History Of HipHop Part III

Timeline Continue

1974: After seeing DJ Kool Herc perform at block parties, Grandmaster Caz, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa start playing at parties all over the Bronx neighborhoods. Around this time, DJ/MC/Crowd Pleaser Lovebug Starski starts referring to this culture as "hip-hop."

1975:

• Herc is hired as a DJ at the Hevalo Club.
• He later gets Coke La Rock to utter crowd-pleasing rhymes at parties (e.g."DJ Riz is in the house and he'll turn it out without a doubt"). Coke La Rock and Clark Kent form the first emcee team known as Kool Herc & The Herculoids.
• DJ Grand Wizard Theodore accidentally invents 'the scratch.' While trying to hold a spinning record in place in order to listen to his mom, who was yelling at him, Grand Wizard accidentally caused the record to produce the “shigi-shigi” sound that is now known as the scratch. Scratch is the crux of modern deejaying.

1976: DJ Afrika Bambaataa performs at the Bronx River Center. Bambaataa’s first battle against Disco King Mario sparks off the DJ battling that is now embedded in the culture.

1977:

• The Rock Steady Crew (the most respected b-boy crew in history) is formed by the original four members: JoJo, Jimmy Dee, Easy Mike, and P-Body.
• DJ Kool Herc is nearly stabbed to death at one of his parties. Although the assault placed a permanent dent on Herc's career, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Disco Wiz (the first Latino DJ), and Disco King Mario kept performing around town.

1978:

• Kurtis Blow, who was being managed by Russell Simmons, decides to hire Simmons’ brother, Run, as his DJ.
• Run was so-called because he could cut so fast between two turntables.
• Kurtis would later become the first rapper to be signed to a major record deal.
• Music industry coins the term "rap music," and shifts its focus toward emcees.
• Grandmaster Caz (aka Cassanova Fly) and Bambaataa engage in a battle at the Police Athletic League 

Welcome to Perspectives on Inquiry, Section R10

From the media we often hear about hip-hop culture and music in relation to violence, drugs, and gangs; in other literature, however, we read about values such as community, love, equality, loyalty, justice, and respect.
In this section of Perspectives on Inquiry we explore those conflicting representations by discussing readings, films, and music — and by asking a series of related questions that draw on a range of disciplines and forms of inquiry:

• What social and economic forces have given rise to hip-hop culture?
• How are hip-hop visuals, lyrics, and fashion absorbed into mainstream, suburban, and middle-class commerce and culture?
• Most representations of gangs and hip-hop culture focus on men, but what roles do women play?
• What did Tupac Shakur mean by “Thugs are convicts in God’s prison”? Or “Wars come and go, but my soldiers stay eternal”?
• What are the global and international dimensions of hip-hop?
• What are the connections between hip-hop, environmentalism, and sustainability initiatives?

As part of our study of hip-hop, we compare the assumptions, methodologies, and goals of contrasting intellectual disciplines that you will encounter in college and in life. This is a reading- and writing-intensive course, so you should plan to stay abreast of the course calendar and your regular weekly assignments.
You will write and present, both individually and in groups, approximately 40 pages during the course, and we read — closely and carefully — articles and book chapters every week. I’ll pick some and you’ll pick some.
It’s no secret around here that students who take early and regular advantage of Michigan Tech’s Writing Center not only do better in their classes, but also benefit from the interactions with the coaches and staff in the Center.

Hiphop, according to the artist KRS-ONE:

In its true essence, Hiphop cannot be (and should not be) interpreted or described fully in words. It is a feeling. An awareness.
1 Intellectually, it is an alternative behavior that enables one to transform subjects and objects in an attempt to describe and/or change the character and desires of ones being.
2 Hiphop is a unique inner-city awareness that enhances ones ability to self-create. It is a “sight.”
3 In the past Hiphop was spelled “hip-hop.” True Hiphoppas are advised to spell Hiphop with a capital “H,” as it is the name of our collective consciousness and our kulture.
4 Hiphop, spelled “hip-hop,” means (hip) trendy, (hop) jump or dance. We are not just a “trendy dance” however, those that spell Hiphop like this (hip-hop) usually approaches Hiphop like a trendy dance or music.
5 In addition, Hiphop’s kultural unity is established by spelling Hiphop as one word, “Hiphop,” unless the term “Hiphop” is being displayed as art or in public advertisement.
6 Those that spell Hiphop, “hip-hop” are undermining Hiphop’s kultural unity and demeaning the importance of what Hiphop really is.
7 Know this. Hiphop spelled “Hiphop,” is not only the code for writers that participate in Hiphop’s preservation, generally it is a matter of respect!
KRS-ONE. 2000. “The First Overstanding ‘The Refinitions’.” Davey D’s [electronic] FNV Newsletter.

Tupac’s Tattoo

There are apocryphal stories around that the tattoo’s letters — Thug Life — stand for
The Hate U Give Little Infants F***s Everybody.”

How would you research such a thing?

LANGUAGE

Street language is transmitted to the hip hop culture through rap music. One can hear a Chinese or Filipino hip hopper using the same slang as the African American hip hopper. Irrespective of their ethnicity hip hoppers use adjectives such as dope, da bomb, legit, hittin, all that, to describe something that is excellent. The word “nigga” is one of the must popular words of hip hoppers. Contrary to the traditional derogatory meaning of the word, hip hoppers use the word as a term of endearment. One can hear a white, Asian, or Latino hip hopper saying, “TJ is my nigga,” which means “TJ is my good friend.” The vernacular of this culture changes constantly. What might be a cool statement today, might be “played out” (outdated) in a year.
Street language has become a pidgin language of sorts. Even if hip hoppers have different first languages, they still can understand the slang of hip hop. Hence, this culture is bounded linguistically. I can personally recall my trip to Japan in 1995 in which my friend saw a Japanese teenager with a Snoop Dogg cap on--the teenager could barely speak English but he was fluent in street slang.

CLOTHING

Why has the hip hop culture transcended ethnic boundaries? The urban street prep seems like an oxymoronic term. However, urban hip hoppers adorn themselves with the most unlikely preppy labels. Clothing styles that include such bourgeois labels as Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, and Ralph Lauren, seemingly contradict the image of the fearless street soldier.¹²
According to Michiko Kakutani, young urban blacks have coopted the dress of upper crust whites as a manisfestation of their lack of power in American society. While actual material success maybe unattainable, the rationale for adorning expensive Polo shirts, blue jeans and sneakers is to present an image of success. Suburban white kids scoff at the material success of their parents and their parents' friends. One way to express this disdain, is by identifying with the renegade image of the street. Many white kids are "cultural tourists who romanticize the very ghetto life that so many black kids want to escape. Instead of the terrible mortality rate for young black males, they see the glamour of violence. Instead of the frustration of people denied jobs and hope and respect, they see the verbal defiance of that frustration."¹³
Kakutani suggests that this vicarious outlet of symbolic expression is why white suburban males have become the largest audience of gangsta rap. In the 1950s popular culture was dominated by the “Happy Days” scene. Black leather jackets and greased hair represented the zeitgeist. In the 1960s, the hippie and bohemian look had the greatest influence on pop culture followed by the polyester and bell bottoms of the 70s and the preppy influence of the 1980s. The 1990's have been dominated by hip hop fashion.¹⁴ This fashion consists of baggy pants worn very loosely, baseball caps worn backwards (NBA, NFL, or successful university athletic teams), oversized rugby or polo shirts, and expensive tennis shoes. Hip hop fashion, unlike the fashion of other generations, has uniquely cut across almost every ethnic boundary. Indeed, a significant number African American, Whites, Latinos, and Asians youth between the ages of 12 and 22 dress the same irrespective of their ethnicity.¹⁵

CROSSOVER APPEAL

According to Russell Simmons, hip hop's first millionaire entrepreneur who is chairman and CEO of Rush Communications, states that one reason rap is so popular is because of the resistance it has met. The more resistance there is and the more controversy there is the more people are going to want to buy it. The heated debates that took place in the late 1980's and early 1990's about censoring the lyrics of rap music only spawned sales. The infamous group “2 Live Crew” was the beneficiary of their highly publicized court case regarding the First Amendment.¹⁶ Individuals such as Tipper Gore and C. Delores Tucker have led the charge to censor the lyrics of rap music.¹⁷ According to Simmons, kids like the fact that status quo does not condone the music and tries to control it. It becomes a liberating experience for kids to rebel against the status quo.¹⁸ Some parents are leery of rap music and its rebellious message. According to Nelson George, hip hop's most prolific and perhaps best chronicler, “New music of any generation is always scary to the parents.”¹⁹
Before rap music, there was Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Bob Marley, and more recently, punk rock, that galvanized the rebellious spirit of youth across the U.S. Now what seemed to be a passing trend, chronologically fitting between heavy metal and alternative rock, has become the chosen platform of rebellion for youth.²⁰
A good example of how rap music and hip hop has cut across ethnic boundaries can be found in the Asian community. In Los Angeles, there is a blossoming Asian American rap scene, consisting of groups like Bubula Tribe, Undercover, Asiatic Apostles, Brotherhood from Another Hood, the Seoul Brothers, Lani Luv, and the Boo-Yaa Tribe. These groups represents various styles. Messages range from social issues such as hate crimes against Asians to relationships between blacks and Koreans in nearly every major city.²¹ White rappers such as The Beastie Boys, 3rd Bass, and Vanilla Ice have also had success in the industry. Cypress Hill, Fat Joe, and Big Punisher, are Latino artists who have impacted the hip hop culture.²² The overall message of this music is the same. It is cool, didactic, and unabashedly rebellious. According to Russell Simmons,
"Hip hop has transcended beyond just music. It has become a lifestyle and/or a culture for people worldwide. Hip hop is an attitude and hip hop is a language in which a kid from Detroit can relate to a kid in Hong Kong. Seventy-five percent of our audience is nonblack kids. Now you have kids in Beverly Hills who are sensitive to situations in Compton.^"23
Simmons goes on to state that although racism still exists in our society, it was not strong enough to thwart the collective enjoyment of rap by the youth of America and around the world.

