Electric Breakdance (1984)

Who remembers this? Or even the whole slew of breakdance instructional records that came out in the mid-80's?

This comp was better than the others out there in that it used the real songs rather than those pony cover versions that crept out into the record shelves ready to be snapped up by young, impressionable, unsuspecting youths.

Having said that....there are a couple of dodgy tracks on here, ha,ha.
A very strange reworking of Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit' has been included by 'BT & The City Slickers' who somehow missed the whole point of the song - there's supposed to be scratching on it!
This album is worth it for this one track alone and the truly 'innovative' use of synthesizers which are trying their best to emulate D.St's handiwork.

The more eagle-eyed or nerdy among you may be thinking that you've heard of old BT before. Something not quite on the level is afoot here. BT & The City Slickers appeared on another breakdance instructional record - also, like this one, from K-Tel - albeit as 'Alex & The City Crew' on the comp, Breakdance.

Hmmm, spot the difference......

Now, that album had the same front cover photo but featured a white background. Watch out as well because the tracks are all homemade versions. BT is getting busy with his knock-off Herbie Hancock effort again and also in attendance is the rather schoolboy humour-ishly titled,  Joy And The Sticks who attempt a version of Deniece Williams' 'Let's Hear It For The Boy'.


Anyway, back to the first version. Included in the download is a photo of the unfolded 'Breaking Moves By The New York City Breakers'. Yes indeed.
We have the path to enlightenment in 5 simple-to-follow headings.

• Electric Boogie/Body Poppin'
• Moonwalking
• Top-Rocking
• Footwork
• Headspin

There's even a little rhyme to help you push your street moves to the limit ("You're a great shaker, but try these other moves to see if you're a breaker").

A great slice of hip hop history.
Here's the tracklist but my pick is a toss between Twilight Kingdom and Jam On It.

A1 -  Newcleus - Jam On It 7:54
A2  - Double Vision - Clock On The Wall 4:28
A3 - Whodini - Magic's Wand 4:19
A4 - D-Train - You're The One For Me 5:10
B1 - Twilight 22 - Electric Kingdom 3:59
B2 - Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel - White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) 4:04
B3 - G.L.O.B.E. & Whiz Kid - Play That Beat Mr. D.J. 5:09
B4 - B.T. & The City Slickers - Rockit 3:53
B5 - Run-DMC - It's Like That  4:47

192kbps
65mb

Electric Breakdance

More details of Electric Breakdance is on Discogs

More about → Electric Breakdance (1984)

Just For Kicks (2005)

Found this the other day. It's a documentary all about kicks, sneakers, trainers, pumps or whatever you call your b-boy footwear.
Some interesting facts are given throughout and talking heads include Run,DMC, Bonz Malone, Fab 5 Freddy, Damon Dash, Grandmaster Caz to name just a few.
Now, I know that the real hard-knocks like to have more than a few trainers box-fresh in multiple quantities stacked in the crib but some examples here are truly astounding.

The Sneaker Riots when Nike released a limited run of 150 pairs of Nike NYC Pigeon Dunks to certain stores in New York City is quite something espicially to those not deep into the whole sneaker collecting sub-culture.

I especially enjoyed hearing DMC's confession as to the real reason why 'My Adidas' came about. Blame it on Russell Rush!

More about → Just For Kicks (2005)

Planet B-Boy (2008) / B-Boy Championships 2010

I watched this the other night (thanks, SCENES).

This video below is the full version of the Japanese crew, Ichigeki's showcase from the Battle Of The Year 2005.
It is regarded as the best performance and to this day has not been surpassed by any crew since.



Also, read this idiot's take on the 'fad' of b-boying.

Download Planet B-Boy here:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Cico and the rest of the Vagabonds crew

And The B-Boy Championships 2010 have come to a close.
This year's winners were the Vagabonds from France.
B-Boy Cico set a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive hand spins (1990’s) in front of an 8,000 strong crowd.
For any that missed all the action, Channel 4 will be airing a six-part series, ‘Sony Ericsson World B-Boy Series’ from Sunday, 7th November.
The full story available here.


More Content:


Images on Flickr: http://bit.ly/dw8Wrx

B-Boy Championships Website: http://www.bboychampionships.com/

More about → Planet B-Boy (2008) / B-Boy Championships 2010

More Sony Ericsson B-Boy Championships News

The B-Boy Championships continue and the World Final is almost here.
October 10th at Brixton Academy is the place to be for some breathtaking breakin.

The video above is a trailer for the short segments that Ch4 will be broadcasting from November 7th.
The audio for this video absolutely sucks so turn it down and press play below instead.

More about → More Sony Ericsson B-Boy Championships News

Sony Ericsson B-Boy Championships 2010

In case you didn't know, this year's Sony Ericsson B-Boy Championships are currently taking place all over the world.
Now in its 15th year, the UK B-Boy Championships features the world’s best solo breakers, poppers, lockers and B-Boy crews from across the globe, including the US, UK, Japan, Korea, Russia, China, Holland and Scandinavia.

