other NYC Crews

• Float Committee – Street Performers• Dynamic Rockers – RSC rival – 1981 Lincoln Center• Floorlords – Boston• Many many more

Commercial Boom

• “Breakdancing” - confusion• Wild Style• Beat Street• Flashdance• Style Wars (Graffiti)• Breakin 1 & 2 (West Coast)• 1983-1987 Exploitation Era

West Coast Invasion

• Breakin – Mix styles• Radiotron• LA City Breakers• Air Force Crew – Lil Cesar• Power move evolution• West Coast Rock Steady (90s)

Late 80s

• Bboying “died” - underground • New fads – New Jack Swing, BMX, etc• Life – new careers, crime, deaths, jail

Bboying in the 90s - Europe

• Storm & Swift Rock (Battle Squad)• Maurizio, Evo, Tuff Tim Twist• Battle of the Year (1990) – Annual event• Breaking kept alive• Storm & Swift in NYC - Kwikstep

Rock Steady Crew Reunion

• Wild Style Reunion 1991• Ghettoriginals & Jam on the Groove – tour• Annual event in NYC – attracted worldwide

visitors• RSC chapters – Westcoast, Japan, UK, etc• 7 Gems

1995-1999 - Resurgence

• Breaking in music videos - Run DMC – It’s Like That

• Internet – Forums, instructions, clips (rare)• VHS tapes – events, crews - trading

Bboy Summit

• Eternal 2 Creations – Asia One & Easy Roc• California – worldwide appeal• Mecca in North America for bboy events• Popping & Locking resurgence

Freestyle Session

• Cros 1• Organized contests• Gained worldwide attention – grew each year

Memorable Crews

• Style Elements (California)• Soul Control/Rock Force (California)• Skill Methodz (NYC/Florida)• Boogie Brats (Toronto)• Bag of Trix (Toronto)

Canadian Bboys

• Canadian Floor Masters – Buddha (Ottawa)• Bag of Trix, Boogie Brats, Supernaturalz, Ground

Illusionz, Intrikat, FAM, Albino Zebrahs, Stylordz (Toronto)

• Flowrock, Tactical, Illmask, Sweet Technique, Fresh Format, Overev, 701, Area 51 (Montreal)

• Original Rudes (Calgary)• Filthee Feet, Contents Under Pressure, NON (Vancouver)• Many more!

Bboying Today

• Evolution over 40 years• Main foundations still present• Circles, battles, personal expression, community

Challenges: - Disconnection from other elements - Competition - $ - killing

originality - Easy access to resources

– used well?

International Events• Red Bull BC One• The IBE (Netherlands)• Battle of the Year (Germany/France)• UK Champs (London)• R16 (Korea) – government supported!• 100s of events annually worldwide!

Breaking in the Media

• Internet: Bboyworld.com – Connected globally• Facebook, Youtube – instantaneous• Movies: Step Up, You Got Served • TV: AMBDC, SYTYCD• Cycles! History repeats itself!• Bboys better at business, able to make a

career (The LXD)

The Life of a Bboy

• Documentaries• Planet Bboy, Inside The Circle, The Freshest

Kids• Local: practices, friends, training• International: Hard work! Not just dancing

(business, politics, strategies, ethics)

In the end: It’s just you and the music!!!!!!

Bboy/Bgirl Fashion

• “It isn’t what we wear, it’s how we rock it!” -

Popmaster Fabel• Shoes, fat laces, denim jackets, mocknecks,

kangol hats, cazals, • Precision, cleanliness, “fresh out the box”• Urban trendsetters

Hip Hop in the Theatre

• Lockers/Electric Boogaloos• 90s - Ghettoriginals/RSC – Jam on the Groove• Battle of the Year• R16• Cirque Du Soliel / Cirque Eloize