SIT-COMS, MOVIES, MAGAZINES

The hip hop culture has prompted various industries to pay attention to their appetite. Sit-coms such as the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Martin, Malcolm, Steve Harvey, and the Jamie Foxx Show all capitalize on this population. In the past, black humor appealed to few outside of this population; now it is widespread. Movies such as Boyz N the Hood, New Jack City, Jason's Lyric, Juice, and Menace II Society are rugged movies that depict the reality of the urban streets. These movies have been highly successful in cutting across ethnic boundaries. Movies such as Friday, Booty Call, I've Got the Hook Up and Wu have been comedies that have depicted the humor that is still strangely ever present on the treacherous urban streets. These comedies have also been widely popular among a diverse population.²⁴
Magazines such as Vibe, Blaze, The Source, Rap Pages and Stress were created to appeal to this population. Because of its multiethnic popularity, Vibe Magazine's circulation has risen to 606,237, a 17.1% increase from 1997 to 1998. Advertisements that appear in these magazines run the gamut from small unknown companies to powerful companies that are household names.²⁵
Vibe's editor-in-chief, Danyel Smith states, “Although Vibe may seem like a black magazine, its perspective and appeal are much broader than its covers would indicate. Vibe is a multicultural music magazine based in the African American culture and sensibility.”²⁶ Magazines such as Vibe, along with the aforementioned sit coms and movies, have done a remarkable job of “keeping it real”--speaking the language and to the imagination of this culture.²⁷

POSITIVE MESSAGES

One of the many positive side effects of the hip hop culture is that it encourages corporations to recruit a diverse cadre of individuals. Hence, recruiting minorities who have the pulse of this culture becomes an imperative. The African American market alone has $325 billion in buying power. A myriad of organizations that appeal to the hip hop culture have diversified for competitive advantage. It makes good business sense. For example, half of Universal Muscic Group's employees are minority. This organization is number one in market share in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Australia. The record label's overall market share is 23 percent globally and 25 percent in the U.S. ²⁸

92.3 The Beat is the most popular radio station in Los Angeles. It appeals to a broad multiethnic hip hop population in the greater Los Angeles area. They have taken advantaged of their broad appeal by launching initiatives to bridge ethnic cleavages.
They host several community panel discussion on issues such as: Asian-bashing, hate crimes, and African American and Asian Relations. In the Fall of 1997, this radio station sponsored a “No Color Lines” essay contest for Los Angeles high school students. The participants were to write in 92 words or less what the words “no color lines” meant to them. I was one of the judges of this contest. The following are two essays written for this contest:
Contestant #19
“What No Color Lines Means to Me”
To undertand “no color lines,” one must see what a blind man sees--nothing; he hears and feels, and thus, is able to really see each person's heart. As a Chinese-American Student, I have been spit on and told to “go home.” I have been excluded because I am “yellow.” But we can take our first step toward eliminating such acts of racism by looking through the eyes of a blind person. This way, we can surmount the color barrier that prevents us from discovering the kindness that is within us all.
Contestant #21
“What No Color Lines Means to Me”
Lost, in LA, I feared the homeless black man following me. Ashamed, I discovered it was the trash can he pursued in hope of food, not me. I'm no racist. I'm a girl who learned the meaning of “no color lines” the hard way. It is not pointing fingers at those who display hate and ignorance aloud. It is looking in the mirror and finding that spot hidden which holds all the ugliness and prejudices we've developed, and doing everything in our will to overcome them--being blind to further our vision.
Out of the 700 participants in this contest, I was struck by the common concerns and the common language of this diverse group. While I was reading these essays, I realized the potential of this population to mend ethnic relations. There were several positive aspects about this essay contest, but one was that it encouraged a diverse population of high school students to think about ethnic relations and what their roles were in enhancing these relations.

CONCLUSION

If messages of love, peace, anti-racism, and human uplift are resonated among the hip hop population, it can have an enormous impact on ethnic relations in our society. In the 1950s and 1960s the “Beat Culture” spoke of love yet challenged the status quo in ways that did not compromise their rebellious spirit. In the same vein, it is possible for the hip hop culture to keep its rebellious street flavor and speak to issues such as love and respect for all. It is possible for rap artists such as Master P, Wyclef Jean, and Busta Rhymes to empower America and the world's youth like Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Bob Marley did. Artists, such as the late rapper Tupac Shakur, have rapped about such compassionate issues without losing the rugged flavor of the streets. In his song, “I Wonder If Heaven's Got A Ghetto,” Shakur sings,
"I see no changes, all I see is racist faces misplaced hate makes disgrace the racist...I wonder what it takes to make this one better place...take the evil out the people (then) they'll be acting right cause both black and white are smokin crack tonight and the only time we deal is when we kill each other, it takes skill to be real, time to heal each other...."
Millions of hip hoppers all over the world have heard these lyrics. If more artists concentrated on positive messages such as this, the impact could be revolutionary.
Unlike any other subculture in American history, the hip hop culture has transcended ethnic boundaries. Because of its eclectic audience, it has the greatest opportunity to build ethnic bridges and mend ethnic relations. Hip hop has taken hold and permeated significant regions of the world. The clothing, music, mannerisms, and lexicon, are unmistakably the same in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Zurich, Milan, and Tokyo. Indeed, this culture has the potential to make it cool not to commit hate crimes, not to discriminate or be homophobic or mysogynistic, and not to be racist.




http://www.mrwiggles.biz/hip_hop_history.htm

1925 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP/FUNK STYLES DANCE

In the mid 20's Earl Tucker ("Snake Hips") was a performer at the Cotton Club during the days of Duke Ellington. His style of dance is defintly related that of waving that you see young Hip Hop dancers still doing today. and he also had similar floats and back slides that he used in his act as well. read more about him

1940 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

IN JAMAICA THE 1940'S THOMAS WONG BETTER KNOWN AS "TOM THE GREAT" SEBASTIAN BEGAN USING A BOOMING SOUND  SYSTEM AND AMERICAN RECORDS TO STEEL CROWDS FROM LOCAL BANDS.

1950 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

COMPETITIONS BETWEEN TO MAJOR DJ'S IN JAMAICA LEADS TO THE "SOUND CLASH" COXSONE DODD'S "DOWN BEAT" -VS- DUKE REID'S "THE TROJAN" THESE DJ'S BATTLE IT OUT WITH EXCLUSIVES AND SPECIALS

1956 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

CLIVE CAMPBELL OTHER WISE KNOWN AS "DJ KOOL HERC" WAS BORN IN KINGSTON JAMAICA, AND WOULD EVENTUALLY BE KNOWN AS THE FATHER OF HIP HOP CULTURE

WRITING (GRAFF)

"VAUGHN BODE" CREATES THE "CHEECH WIZARD CHARACTER "THAT BECAME FAMOUS WITH WRITERS ALL OVER THE WORLD

1959 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

THIS IS A SECTION OF A PARAGRAPH TAKEN FROM: "The evolution of rap music in the United States by Henry A. Rhodes", WITH REFERENCES TO: Steven Haver in his book, "Hip Hop; the Illustrated History of Break Dancing, Rap Music and Graffiti,"      In 1959 Parks Commissioner Robert Moses began building an expressway through the heart of the Bronx. As a result, the middle class Italian, German, Irish, and Jewish neighborhoods disappeared overnight. In addition, businesses and factories relocated and left this borough. These exiting middle classes and businesses were replaced by poor black and Hispanic families. Accompanying these poor people were crime, drug addiction, and unemployment. http://www.hiphopcity.com/history/evolutionofrap.htm

1962 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

"JAMES BROWN" RECORDS THE "LIVE AT THE APOLLO (LP)" THAT FEATURES A DRUMMER NAMED  "CLAYTON FILLYAU". CLAYTON'S DRUM SOUND ON THIS RECORD, INFLUENCES THE NEW DRUM SOUND KNOWN TODAY BY HIP HOPERS AS THE "BREAK BEAT"

1965 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay in 1942 in Louisville, Ky., won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics and then turned professional. In one of the most famous boxing matches of the century, Clay in 1965 stunned the world by beating apparently invincible, world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston in six rounds. Before the match, a supremely confident Clay, spun out one of his to be famous rhymes: “Sonny Liston is great, but he'll fall in eight.” After defeating Liston, Clay announced his conversion to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. Clay would also go on to say the famous "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" rhymes, that also helped influence what is now called RAP. Clay comes out to meet Liston And Liston starts to retreat If Liston goes back any further He'll end up in a ringside seat. Clay swings with a left, Clay swings with a right, Look at young Cassius Carry the fight. Liston keeps backing But there's not enough room It's a matter of time. There, Clay lowers the boom. Now Clay swings with a right, What a beautiful swing, And the punch raises the bear, Clear out of the ring. Liston is still rising And the ref wears a frown, For he can't start counting, Till Sonny comes down. Now Liston disappears from view. The crowd is getting frantic, But our radar stations have picked him up He's somewhere over the Atlantic. Who would have thought When they came to the fight That they'd witness the launching Of a human satellite? Yes, the crowd did not dream When they laid down their money That they would see A total eclipse of the Sonny! I am the greatest! thanx Jackson Carl

WRITING/GRAFF

AROUND THIS TIME BROTHERS LIKE CORNBREAD OUT OF PHILADELPHIA WERE STARTING THE WRITING/ GRAFF MOVEMENT

1967 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

KOOL HERC MIGRATES TO THE BRONX FROM JAMAICA AT AGE 12 HE WOULD EVENTUALLY ATTEND ALFRED E SMITH HIGH SCHOOL, AND BECAUSE OF HIS SIZE AND THE FACT THAT HE WORKED OUT ALLOT. KIDS WOULD REFER TO HIM AS HERCULES, AND EVENTUALLY HE WOULD BECOME A WRITER AND CHANGE HIS NAME TO KOOL HERC

HIP HOP /FUNK DANCE

OAKLAND NATIVE "IRON MAN" (ALBERT MILTON) PERFORMS ON LOCAL "JAY PAYTON" TVSHOW. HIS STYLE WAS CONSIDERED A COMBINATION OF THE JAMES BROWN SKATE WITH ELEMENTS OF PANTOMIME, WHICH WOULD LATER BE THE FOREGROUNDS TO MANY OF THE FUNK STYLE DANCES. AUDIONAUGHTS.COM

1968 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

AROUND THIS TIME A GANG BY THE NAME OF THE SAVAGE SEVEN WOULD HIT THE STREETS OF THE EAST BRONX AND EVENTUALLY BECOME THE BLACK SPADES, THEN THE ORGANIZATION , AND ULTIMATELY THE ZULU NATION

HIP HOP MUSIC

OCT. 29'th "JAMES BROWN" RECORDS A BBOY ANTHEM "GIVE IT UP OR TURN IT LOOSE" WITH "NATE JONES" ON THE DRUMS (KING RECORDS)

HIP HOP/ FUNK DANCE

AROUND THIS TIME A BROTHER BY THE NAME OF "RUBBER BAND" A HICK FROM PUERTO RICO WHOS FAMILY SETTLED IN BROOKLYN, WHILE HE SETTLED IN THE BRONX. TOOK A POPULAR NEW YORK CITY GANG DANCE AND BROUGHT IT TO THE NYC DISCOS AND THUS WAS BORN THE DANCE WE KNOW TODAY AS "ROCKIN", OR "THE ROCK". THIS DANCE BECAME A POPULAR CITY WIDE DANCE. WHERE FIERCE DANCE COMPETITIONS TOOK PLACE IN BRONX, MANHATTAN AND BROOKLYN.

1969 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

OCT. 1st "JAMES BROWN" RECORDS THE FAMOUS SONG "SEX MACHINE" WITH "JOHN STARKS" ON THE DRUMS (KING RECORDS)

NOV. 20'th "JAMES BROWN" RECORDS THE CLASSIC "FUNKY DRUMMER" WITH THE FAMOUS "CLYDE STUBBLEFIELD" ON THE DRUMS (KING RECORDS)

1970 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

THE LAST POETS PUT OUT THERE FIRST SELF TITLED ALBUM ON DOUGLAS RECORDS. THEY EVENTUALLY MAKE AN IMPACT ON HIP HOP CULTURE

DEEJAY U-ROY HOTS JAMAICAN POP CHARTS WITH 3 SONGS IN THE TOP TEN, FEATURING A STYLE KNOWN AS "TOASTING" ONE OF THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT WOULD SOON BE CALLED MCing (RAP)

WRITING (GRAFF)

THE EBONY DUKES WAS FORMED in the Fort Apache bronx area. President STAFF 161, vice president  SUPERSLICK 156 included members AJ 161, TOPAZ, DYNOMITE 161, KING KOOL 156, SMILEY, as well as famed pioneers PHASE II, and KOOL HERC.

HIP HOP/ FUNK DANCE

DON CAMPBELLOCK  a Trade Technical College student accidentally stumbles across creating a dance called "CAMPBELLOCKING" which will eventually be featured on SOUL TRAIN and take the world by storm.

AROUND THIS TIME IN OAKLAND CAL. GROUPS LIKE "THE BLACK MESSENGERS" AND "THE BLACK RESURGENCE" (GROUPS THAT PERFORMED FOR THE BLACK PANTHERS AND RALLIES DEALING WITH THE BLACK POWER MOVEMENT) WERE DEVELOPING AND INNOVATING A STYLE OF DANCE BASED ON R.O.T.C . DRILLS TO MUSIC, THEY WOULD ALSO CREATE A STYLE CALLED CATCH ON THAT WOULD FURTHER ADVANCE THERE STYLE OF ROUTINES. THESE ARE THE MORE GROUND WORKS TO STICKIN, STEPIN, AND MANY OTHER FORMS OF FUNK DANCE.

1971 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

"ARETHA FRANKLIN" RECORDS THE FAMOUS BBOY SONG "ROCK STEADY" WITH "BERNARD PURDIE" ON DRUMS

WRITING/GRAFF

AROUND THIS TIME A YOUNG GREEK KID GOT INSPIRED BY SEEING "JULIO 205" TAG, THE HE DECIDED TO PUT HIS NICK NAME NEXT TO A 183 STREET SIGN AND THUS WAS BORN THE FAMOUS "TAKI 183"

"TAKI 183" DOES AN INTERVIEW FOR THE NY TIMES WHICH SETS OFF A WRITING SPREE

1972 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

MAY 9'th "JAMES BROWN" RECORDS A SONG THAT WAS A LINK TO BBOYIN " GET ON THE GOOD FOOT" WITH DRUMMER " JOHN STARKS"

JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH RELEASE A BBOY ANTHEM "IT'S JUST BEGUN" (RCA)

RUFUS THOMAS RELEASES "DO THE FUNKY PENGUIN" (STAX)

WRITING (GRAFF)

EVA62,HARRY89, JUNIOR161, CAY161, AND CC10 PAINTED WHAT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST PAINTINGS TO DATE ON A BROADWAY LINE SUBWAY STATION.

THE SOUL ARTISTS CAME TO GHETTO FAME Tracy 158, Futura 2000 and Ali

"SUPERKOOL223" DID WHAT IS NOTED AS THE FIRST "MASTER PIECE" HE WOULD FURTHER HIS PIONEERING ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST TOP TO BOTTOM PIECE (" HONDO" ADDED TO THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT AS WELL), SUPER KOOL ALSO PUT THE FIRST OVEN CLEANER CAP ON A SPRY CAN TO MAKE WIDER SPRAYING. THUS WAS BORN THE FAT CAP

HUGO MARTINEZ STARTS UNITED GRAFFITI ARTISTS

TRACY 168 THE INVENTOR OF THE WORD "WILD STYLE" STARTS A MAJOR WRITING CREW CALLED "WANTED"

HIP HOP/ FUNK DANCE

SOUL TRAIN TAKES OFF ON TV

1973 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP / HIP HOP MUSIC

"DJ KOOLHERC'S" FIRST JAM 1520 SEDGWICK AVE. ,BRONX, NYC  IT WOULD BE FOR HIS SISTERS BIRTHDAY PARTY HIS STYLE OF MUSIC WAS MADE TO GET THE CROWD JUMPIN, HE DID THAT BY BUYING TO COPIES OF EACH RECORD AND ELONGATING THE BREAK PART (THE FUNKY DRUM SOLO SECTION) OF THE RECORD BY MIXING IN BOTH RECORDS BEFORE THE BREAK WOULD END. THUS WAS BORN WHAT WE CALL TODAY "BREAK BEATS'

THE REGGAE MOVIE "THE HARDER THEY COME" STARING JIMMY CLIFF FEATURES THE TALENTED "SCOTTY" TOASTING ON THE SOUNDTRACK.

"THE ZULU NATION"  WAS FOUNDED  BY A YOUNG STUDENT OF STEVENSON HIGH SCHOOL, IN THE BRONX NAMED "AFRIKA BAMBAATA" ORIGINAL A BBOY CREW CALLED THE "ZULU KINGS"

HERCS FIRST DJ JOB AT A CLUB CALLED THE TWILIGHT ZONE

BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS RELEASE THERE BREAKTHROUGH LP "CATCH FIRE"

MICHAEL VINER'S THE INCREDIBLE BONGO BAND RELEASE A BBOY ANTHEM  WITH THE HIP HOP HIT RECORD "APACHE" (PRIDE RECORDS) ON THE "BONGO ROCK" ALBUM THIS ONE TIME MOWTOWN SESSION GROUPS WHICH WAS RUMORED TO HAVE BEEN THE BAND BEHIND THE TEMPTATION'S "CLOUD NINE" WOULD MAKE A COVER OF THE SHADOW'S "APACHE" AND BLOW IT UP TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST (IF NOT THE GREATEST) BBOY ANTHEM OF ALL TIME

THE RECORD "HUSTLERS CONVENTION" WAS RECORDED BY LIGHTNING ROD OF THE LAST POETS

WRITING (GRAFF)

NEW YORK MAGAZINE DOES AN ARTICLE ON WRITING THAT FEATURED A DRAWING DONE IN BUFFALO MARKERS BY "SNAKE1" AND AN "EL MARKO" TAG OUTLINED WITH A BALL POINT PEN BY "STAY HIGH" WHICH HELPED TO SPARK THE USE OF BLACK BOOKS. AND GIVES AN AWARD TO TAKI FOR BEST PIECE.

HIP HOP/ FUNK DANCE

AROUND THIS TIME YOUNG DANCERS WOULD HIT THE PARTIES THAT KOOL HERC WAS PLAYING AT AND THE MUSIC THAT HERC PLAYED INSPIRED THESE YOUNG CATS TO DO MOVES THAT WOULD LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR HIP HOP DANCE. HERC SEEING THESE YOUNG DANCERS WOULD EVENTUALLY CALL THEM  "BBOYS" (AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO WOULD SHOW UP TO JAMS AND BREAK SH&T UP) WHICH WOULD LATER BE INTERPRETED AS BREAK BOYS, BEAT BOYS, OR BRONX BOYS. SUCH NOTABLE DANCERS WERE KLARK KENT, THE NIGGA TWINS, SAU SAU, TRICKSIE, JAMES BOND, THE AMAZING BOBO, EL DORADO MIKE, AND MANY MORE.

SOMEWHERE DURING THIS ERA A LEGENDARY BATTLE TAKES PLACE BETWEEN TWO OF THE TOP BBOYS OF ALL TIME. SAU SAU -VS- TRICKSIE THE OUT COME WAS SAID TO BE SAU SAU WINNING IN A GREAT BATTLE

1974 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

JUL.17'th "JAMES BROWN" RECORDS THE SONG THAT BECAME THE FOUNDATION FOR DRUM PROGRAMMING FOR RAP RECORDS. "FUNKY PRESIDENT" WITH "ALLAN SCHWARTZBERG" ON THE DRUMS

Rudy Ray Moore makes the classic black film "DOLEMITE". Filmed on a small budget made through Rudy Ray Moore's classic comedy records and performances.  Rudy Ray Moore's Rhyme style of comedy is definitely an inspiration to what eventually became known as MCin (RAP). Excerpt from the official Rudy Ray Moore website: DOLEMITE features some of the greatest dialogue in film history. When confronted by crooked FBI agent, Mitchell and White, Dolemite warns, "Man, move over and let me pass. Or you'll hada be pullin' these Hush Puppies out yo muthafuckin' ass!!" When Dolemite approaches Creeper, known as the "Hamburger Pimp" he is warned "You better get on before you get jumped on! I'm so bad I kick my own ass twice a day!" Not to mention numerous other trademark lines you'll catch yourself repeating. Moore even has time to deliver some of his stand-up. "Shine and the Great Titanic" is done for some men in a parking lot that need proof he is Dolemite, and "The Signifying Monkey" is performed on the re-opening night of his club. thanx Jackson Carl

AROUND THIS TIME ONE OF HIP HOP'S ALL TIME CROWD PLEASER DJ/ MC'S "LOVE BUG STARSKI" STARTED MAKIN REFERENCES TO THIS CULTURE USING THE WORDS "HIP HOP" ACCORDING TO LEGENDS LIKE "BAMBATTA", STARSKI IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORD HIP HOP AS A SLANG AND A NAME FOR THIS CULTURE.

WRITING (GRAFF)

NYC's MTA FIGHTS BACK AGAINST WRITING BY STARTING A WAR ON GRAFF

HIP HOP AND FUNK DANCE

MICHAEL JACKSON DOES HIS FAMOUS ROBOT TO "DANCING MACHINE"

1975 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

HERCS GETS A JOB DJ'ING AT THE CLUB HE WAS AFTER. THE" HEVALO CLUB" IN THE BRONX

AROUND THIS TIME HERC WOULD GET A BROTHA BY THE NAME OF COKE LA ROCK TO SAY CROWD PLEASER RHYMES ON THE MIC WHICH WOULD THEN LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR MC'IN OR LATER KNOWN AS RAP

HIP HOP MUSIC

"DJ GRAND WIZARD THEODORE" INVENTS THE SCRATCH WHILE TRYING TO HOLD A RECORD IN PLACE WHILE HIS MOTHER WAS YELLING AT HIM. THE NEEDLE WAS STILL ON THE RECORD SO IT MADE THAT SHIGA SHIGA SOUND WHICH HE LATER ON TURNED INTO THE SCRATCH.

WRITING/GRAFF

GRAFF CULT HERO, AND UNDERGROUND COMIC BOOK LEGEND "VAUGHN BODE" DIES, BUT HIS LEGEND WILL LIVE WITH GRAFF WRITERS FOR ETERNITY

1976 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

THE MERCEDES LADIES WERE FOUNDED, THEY WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR FEMALE DJ'S and MC'S. Baby D, Sherri-Sher,RD Smiley,Zina-Zee,DJ LaSpank,Eve-a-Def The Mercedes Ladies were the sister group to the Original L'Brothers. DJ Grandwizard Theodore, Mean Gene, Busy Bee Starski, (not Lovebug) Ruby Dee, Waterbed Kevie Kev, Master Rob. We were DJ Baby Dee, DJ RD Smiley, DJ La Spank, MC Sherri-Sher, MC Eve-a-Def, MC Zina Zee. We became honorary Zulu Queens in 1978 because the Queens had beef with us and thought we didn't respect Lisa Lee. (Not True.. We dug Lisa) Bam deaded that by making us ZULU Queens so there could never be beef...

DJ AFRIKA BAMBAATAA PLAYS AT THE BRONX RIVER CENTER

TDK, TBB, AND ROCKWELL -VS- STARCHILD LA ROCK  (FEATURING TRAC 2 2,  SPY AND JOJO) WITH THE HELP OF JOJO AND SPY'S PATENTED SHOE SHINE ROUTINE, STARCHILD TOOK THE BATTLE

1975 Granny & Robotroid, Inc. The first professional Bay Area Boogaloo/Robottin dance group, managed by Deborah "Granny" Johnson (aka “The Bay Area Granny”) to create, choreograph, and incorporate their own flavor style of dance called Struttin, as well as obtain national and international acclaim via the 1976 ”Chuck Barris’ Gong Show” and KTVU Fox 2 “On The Air.”

1977 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

THE CRASH CREW WAS FORMED IN HARLEM NEW YORK. E.K. Mike C,La Shubee, Barry Bistro, G-man, Reggie Reg, DJ Darryl C.

DJ KOOL HERC WAS NEARLY STABBED TO DEATH AT ONE OF HIS PARTIES

PARLIAMENT RELEASES THE FUNK HIT "FLASHLIGHT" (CASABLANCA)

KRAFTWERK A GERMAN BAND RELEASES THE FAMED SONG TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS WHICH WOULD LATER BE THE FOUNDATION FOR AFRIKA BAMBAATAA'S ELECTRO FUNK SOUND

WRITING/GRAFF

THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY STARTS A MAJOR BUFF IN A CONEY ISLAND TRAIN YARD WITCH WOULD COST THEM $400.000.00 ANNUALLY. THEY USED A CHEMICAL MIX OF PETROLEUM HYDROXIDE. WHICH WAS REFEREED TO AS ORANGE CRUSH BY WRITERS (NAMED AFTER AGENT ORANGE, WHICH WAS USED IN THE VIETNAM WAR)

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

THE BLACK MESSENGERS PERFORM ON THE "GONG SHOW". BUT BECAUSE OF THE CONTROVERSY OVER THERE NAME, THEY WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO PERFORM UNDER THE ALIAS "MECHANICAL DEVICES".

THE CREATION OF THE ROCK STEADY CREW Written by Joe-Joe, The Original B.Boy, Rock Steady Crew '77 Founded in 1977, the crew's original name was the "Untouchable Four B.Boys". It consisted of four members, Joe-Joe, Easy-Mike, Jimmy-Dee, and P.Body 170th. However, the demands of recruits enabled them to reconsider and look past the four-member title of restricted membership. As a result, a meeting was held in Echo Place, Bronx, NY, at the residence of Jamie White [AKA Jimmy-Dee]. It was there that the ROCK STEADY name was born despite the initial idea of creating an extra crew to extend the "Untouchable Four B.Boys". It was decided that the Rock Steady Crew would serve one purpose. To keep the steady flow on the dance floor. In defining the "Rock Steady Crew" title: The word "ROCK" symbolized the concrete for the bumps and bruises sustained while performing. Mats and cardboard were unheard of back then. The word "STEADY" constituted the love and continuation of the art of B.Boying. In addition, the word "CREW" contained special meaning because it represented the teamwork and efforts that were put forth in order to empower those individual skills. Rock Steady Crew became a dominating force in the B.Boy community through the teachings and leadership skills that were implemented by Joe-Joe. The various skills were basic footwork, the backspin, the swipe, the bridge and many other moves. These skills eventually evolved through out the For instance. Crazy Legs¹ back spin. The original members of Rock Steady Crew were Joe-Joe, Easy Mike, Jimmy-Dee, P-Body 170th, Jimmy Lee, Chrome, Boo-Ble, Pauly, Lime-5, Rubberband, l-Mack (Weebles), Doctor Ace, Slick Rick, Popeye, Trace 2, Trac 2, Rim 180th, Tito 183rd, Me 2, Green Eye Joe, Braces, C.N., Les, Angel Rock, Bon 5 Lenny Len and Crazy Legs. Different turns of events started to then take place. For instance, Jimmy-Dee and Joe-Joe were approached by little Richie Colón [Crazy Legs] asking for the expansion of a Manhattan chapter of the crew. After permission was granted, the chapter was supervised into the Lincoln Center battle against the Dynamic Rockers from Queens, NY, with the participation of Joe-Joe and Jimmy-Dee [We toasted them!]. The Bronx chapter gradually diminished due to each individual member's circumstances. For instance, Jimmy-Dee disappeared off the face of the earth, others relocated, others passed away and Joe-Joe was sent to mandatory job corps for too years. Within that length of time, the Manhattan chapter flourished under Crazy Legs' direction and supervision. Rock Steady Crew then became an international B.Boy sensation. Who would have thought what little Richie Colon would achieve through so much potential and self-determination? Peace Joe-Joe The B.Boy Original Rock Steady Crew '77

AROUND THIS TIME A PIONEERING GROUP FROM WHICH A BROTHER BY THE NAME OF" BOOGALOO SAM" (WHO CREATED THE DANCE CALLED POPPIN AS WE KNOW  IT TODAY WITH IT'S ROOTS IN THE WEST COAST FUNK STYLES THAT CAME BEFORE THEM ) ALONG WITH MEMBERS  TICKIN WILL, SCARECROW SCALLY, CREEPIN CID, POPIN PETE, TWISTI FLEX DON, PUPPET BOOZER, ROBOT DANE, SKEETER RABBIT, AND MANY OTHERS, THEY FORMED THE GROUP "THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS" (note: also...POPPIN is refereed to as the continuous flexing of the muscles to the beat...not waving, tutting, botting, filmore, strutting, sacing, or other styles that Sam and the EB's did not create)

1978 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

THE DISCO FEVER OPENS IT'S DOORS AND BECOMES A POPULAR HIP HOP CLUB IN THE BRONX

WHIPPER WHIP AND DOT  ROCK FORMED A GROUP CALLED "THE GESTAPO CREW", WHICH WOULD LATER LEAD THEM TO CREATING ONE OF THE GREATEST MC CREWS OF ALL TIME "THE FANTASTIC FIVE MC'S" Grand Wizard Theodore (Theodore Livingston) Waterbed Kev (Kevin Strong) Master Rob (Robin Strong) Dot-A-Rock (Darryl Mason) Prince Whipper Whip (James Whipper) Ruby Dee (Rubin Garcia)

A COMPANY NAMED ROLAND CREATES THE 808 DRUM MACHINE

HIP HOP DANCE

"BREAKIN/ BBOYIN" BEGINS TO DIE DOWN IN THE BRONX AND MANHATTAN GHETTOS.

AROUND THIS TIME "THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS" WOULD DO A PERFORMANCE ON "SOUL TRAIN" THAT WOULD EXPLODE ALL OVER THE WORLD, WHERE EVEN A YOUNG MICHAEL JACKSON WOULD EVEN ASK THEM TO TEACH HIM.

1979 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

GRAND MASTER FLASH FORMS ONE OF THE GREATEST MC CREWS OF ALL TIME "GRAND MASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE MC'S" Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler) Melle Mel (Melvin Glover) Kidd Creole (Nathaniel Glover) Cowboy(Keith Wiggins) Rahiem (Guy Williams) Mr. Ness aka Scorpio (Eddie Morris)

ANOTHER ONE OF THE GREATEST MC GROUPS OF ALL TIME WAS FORMED "THE COLD CRUSH FOUR" CHARLIE CHASE, TONY TONE, GRAND MASTER CAZ, EASY AD, JDL, AND ALMIGHTY KG

(SPRING) FIRST RAP RECORD EVER RECORDED BY A NON RAP GROUP "KING TIM III (PERSONALITY JOCK)" BY THE FATBACK BAND

FIRST RAP HIT RECORD "RAPPERS DELIGHT" BY THE SUGARHILL GANG

FIRST HIP HOP RADIO SHOW "MR. MAGIC'S DISCO SHOWCASE WHBI" IN NYC

THE MC GROUP FUNKY FOUR PLUS ONE MORE IS FORMED KK Rockwell (Kevin Smith) Keith Keith (Keith Caesar)Lil'Rodney Cee (Rodney Stone) Jazzy Jeff (Jeffrey Myree) Sha Rock (Sharon Green) THEY WOULD LATER RELEASE TWO CLASSIC SONGS "RAPPIN AND ROCKIN THE HOUSE" AND THE ALL TIME GREAT "THAT'S THE JOINT"

WRITING/ GRAFF

"MARK BODE"  (THE SON OF LEGENDARY ARTIST "VAUGHN BODE") STARTS WORKING AT AGE 15 FOR HEAVY METAL MAGAZINE AND CONTINUES HIS DADS LEGACY HE ALSO STAYS CONNECTED WITH THE GRAFF WORLD THAT EMBRACED HIS FATHER AS WELL AS HIS OWN WORK. VAUGHN & MARK BODE

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

A YOUNG CRAZY LEGS AND HIS COUSIN LENNY LEN BATTLE JIMMY DEE (THE ORIGINAL PRESIDENT OF ROCK STEADY CREW) AND JIMMY LEE TO GET INTO ROCK STEADY.  THEY LOST BUT THE MADE IT IN THE CREW.

AT THIS TIME IN THE BRONX "BREAKIN/ BBOYIN" IS CONSIDERED PLAYED OUT. BUT NOT FOR LONG.

1980 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

SAT. NOV. 15, JAM AT ECSTASY GARAGE FEATURING GW THE ADORE, FANTASTIC 5, KOOL DJ AJ, BUZY BEE STARSKI, MEAN GENE, GREGSKI, MERCEDES LADIES, FANTASY 4, EROTIC DISCO BROTHAS, AND MORE

DEC/ 19 "A SLAM DUNK DISCO" JAM FEATURING SHA ROCK (OF THE FUNKY 4)-VS-LIL' BIT (OF THE MEAN MACHINE),AND GM CAZ (OF COLD CRUSH 4)-VS-CHIEF ROCKER STARSKI AND MORE.

HIP HOP MUSIC

ZAPP RELEASES A FUNK ANTHEM FOR POPPERS IN THE WEST COAST "MORE BOUNCE TO THE OUNCE" (WARNER BROS.)

THE PUNK GROUP BLONDIE RELEASED THE RECORD "RAPTURE" WHICH FEATURED LEAD SINGER DEBBIE HARRY DOING WHAT SHE CONSIDERED RAP. BUT BY MAKING MENTION OF LEGIT HIP HOPERS AS FAB 5 FREDDIE AND GRAND MASTER FLASH, THE SONG IS WIDELY EXCEPTED IN THE HIP HOP COMMUNITY, AND HELPS TO FUSE THE PUNK AND HIP HOP SCENE TOGETHER.

AFRIKA BAMBAATA RELEASED "ZULU NATION THROW DOWN PT. 1" ON PAUL WINLEY RECORDS

WRITING/GRAFF

FAB FIVE FREDDY PAINTS THE FAMOUS TOP TO BOTTOM "CAMPBELL SOUP CANS" ON THE IRT LINE

SEEN PAINTED THE "HAND OF DOOM" TOP TO BOTTOM WHOLE CAR

DONDI PAINTED "THE CHILDREN OF THE GRAVE" 2,3' TOP TO BOTTOM WHOLE CAR

HIP HOP/ FUNK DANCE

(THE NEW YORK POST REPORTS) THE HIGH TIMES CREW WAS ARRESTED FOR BBOYIN IN A WASHINGTON HEIGHTS TRAIN STATION.

THE TALKING HEADS UTILIZE THE SKILLS OF ONE OF THE GREAT POPPERS OF ALL TIME "POPIN PETE" IN ONE OF THE FIRST MUSIC VIDEOS TO FEATURE A FUNK STYLE DANCER

1981 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

FUNKY 4 PLUS ONE MORE MAKE THE FIRST NATIONAL TV APPEARANCE ON NBC'S SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

"COLD CRUSH 4" -VS-" FANTASTIC 5" AT HARLEM WORLD WITH FANTASTIC WINNING A CLOSE AND CONTROVERSIAL BATTLE

GRAND MASTER FLASH RELEASES ONE OF THE GREATEST DJ RECORDS OF ALL TIME "THE ADVENTURES OF GRAND MASTER FLASH ON THE WHEELS OF STEEL"

MARCH 6, "FLASH-VS-CRASH" JAM, AT THE AUDUBON BALLROOM  ALSO FEATURING DJ AJ, AFRIKA BAMBAATA, SOULSONIC FORCE,  COSMIC FORCE, AND FANTASTIC 5

DJ. WHIZ KID (RIP, NYC)  WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE

AT THE AGE OF 36 BOB MARLEY DIES OF CANCER

GRAFF

NOC PAINTED THE FAMOUS "STYLE WARS" TOP TO BOTTOM WHOLE CAR

AN  ART GALLERY CALLED "FASHION MODA" WAS UP AND RUNNING EXHIBITS ON 3RD AVE. IN THE BRONX FEATURING ARTISTS LIKE CRASH, LEE, DAZE, KEL, SHY 147 AND MANY MORE.

Duro Cia becomes the first graffiti artist to be interview for a TV special channel 2 the summer 1981along with Crash and Lady Pink

HIP HOP/ FUNK DANCE

THE FAMOUS BATTLE ROCK STEADY CREW  -VS- DYNAMIC ROCKERS AT LINCOLN CENTER, WHICH WAS COVERED BY "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC" THIS BATTLE HELPED BRING BBOYIN TO THE MAINSTREAM.

ROD STEWART FEATURES A TOP LOCKER/ POPPER "COOL POCKETS" OF THE "CHAIN REACTION" DANCE GROUP  IN HIS HIT VIDEO "YOUNG TURKS"

1982 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

ABC'S 20/20 PRODUCES AN EPISODE THAT TAKES A LOOK AT THIS NEW CULTURAL PHENOMENON NOW NAMED HIP HOP CULTURE BY AFRIKA BAMBAATA

CHARLIE AHEARN FILMED  "WILD STYLE"  THE MOVIE THAT FEATURED HIP HOP IN IT'S PUREST FORM. WITH LEGENDS LIKE, ROCK STEADY, ELECTRIC FORCE, LOOSE BRUCE AND PAULIE GEE, DOUBLE TROUBLE, COLD CRUSH 4, FANTASTIC 5, BUZY BEE STARSKI, LEE, PINK, DAZE, CRASH, ZEPHYR,

THE "ROXY ROLLER RINK" ON 18TH ST. IS TRANSFORMED INTO ONE OF THE GREATEST HIP HOP CLUBS OF ALL TIMES. PROMOTED BY "KOOL LADY BLUE" (MANAGER OF RSC). THIS CLUB WILL LINK THE DOWNTOWN CROWD ALONG WITH THE PUNK SCENE AND THREW IT IN WITH THE RUFF AND RUGGED HIP HOP SCENE.

"THE NEW YORK CITY RAP TOUR" TAKES OFF FOR EUROPE AFRIKA BAMBAATA, ROCK STEADY, PHASE 2,THE DOUBLE DUTCH GIRLS, GRAND MIXER DST AND THE INFINITY RAPPERS, FAB 5 FREDDY,RAMMELLZEE, FUTURA 2,000, AND DONDI TAKE EUROPE BY STORM.

THE FILMING OF THE UNDERGROUND EUROPEAN FILM "BREAKOUT" TOOK PLACE FEATURING THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, ELECTRIC FORCE, CRASH CREW, MC DEBBIE D, WANDA D, GRAND MIXER DST AND THE INFINITY RAPPERS

HIP HOP MUSIC

"KOOL MOE DEE" BATTLES AND HUMILIATES "BUZY BEE" AND BECOMES ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS OLD SCHOOL BATTLES OF ALL TIME

IN MAY AFRIKA BAMBAATA AND THE SOUL SONIC FORCE (MC GLOBE, POWWOW, AND MR. BIGGS) RELEASE THE FAMOUS RECORD "PLANET ROCK" ON THE TOMMY BOY LABEL, REPLACING THE MORE TRADITIONAL BREAK BEAT ERA WITH THE NEW KRAFTWORK STYLE  MUSIC MIXED WITH HIP HOP CALLED "ELECTRO FUNK"

GRAND MIXER DST(NYC)  WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE

GRAFF

PRINT MAGAZINE FEATURES A SPREAD ON HENRY CHALFAUNTS PICTURES

January 1982 the first over seas issue of print magazine show case graffiti artist which lee tf5 appear on the front cover. Duro, Dondi, Crash, Shy 147, Daze, Futrue, zephyr, haze, Ail soul artist the start of a globe graffiti movement.

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

ROCK STEADY PERFORMS IN THE ORIGINAL NIGHT CLUB "THE RITZ" ALONG WITH BOW WOW WOW, AND AFRIKA BAMBAATA AND THE JAZZY 5, ON THIS NIGHT RSC ALSO BECAME PART OF THE ZULU KINGS.

ROCK STEADY CREW PERFORMED IN THE FAMOUS DISCO "STUDIO 54" FOR THE FAMED ARTIST "ANTONIO LOPEZ" KIPPY DEE, RAVI, KING KIETH, FROSTY FREEZE, CRAZY LEGS, RIP 7, KEN SWIFT, MR FREEZE,AND ALSO MR WIGGLES IN HIS FIRST PERFORMANCE WITH RSC.

KEN SWIFT AND CRAZY LEGS GET INTO AN ARGUMENT AT ROCK STEADY PARK, AND BATTLE IT OUT ON THE CONCRETE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HALF COURT, OVERALL CONSENSUS: KEN SWIFT IMPRESSES THE ONLOOKERS WHICH INCLUDE MEMBERS OF SALSOUL, AND SOME ROCK STEADY.

ROCK STEADY CREW'S POPPIN SQUAD "THE ELECTRIC COMPANY"  BATTLES DOUBLE TROUBLE'S "ELECTRIC FORCE"  AT CLUB "NEGRIL" ELECTRIC COMPANY SIDE SIDE: KIPPY DEE, RAVI, KING KEITH, MR FREEZE, WIGGLES AND FABEL ELECTRIC FORCE SIDE: LIL SPUT, EASY AL, JESSIE, LIL MARKY CEE

ROCK STEADY CREW SPLIT UP INTO TWO GROUPS, ONE HALF WENT ON TO FILM THE FAMOUS SCENES IN THE MOVIE FLASH DANCE THE OTHER HALF WENT ON TO FILM SCENES IN A MOVIE CALLED "PORTFOLIO" FEATURING THE WORLD RENOWN PUERTO RICAN FASHION ARTIST "ANTONIO LOPEZ" THAT WAS LATER SHELVED

SUGAR POP FROM THE "ELECTRIC BOOGALOO" VISITS NEW YORK AND HOOKS UP WITH MR. FREEZE, MR. WIGGLES, FABEL, POWERFUL PEX, FLIP ROCK AND LIL LEP. FROM THERE THE CROSS COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN EAST AND WEST COAST DANCE BEGIN. IN WIGGLE'S HALLWAY IN THE BRONX THEY BEGIN TO TRADE INFORMATION AND DANCE STYLES , AND TAUGHT SUGAR POP ORIGINAL BBOY STYLES THUS MAKING HIM THE FIRST WEST COAST BBOY AND THE FIRST PERSON TO BRING BBOYIN TO CALIFORNIA.

1983 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

THE "WILD STYLE TOUR" TAKES OFF FOR JAPAN FEATURING COLD CRUSH FOUR, ROCK STEADY CREW,

FIRST EVER REAL HIP HOP SHOW TOURS LA, SPONSORED BY CELLULOID RECORDS,FEATURING PHASE 2, DST, INFINITY RAPPERS, LILA LEP, MR WIGGLES, AND AFRIKA ISLAM.

THE FABULOUS FUNK FANATICS PRESENT "BRONX HIGH SCHOOL ROCKATHON JAM" FEATURING WHIZ KID (RIP), INFINITY RAPPERS, DEBBIE D, DST, DJ SWAN, NYC BREAKERS, COLD CRUSH 4, THE FORCE MC'S,GW THEODORE,FABEL AND WIGGLES, THE HERCULORDS AND MORE

HIP HOP MUSIC

"GRAND MIXER DST" LENDS HIS SKILLS TO LEGENDARY MUSICIAN HERBIE HANCOCK TO RECORD THE TOP HIT "ROCKIT"

THE SON OF BAMBATTA "DJ AFRIKA ISLAM" STARTS HIS OWN HIP HOP RADIO SHOW BASED ON ORIGINAL BREAK BEATS AND RAW MIXES CALLED "ZULU BEATS" ON WHBI

DJ AFRIKA ISLAM WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE (LA)

GRAFF

STYLE WARS AIRED ON PBS A DOCUMENTARY THAT FOCUSED ON WRITERS OF THAT PERIOD. WRITERS LIKE: MIN, CAP, CASE 2, MARE 149, SKEME, SEEN AND MANY OTHERS THE FILM ALSO FEATURED FOOTAGE FROM A BATTLE BETWEEN ROCK STEADY AND DYNAMIC ROCKERS

MR WIGGLES AND HIS FRIEND WITNESS THE POLICE BEATING OF GRAFF WRITER MICHAEL STEWART WHO LATER DIED IN THE HOSPITAL. we were coming out of the underground night club and saw the police beating him and he was screaming loud so the police beat him more, we walked by and stopped and Willie said wait a minute this ain't right, but the police cut him off and said get the fuck out of here or we'll do this to you. so we left. and the next thing we know the news was splattered with the murder of MICHAEL STEWART. Willie tried to call the news and stuff but they claimed they already had enough witnesses.

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

ROCK STEADY CREW WERE FEATURED IN THE MOVIE "FLASH DANCE"

ROCK STEADY CREW WAS FEATURED IN THE FAMOUS "BUFFALO GALS" VIDEO BY "MALCOLM McLAREN"

GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS FEATURE TOP BBOY CREW "NEW YORK CITY BREAKERS" IN THERE HIT VIDEO "SAVE THE OVER TIME FOR ME"

TOP NYC HIP HOP DANCERS PERFORM AT THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, HONORING "CATHERINE DUNHAM" FEATURED IN THIS PERFORMANCE WAS, MR. WIGGLES AND FABEL (MAGNIFICENT FORCE), ACTION, KID NICE, GLIDE MASTER, FLIP ROCK, LIL LEP, POWERFUL PEX, AND MR. WAVE (NYC BREAKERS), LIL NORMSKI, ACTIVITY, THE DYNAMIC DOLLS, AND A FEW OTHER DANCERS.

"CRAZY LEGS" ( ROCK STEADY CREW) -BATTLES- "LIL LEP" ( NEW YORK CITY BREAKERS) IN A CLUB IN THE BRONX. LEGS SENDS SOMEONE FROM HIS CAMP OVER TO LEP AND SAYS LEGS WANTS TO BATTLE YOU, LEP AGREES, THEY BOTH GO AT IT MOVE FOR MOVE THEN LEP THROWS A ONE SHOT HEADS SPIN, LEGS ANSWERS BACK WITH ONE OF HIS OWN, THEN BEFORE LEP CAN PUT HIS WRIST BAND UP TO DO A 1990, LEGS THROWS IT FIRST.

BOOGALOO SHRIMP (TURBO), POP N TACO, AND SHABADOO (OZONE) ARRIVE IN NYC ON TOUR WITH LIONEL RITCHIE AND HOOK UP WITH MR WIGGLES (magnificent force, rock steady crew), FABEL(magnificent force, rock steady crew), AND PEX(NYC breakers). we practice in there hotel and exchange styles and ideas. it was a meeting grounds where we actually taught and influenced each other before the movies were done. we taught them some breakin and up rockin (you can see the influence in shrimps footwork and when Shabadoo and Shrimp uprocked on the beach in the movie "BREAKIN") and we explained more detail and history of the culture from graffiti to MCing and terminologies. and in return they also taught us poppin and lockin and showed us how to dress (and you can see in the Santa clause scene at the burning spear where we dressed like them when we were poppin in "BEAT STREET") after the practice sessions we all performed for Lionel Ritchie's after show party and continued influencing each other before the movies were filmed.

1984 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

THE MOVIE "BEAT STREET" CAME OUT AND FEATURED ROCK STEADY CREW, MAGNIFICENT FORCE, NEW YORK CITY BREAKERS, SHANGO, KOOL HERC, TREACHEROUS 3, DOUGIE FRESH,AND MANY MORE LEGENDS...

THE MOVIE "BREAKIN" WAS RELEASED WHICH FEATURED AN ALL WEST COAST LINE UP. STARING SHABADOO, BOOGALOO SHRIMP, IT ALSO FEATURED POPIN PETE, POP N TACO, ICE T, AND MANY OTHERS.

HIP HOP MUSIC

DJ CHEESE WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE (PHILLY)

WRITING (GRAFF)

HENRY CHALFAUNT ALONG WITH MARTHA COOPER PRODUCED THE FAMOUS GRAFF BOOK "SUBWAY ART"

1984 Duro Cia becomes the first graffiti artist to appears on the front cover of a book call "Getting Up" subway graffiti in new york city by craig castlman time line in 1981 Duro Cia, Shy147, Crash, Lady Pink Ali sa, meets with the chairman of the mta where they declare war with transit and art :vs: transit was born.

HIP HOP/ FUNK DANCE

both movies "BEAT STREET", and "BREAKIN" were released and major tours began all over the world. It was in France that the BEAT STREET tour finally clashed with the BREAKIN tour. we all went to a club in Paris. we jammed all night and continued the exchange of respect and culture. and as NYC bboys we were very impressed with SHRIMPS footwork at the time.

CHAKA KHAN FEATURED BOOGALOO SHRIMP, SHABADOO, AND POP N TACO IN HER HIT VIDEO "I FEEL FOR YOU"

KLYMAX FEATURES  AN ALL TIME GREAT POPPER POP N TACO IN THE "MEETING IN THE LADIES ROOM VIDEO"

FAST BREAK ( MAGNIFICENT FORCE) -BATTLES CRAZY- CRAZY LEGS(RSC) DURING THE FILMING OF THE BATTLE SCENE OF THE MOVIE BEAT STREET. THEY GET INTO A SHORT BUT HEATED BATTLE WITH BOTH THROWING ALLOT OF FOOTWORK, FAST BREAK DOES SOME TOP ROCK AND THEN YELLS "COMBINATIONS FOR THE NATIONS CRAZY LEGS" AND JUMPS INTO A CLASSIC FAST BREAK RUN,LEGS ANSWERS BACK WITH AN AMAZING RUN OF HIS OWN, THEN ICEY ICE JUMPS IN A THROWS SOME POWER COMBINATIONS AND THE CIPHER ENDS.

"KEN SWIFT"(ROCK STEADY CREW) - BATTLES- "ACTION" (NYC BREAKERS) DURING THE BEAT STREET TOUR IN FRANCE. THE OUT COME: KEN SWIFT STARTS TO PUT IT ON ACTION, AND ACTION GOES IN HIS BAG AND PULLS OUT A MOTORCYCLE HELMUT AND DOES HEAD SPINS. THIS MARKS THE FIRST TIME "HELMUT" WERE USED IN A BATTLE. THE BATTLE EVENTUALLY TURNS INTO A CREW SCENARIO AND ENDS IN A DEBATE ABOUT THE HELMUT.

INCREDIBLE BREAKERS TAKES IT TO KEN SWIFT AT THE ROXY, KENNY BEING BY HIM SELF THAT DAY, INCREDIBLE STARTS THROWING THERE INNOVATIVE POWER MOVES THAT THEY ARE WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED FOR, KEN SWIFT THROWS HIS FUNKY COMBOS AND FREEZES CLOWNING CHINO'S BUMMY SNEAKERS, THEN FLIP ROCK JUMPS IN FOR KENNY AND THE BATTLE HEATS UP. BUT THE OVER ALL OUT COME IS DEBATABLE, BUT THE WORD ON THE STREETS IS INCREDIBLE WAS TOO ILL WITH THE POWER FLAVA.

1985 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

DJ EASY G ROCKWELL (NYC) WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE MC BUZY BEE (NYC) WINS THE NEW MUSIC SEMINAR MC BATTLE

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

ICEY ICE BATTLE THE YOUNG UP AND COMING BBOY  FREDDIE FRESH FREDDY HAD STUDIED ICE'S STYLE AND TOOK HIS MOVES TO THE NEXT LEVEL, THE BATTLE WAS HEATED WITH FREDDIE DOING AN ICEY ICE MOVE AND SAYING "I BEAT YOU WITH YOUR OWN MOVES" OVER ALL THE BATTLE WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN WON BY FREDDIE FRESH

1986 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

DJ JAZZY JEF (PHILLY) WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE MC GRAND MASTER  CAZ (NYC)  WINS THE NEW MUSIC SEMINAR MC BATTLE

DJ CHEESE (US)  WINS THE WORLD TECHNIQUE DMC DJ COMPETITION

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

ORCO (LA) -BATTLES- GERMAN (BRONX) TWO OF THE WORLDS BEST POWER MOVER COLLIDE AT THE CLUB "DEVILS NEST" IN THE BRONX. IT TURNS INTO A HEAD SPIN BATTLE WITH ORCO BEATING GERMAN.

FIRST OG HIP HOP DANCER TO ACCOMPLISH A BROADWAY SHOW. MR. WIGGLES AND STEVE GLAVIN WERE AMONG THE FIRST TWO DANCERS TO ACHIEVE THIS  IN THE TONY AWARD WINNING SHOW, "MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD". WIGGLES WOULD GO ON TO PERFORM IN TWO MORE BROADWAY SHOWS. "CHESS", AND "LARGELY NEW YORK"

1987 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

THE ALBUM "CRIMINAL MINDED" HIT THE STREETS AND PUT BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS ON THE MAP. THE ALBUM IS NOW CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST HIP HOP RECORDS OF ALL TIME SCOTT LA ROCK AND KRS ONE MAKE UP THE GROUP

SCOTT LA ROCK IS KILLED IN A VIOLENT MURDER IN THE BRONX. AND A LEGEND IS CREATED.

THE KOOL MOE DEE -VS- LL KOOL J BATTLE ON WAX BEGINS WITH MOE DEE'S HOW YA LIKE ME NOW, AND THEN LL'S JACK THE RIPPER. MOE DEE WOULD THEN HIT HIM WITH A CLASSIC REBUTTAL "LETS GO". THEY WOULD CARRY ON UNTIL THEY FINALLY MET AT A CONCERT IN ST LOUIS.(CHECK 1988)

DJ CASH MONEY (PHILLY) WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE MC GRAND MASTER  MELLE MEL(NYC)  WINS THE NEW MUSIC SEMINAR MC BATTLE

DJ CHAD JACKSON (UK) WINS THE WORLD TECHNIQUE DMC DJ COMPETITION

1988 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

KOOL MOE DEE FINALLY CATCHES LL KOOL J AT A CONCERT IN ST. LOUIS AND PUTS A SPOT LIGHT ON LL AND CHALLENGED HIM TO A BATTLE ON STAGE. LL WOULD REFUSE, SO MOE DEE WENT INTO THE FAMOUS RHYME BREAKING DONE THE LETTERS " LL" AND SLAMMED THE MIC ON THE FLOOR IN VICTORY.

DJ SCRATCH (NYC) WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE MC MICKEY D (NYC)  WINS THE NEW MUSIC SEMINAR MC BATTLE

DJ CASH MONEY (US) WINS THE WORLD TECHNIQUE DMC DJ COMPETITION

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

WAYNE BLIZZ, and DOUG, BREEZE TEAM, and FLOAT COMMITEE Groups of BBOYS and BOOGIE BOYS Hold down Breaking in the streets of NYC By "Hitting" in many locations for money. These groups kept the dance alive in the streets of New York City, and made it possible for original Hip Hop dance to resurge. Wayne Blizz (Manhattan BBOY from the 70's) is concidered by many respectable Hip Hop pioneers to be the Last true BBOY in NYC till the early 90's, With the resurgense of Ghettoriginals Rock Steady Crew and Rhytm Technicians.

1989 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

ONE OF HIP HOPS GREATEST MC'S PASS AWAY "MC COWBOY"  FROM THE FURIOUS FIVE MC'S

DJ MIZ  (PHILLY) WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE MC FRESHCO(BROOKLYN) WINS THE NEW MUSIC SEMINAR MC BATTLE

DJ CUTMASTER SWIFT (UK) WINS THE WORLD TECHNIQUES DMC DJ COMPETITION

1990 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

DJ STEVE D  (NYC) WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE MC KID JAZZ (NYC)WINS THE NEW MUSIC SEMINAR MC BATTLE

DJ DAVID (GERMANY) WINS THE WORLD TECHNIQUES DMC DJ COMPETITION

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

"BATTLE OF THE YEAR'S" FIRST EVENT ORIGINALLY TITLED "THE INTERNATIONAL BREAKDANCE CUP" FEATURED PERFORMANCES BY: TDB (Germany/UK),Crazy Force Crew (Switzerland),  City Rockers (Germany) .

A BBOY CREW FROM EUROPE "BATTLE SQUAD" COMES TO NYC TO SEEK OUT OLD SCHOOL DANCERS THAT INSPIRED THEM . STORM, NEXT ONE (MAURICIO), EMILIO, SWIFT ROCK, AND BGIRL MUCHELA MAKE A MAJOR IMPACT ON NYC BBOYS AND ARE CREDITED FOR HELPING TO PRESERVE THE DANCE FORMS IN EUROPE AS WELL AS TAKING POWER MOVES TO A HIGHER LEVEL. There practices with KWIK STEP, one of the last survivors of the New York BBOY POWER MOVE scene, helped to anitiate an alliance between Europe and NYC. Kwik was also a member of Ghettoriginals.

1991 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

"SOURCE MAGAZINE" THROWS THE "WILD STYLE '91 JAM" FEATURING COLD CRUSH FOUR, ROCK STEADY CREW, KRS ONE, POOR RIGHTEOUS TEACHERS, AND ULTRA MAGNETIC MC'S.

DJ SUPREME (DC) WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE MC SERGE (CLEVELAND) WINS THE NEW MUSIC SEMINAR MC BATTLE

DJ DAVID (GERMANY) WINS THE WORLD TECHNIQUES DMC DJ COMPETITION

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

JIMMY CASTOR INVITES THE ROCK STEADY CREW TO PERFORM WITH HIM AT CLUB S.O.B. TO A LIVE VERSION OF A BBOY ANTHEM "ITS JUST BEGUN" CRAZY LEGS, KEN SWIFT, BUCK 4, MR WIGGLES, AND FABEL DANCED ON THIS NIGHT. IT WOULD BE BUCK 4'S LAST PERFORMANCE

THE TURTLE MASTER BBOY "BUCK 4" PASSES AWAY

THE AWARD WINNING DANCE DOCUMENTARY 'EVERYBODY DANCE NOW" AIRS NATION WIDE ON PBS FEATURING "CRAZY LEGS AND MR WIGGLES" OF THE ROCK STEADY CREW. HELPING TO TRIGGER THE RE EMERGENCE OF ORIGINAL HIP HOP DANCE.

THE "ROCK STEADY CREW" AND THE " RHYTHM TECHNICIANS" PERFORM THE PLAY TITLED "SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW?" AT PERFORMANCE SPACE 122 A PIECE INSPIRED BY THE DEATH OF FAMED BBOY "BUCK 4" THIS SHOW WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD THEM TO FORMING THE GROUP "GHETTORIGINAL"

"BATTLE OF THE YEAR" HAS THERE FIRST BATTLE WITH THE WINNERS BEING:BATTLE SQUAD FROM GERMANY

1992 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

DJ MIX MASTER MIKE WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE (SF)

ROCK STEADY DJ'S (Q BERT, MIX MASTER MIKE, AND APOLLO, US) WIN THE WORLD TECHNIQUES DMC DJ COMPETITION

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

THE ROCK STEADY CREW AND RHYTHM TECHNICIANS WOULD PERFORM IN THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS , HONORING NON OTHER THAN THE "NICHOLAS BROTHERS", THEY RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION LED BY GREGORY HINES, AND WERE SECRETLY TAKEN BACK TO A CLOSED ROOM E BY THE REQUEST OF" GENE KELLY" JUST SO HE CAN PERSONALLY MEET THEM.

1993 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

A TRIBE CALLED QUEST PUT OUT THERE THIRD LP FEATURING A WHO IS WHO IN HIP HOP COVER AN OLD SCHOOL MEETS THE PRESENT SCHOOL COLLABORATION. IN WHICH ROCK STEADY CREW ALSO PARTICIPATED.

DJ 8 BALL  (SF) WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE MC SUPERNATURAL(NYC)  WINS THE NEW MUSIC SEMINAR MC BATTLE

THE DREAM TEAM (ROCK STEADY DJ'S) WINS THE WORLD TECHNIQUES DMC DJ COMPETITION

"BATTLE OF THE YEAR" winners are : Rock Steady Crew (UK Chapter) 'Always Rocking Tuff'...Tom TC Break,Tuff Tim Twist,Evo and Dizzy Lee..1993 European Battle of the Year Champions....Peace Kev Mono

1994 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

DJ NOISE (DENMARK) WINS NEW MUSIC SEMINAR DJ BATTLE JUDGMENTAL (CHICAGO)  WINS THE NEW MUSIC SEMINAR MC BATTLE

DJ GHETTO (PHILLY) WINS THE US EAST COAST DMC CHAMPIONSHIP, DJ SHORTCUT(SF) WINS THE US WEST COAST DMC CHAMPIONSHIP

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

THE FIRST" BBOY SUMMIT" WAS PRODUCED ON AUGUST 31'st IN ATTENDANCE WAS ROCK STEADY, AND  AIR FORCE THE BBOY SUMMIT WILL BECOME A TOP ANNUAL EVENT FOR HIP HOPERS ALL OVER THE WORLD TO GATHER.

1995 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

94/95 DJ ROC RAIDA WINS THE WORLD TECHNIQUES DMC DJ COMPETITION

Eric Wright died the 26th March 1995 after only two month of knowing he had aids

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

FEB '95, LIL CAESAR FROM THE AIR FORCE CREW TAKES OVER A LEGENDARY WEST COAST EVENT AND BRINGS IT BACK."THE RADIOTRON" BECOMES ANOTHER OUTLET FOR WEST COAST BBOYS, POPPERS, AND LOCKERS, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE CULTURE IN THIS BATTLE RENEGADES TIE FOR FIRST AGAINST FREESTYLE, THAT MADE FOR AN HISTORICAL BATTLE

RENEGADES BATTLE STYLE ELEMENTS CREW AT THE RADIOTRON IN CALIFORNIA WITH STYLE ELEMENTS CREW THE WINNERS, A CLASSIC BATTLE BETWEEN TWO YOUNG GROUPS REPRESENTING FOR THE FUTURE OF BBOYIN.

"ROCK STEADY CREW" -VS- THE JAPANESE CREW "IMPERIAL JB'S" AT THE 95 BBOY SUMMIT. DECISION WAS MIXED

THE FIRST REAL HIP HOP SHOW TO HIT OFF BROADWAY OPENS AT THE MINNETTEA LANE THEATER NYC "JAM ON THE GROOVE" FEATURING GHETTORIGINAL DANCE COMPANY

1996 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

DJ NOISE (DENMARK) WINS THE WORLD TECHNIQUES DMC DJ COMPETITION

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

"ROCK STEADY" -VS- THE YOUNG AND UP AND COMING "STYLE ELEMENTS CREW" AT BBOY SUMMIT '96 DECISION WAS A TOSS UP. BUT REMIND BECAME AN INSTANT STAR IN THE BBOY WORLD WITH HIS GUTSY ATTITUDE. ACCORDING TO "KUJO" BBoy Summit 3, February '96. BBoy Cisco from Sunflower Breakers begins to battle against Stretch and Ruby Real from Rock Steady. Members from Goof Troop and Floor Rockers soon join the battle, and eventually Style Elements jumps in

RADIOTRON #4 ACCORDING TO "KUJO" Radio Tron 4, February '96. X-Men from Bakersfield took 1st place, and a brand new crew called Soul Control took a close second. Soul Control had an almost totally different lineup at the time, and it even included the bboy now known as Iron Monkey. Flat Top wins the popping contest.

OCT.96, RENEGADES -BATTLES- ROCK STEADY AT A JAM PUT TOGETHER BY ORCO CALLED THE BATTLE ZONE IT GOT KIND OF HEATED WHEN SWAY FROM RENEGADES DID A NASTY DISS TOWARDS ASIA ONE AND EASY ROCK RIGHTFULLY JUMPED IN AND BEEF ED. BUT RENEGADES WERE HOT THAT NIGHT. JAZZY J  WAS IN GREAT FORM. ACCORDING TO "KUJO" Battle Zone, circa October '96. Renegades (Jazzy J, Wicket, Zwae) vs. Rock Steady (Flomaster, Orco, Easy Roc, Asia, Yoski, Stretch, Ruby Real, and I think Honey Rockwell). The battle ends when Easy Roc strikes Zwae, and Zwae gets the shit beaten out of him by security guards. The security guards are stopped by none other than Fresh. Zwae is then thrown out of the venue.

RADIOTRON # 7 ACCORDING TO "KUJO" Radio Tron 7, October '96. Soul Control wins the bboy crew competition, Flat Top wins the popping contest (again).

1997 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

DJ A TRAK (CANADA) WINS THE WORLD TECHNIQUES DMC DJ COMPETITION

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

STYLE ELEMENTS - BATTLE- ROCK FORCE AT THE "TRIBUTE TO THE ELEMENTS " JAM ROCK FORCE'S GERALD MAKES A GOOD SHOWING AND GIVE SEC A RUFF BATTLE, BUT SCREW PULLS IT OFF

FEB. BBOY SUMMIT 4 '97 WHAT SEEMED LIKE A NORMAL PEACEFUL HIP HOP GATHERING ENDED IN A RIOT, WITH THE LA POLICE TAKING THINGS TO FAR, WHILE EXAGGERATING A SO CALLED POLICE BEING HELD HOSTAGE IN THE OUT DOOR EVENT, THE LA POLICE CAME IN RIOT GEAR AND WERE SEEN ON FILM BEATING PASSER BY'S THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EVENT. ASIA ONE EVENTUALLY SUED THE LA POLICE FOR THERE GOOF UP.

March '97. BBoy Profit of Goof Troop died from gunshot wounds received in a drive-by in L.A. Dozens of L.A. bboys attend his funeral.

OCT. 4TH BATTLE OF DA YEAR 97 STYLE ELEMENTS (USA) WINS THE EVENT WITH INCREDIBLE EASE AND EVEN SUCKERS THERE OPPONENTS INTO AN UNEXPECTED POSE FOR A PHOTO AFTER A MEMBER A SEC LANDS A FLIP INTO A FREEZE WITH HIS ARM AROUND A MEMBER OF SOUTH SIDE ROCKERS, THAT DESTROYED ALL HOPE FOR THE GERMAN BASED CREW. BEST SHOW: SOUTH SIDE ROCKERS BEST DANCER: CRUMBS

NOV. 21ST, A WEST COAST BROTHA BY THE NAME OF CROSS ONE PRODUCES THE FIRST "FREESTYLE SESSIONS EVENT/ BBOY BATTLES #1" WITH BBOY IVAN MASTERING THE LATEST POWER MOVE WITCH HE CALLED THE STAR TRACK, BUT WOULD LATER BE INNOVATED IN MANY FORMS, ONE MORE NOTABLE THE AIR FLARE. THIS STYLE OF MOVE HAS BEEN CREATED IN MANY DIFFERENT AREAS AND STYLE. THE MOST NOTABLE INNOVATORS OF THIS MOVE ARE ICEY ICE: NINJA FREEZE(NYC), FREDDIE FRESH: THE AXLE (NYC), FRESH: THE 360 FULL TWIST(CALI), AND JAZZY J: THE AIR FLARE (CALI). . Soul Control vs. Abstract Flava/West Coast Rockers, results in a tie.

Radio Tron 8, early/mid '97. Abstract Flava wins the bboy crew competition. Their group includes Frankie Flav, Ruin, Iron Monkey, Poe from SEC, Cuser, Brik Roc, G-Wiz and his brothers, and Stuntman. Thomas Guzman, of Chain Reaction, shows his documentary on locking and popping (I forget the name) publicly for the first time at this event. Air Force Crew performs with a reformed New York City Breakers as a gesture of good will and peace between the West and East coasts

December '97. The music video Run DMC vs. Jason Nevins, "It's Like That," filmed. Includes Kujo, Man One (Renegades), Will Power and Mr. Animation (Air Force Crew), Asia One, Cuser (LA Breakers), Medusa, others. Dancing is "choreographed" by Lil Cesar (Air Force Crew).

1998 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

DJ CRAZE (US) WINS THE WORLD TECHNIQUES DMC DJ COMPETITION

WRITING (GRAFF)

"DONDI" BORN "DONALD WHITE" 37 YEARS AGO, PASSED AWAY ON OCT.2 , DUE TO COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO PNEUMONIA.

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

KMEL BATTLES  STORM (GERMANY) AND CATCHES HIM OUT THERE IN A CIPHER. OVER ALL CONSENSUS, KMEL WON.

FREESTYLE SESSIONS #2 FEATURES A BATTLE BETWEEN KAITEN CLUB-VS- SOUL CONTROL WHERE AIR FLARE COMBINATIONS WERE POPULARIZED BY MEGAMAN, AND SOUL CONTROL  Soul Control vs. Kaiten Club Breakers, aka Guru Guru Ibaraki (Japan). Abstract Flava (under another name) defeats Foot Soldiers (now known as Rhythm Bugs), from San Diego, in the crew competition.

Floor Wars 2, mid-'98. Enerjetic and Tails vs. Remind and Flomaster. Chuck and Omar Love of Soul Control defeat Remind and Flomaster in the finals.

Ultimate BBoy Session 2, April '98, Germany. USA vs. Europe, 2 on 2 exhibition battle: Kujo (Soul Control) and Man One (Renegades) vs. Benny (Basel City Attack/Flying Steps) and Karim (Actuel Force/The Family), as well as Mauricio (RSC).

NOV. 7TH BATTLE OF DA YEAR ROCK FORCE (USA) WINS A CONTROVERSIAL BATTLE AGAINST THE FAMILY( OUT OF FRANCE) BECAUSE OF A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY BREAKING A NUMBER ONE RULE OF BATTLING. NEVER TOUCH AN OPPONENT.

NOV. 20TH, FREESTYLE SESSIONS #3 FEATURES A BATTLE WITH AN AMAZING ALL STAR BBOY TEAM THE FLYING TORTILLAS (FLO MASTER, POE ONE, STORM, IVAN, WICKET, SPIRIT, SUPER DAVE) -VS- SOUL CONTROL (WITH PABLO DOIN TWO AIR FLARES IN A ROW)

December '98. BBoy Gerald (Rock Force Crew) is shot in a drive-by. Later fully recovers

1999 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP

FEB. 15TH A WELL RESPECTED MC "BIG L" WAS SHOT AND MURDERED IN HARLEM

SEPT. 10-12, ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME HONORS HIP HOP LEGENDS WITH A HIP HOP MUSEUM AND CONFERENCE TITLED "Roots, Rhymes and Rage: The Hip Hop Story."  FEATURING SUCH LEGENDS AS DJ KOOL HERC, DON CAMPBELLOCK (INVENTOR OF LOCKING), BOOGALOO SAM (INVENTOR OF POPING), AFRIKA BAMBAATA,KRS ONE, DST,GRAND MASTER FLASH, GRAND WIZARD THE ADORE, KEN SWIFT, THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS, HENRY CHALFAUNT, CHUCK D, AND MANY OTHERS.

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

BBOY SUMMIT "FLO MASTER" AND "WICKET" OF THE FOOTWORK FANATIX CREW BATTLES "K MEL" AND "WICKED" OVERALL CONSENSUS WAS FLO AND KMEL WAS A TOSS UP, WITH ALLOT OF PEOPLE LEANING TOWARDS KMEL. BUT WICKET(FF) WAS THE STAR THAT NIGHT BEATING WICKED WITH JUST FLAVA AND FOOTWORK. ALSO DURING THIS EVENT: SKEETER RABBIT BATTLES THE LEGENDARY CREATOR OF "BOTIN"  BOPIN ANDRÉ. THERE WAS ALLOT OF TALKIN BACK ANDRÉ FORTH, THAT ALMOST LED TO A CREW BATTLE, ANDRÉ, BOPIN RON, AND BOPIN PRINCE AGAINST THE BOOGALOOS, BUT SKEET TOOK OVER THAT DAY, AND THE OVER ALL CONSENSUS WAS SKEET WON. K MEL STEPS TO BBOY IVAN AND WHAT STARTED OUT AS A BATTLE TURNED INTO A SH$T TALKIN MATCH. NO MATTER KMEL GETS THE PROPS FOR TAKIN IT TO EVERYBODY WIN LOOSE OR DRAW.

SKEETER RABBIT BATTLES THE LEGENDARY CREATOR OF "BOTIN"  BOPIN ANDRÉ. THERE WAS ALLOT OF TALKIN BACK ANDRÉ FORTH, THAT ALMOST LED TO A CREW BATTLE, ANDRÉ, BOPIN RON, AND BOPIN PRINCE AGAINST THE BOOGALOOS, BUT SKEET TOOK OVER THAT DAY, AND THE OVER ALL CONSENSUS WAS SKEET WON.

ZULU ANNIVERSARY, KENS SWIFT AND K MEL GET INTO HEATED EXCHANGES DURING A BBOY CYPHER, K MEL STEPPED TO KENNY AND THE BATTLE KEPT STOPPIN AND GOING FOR THE WHOLE NIGHT. OVER ALL CONSENSUS, KEN SWIFT GOT THE BEST OF HIM .

THE FIRST "FUNK STYLES" EVENT WAS THROWN BY THE " ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS" TO FOCUS ON POPPIN AND LOCKIN. THE TWO MAIN COMPONENTS TO FUNK DANCE. WITH PERFORMANCES BY THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS, DEMONS OF THE MINDS,  TETSU AND OZ FROM JAPAN

Freestyle Session 4, February '99. Soul Control/Flying Steps vs. some super crew consisting of Iron Monkey, Bug I'd Bandit, Homwerk, Wyze9, West Coast Rockers, others.

SEPT. 18TH BATTLE OF DA YEAR SUICIDAL LIFE STYLES( HUNGARY)  BEATS ROCK FORCE ( USA) FOR 1ST PLACE.

2000 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP/FUNK DANCE

BBoy Summit 6, February '00. Massive Monkees (Juseboogie and Twixx) win 2 on 2 contest.

ROCK STEADY ANNIVERSARY A SPECIAL SET UP FOR THE BATTLES, THREE ROUNDS 1ST ROUND TOP ROCK, 2ND ROUND FOOTWORK, 3RD ROUND GO ALL OUT. BATTLES INCLUDE HEATED MOMENTS WITH TECHNIQUE DESTROYING REVEAL, AND VIETNAM COMING BACK FOR VENGEANCE AND DESTROYING TECHNIQUE, THE BATTLE ENDS WITH YOUNG BBOY SHORTY FROM VEGAS BEATING VIETNAM IN A CONTROVERSIAL DECISION

UK BBoy Championships, Suicidal Lifestyle from Hungary defeats Barcelona Addictos from Spain in the finals.

Freestyle Session 6, November '00. Souls of Fire (Soul Control and Circle of Fire) vs. Knuckle Head Zoo, Souls of Fire vs. Battle Monkeys (Kujo head-butts Do-Knock), Massive Monkees vs. Battle Monkeys, Cali-Texas vs. HaviKoro, Battle Monkeys vs. HaviKoro. Cali-Texas defeats Massive Monkees in the finals.

OFF National Championships, December '00. Rhythm Bugs vs. Skill Methods, HaviKoro vs. Circle Of Fire. HaviKoro defeats Skill Methods in the finals.

OCT. 14TH BATTLE OF DA YEAR FLYING STEPS(GERMANY) BEATS WASEDA(JAPAN) FOR 1ST PLACE

2001 BACK TO TOP

WRITING (GRAFF)

MARE 139 DESIGNS THE LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT AWARD FOR BET'S MUSIC AWARDS. WHITNEY HOUSTON WILL BE THE FIRST ARTIST TO RECIEVE THIS GRAFF INSPIRED SCULPTURE. His approach to the BET award was inspired by a new concept called "transitism" which deals with the intellectual interpretation of Wild Style art, movement, forms and light. "Elements of Transitism were utilized in the creation of BET's award", said Rodriguez. " I wanted the award to allude to excellence, understating a rise above diversity with the intersecting of star powers to represent will and force.

HIP HOP DANCE

THE FIRST ANNUAL "LORDS OF THE FLOOR" EVENT TOOK PLACE IN SEATTLE MAY 12, SPONSORED BY REDBULL 1ST PLACE: LA BREAKERS, 2ND PLACE: BOOGIE BRATS, 3RD PLACE, STYLE ELEMENTS ALSO AN UNEXPECTED GRUDGE MATCH BETWEEN KEN SWIFT AND KMEL IN THE AFTER PARTY.

"WHO CAN ROAST THE MOST" Mrach 3RD and 4th 2001(Miami,Florida) For the 1st time ever battles are setup in Boxing match type themes using one bboy from Florida and one from somehwere else which were voted in online ABSTRAK VS. REMIND BEBE VS. VEITNAM LEGO VS`. JUSE BOOGIE EKSZOOBERANT VS. GHOST BETA VS. SOULSTICE CANDY VS. A-BGIRL these competitors went at it for a grueling 10 rounds and to add to the conterversy no judges. (WHO CAN ROAST THE MOST? 5 OCTOBER 5TH AND 6TH 2001 K-MEL VS REVEAL CLOUD VS. MOY BOO ROK VS. LIL ROK TELLS 1 VS. IRON MONKEY FLIPZ VS. CHINO PRIZM VS. REINEN DEVEE VS. BIONIC MAN)

2002 BACK TO TOP

HIP HOP MUSIC

Legendary hip-hop DJ Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC was shot and killed in a Queens studio on Wednesday (October 30)

2003 BACK TO TOP

2006 BACK TO TOP

FUNK STYLES

On Friday, May 12th, 2006, Steven Nicholas AKA Skeeter Rabbit, began his journey in the afterlife. A true warrior and tremendous spirit, Skeet leaves behind a legacy and an afterglow that will illuminate the lives of many for years to come. His wonderful attributes have left a permanent presence and impact on those he loved and cared for. WWW.SKEETERRABBIT.