Before the finals, eight international eliminations take place where breakers compete to represent their country at the finals in October at London’s Brixton Academy .
Channel 4 is currently the road and filming footage from the qualifiers, as well as giving insight into the culture of B-Boy.


Some facts about the Sony Ericsson B-Boy Championships

1. This is the 15th Anniversary of The B-Boy Champs.
2. The 2009 winning crew ‘Endangered Species’ from the USA , appeared at the Oscars.
3. The Prodigy used a photo from the B-Boy champs for the cover of the ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ single.
4. The Championships has its own TV series on Channel 4.
5. 2001 winner and superstar b-boy ‘Crumbs’, taught Justin Timberlake how to B-Boy.
6. The B-boy Champs has its own video game called ‘B-Boy’.
7. It is the biggest ‘All Battle’ competition in the world.
8. Asics make the official ‘B-Boy’ sneaker.
9. New Era make a bespoke B-boy Champs Cap.
10. The most successful nation at the Champs is Korea.
11. UK crew ‘Second To None’ won the first 2 B-Boy Champs.
12. Host Crazy Legs is the most famous b-boy in the world, appearing in numerous movies and performing for the Queen.
13. The winner of the Popping Battle at the 2007 Championships ‘Salah’ went on to win the French version of Britain’s Got Talent.

Big shout to Joe Conzo.
More news when we have it.



Link-a-rama

Official Website
Facebook Group Page
Youtube Page
Flix


This was a pre-scheduled blog for you sharp-eye followers!

More about → Sony Ericsson B-Boy Championships 2010

Beat Street....flashback!

I watched Beat Street again the other night. But what was different with this viewing was that I watched the whole thing from start to finish instead of just heading to the battle at The Roxy as is the usual routine.
So here we have the film in pictures with some analytical commentary.

This is a nice shot of the action that's about to occur.
The Beat Street crew (or rather, The New York City Breakers) ready for battle.
Look at Lee's get-up; to paraphrase Prince Vince, he's sporting it fresh, Homes.

Look Ramo. A white one!
And so it was. Gleaming, clean & fresh.
Unfortunately the subsequent burner sprayed by Ramo was anything but fresh.

And here it is. I think even in 1984 we were looking at this and thinking, "Was it Bring Your Daughter To Work Day when they shot this scene?".
Considering Martha Cooper, Michael Holman, Tony Silver, Henry Chalfont, Kool Herc, The NYC Breakers, Rock Steady Crew, Afrika Bambaataa and Jazzy Jay were on board then they should have treated the 4th element of hip hop with just as much respect.

And here we go again. What a waste of Krylon.

Here's Jazzy Jay at The Roxy rocking those shades before Kanye was out of Rusks. Probably.
And proof that someone else other than Mastermind mixed on the GLI.

Richard Sisco. There he is.

With lyrics such as "Often imotated but never duplicated" I'm wondering, like you, why he never reached the dizzy heights of fame that so cruelly passed him by.
He shoulda dropped that Wanda Dee like a bad habit. Then maybe it would've been HIM singing about thongs.

Here is 'The System'.
Now this guy deserves his own show. No, not the Michael Jackson-alike but the yuppy keyboard player on the right.
The way he grooves and gets down throughout the whole song? He was born with music in his bones, this dude!








Now I might be wrong but weren't these two in the beginning of that Arena documentary, Beat This! A Hip Hop History...? They were poppin' on the street in Times Square and peering into the electronics shop watching Mel Brookes on one of the tv's.
They're called Fantastic Duo btw. And they are, rather.

This was an influential scene for me when I was growing up.
I had various sound equipment around my room in homage to Double K's bedroom. Oh happy days.

The man, the myth, the legend. DJ Kool Herc live at the Burning Spear.
While it was good to hear Kenny spinning the cool Tommy Boy ish - well, mixed by Jazzy Jay actually - it would have been even cooler to have Herc on the wheels of steel.
But then again, I dread to think what they would've made him play.






What a shot.
I mean, look at them. You're facing off with Rock Steady!!
If this was my POV I'd be uprocking with cacky pants.










The legendary Kuriaki (RIP) and the immortal diss to Powerful Pexter:

Powerful Pexter : You're biters, all your homeboys are biters.
Kuriaki: I ain't never stole no moves from you, your moves ain't worth to be bit. So what's up with that, punk?




This was a great scene in that it tried to convey a sense of authenticity of the hip hop culture.
Like KRS ONE said, "power from the streetlight made the place dark".
We see the guy hooking up the power cable to a streetlight and suddenly the whole room lights up.
US Girls are in the house which is always good. I must admit I had a thing for Lisa Lee. I think it was the haircut.
But check out the turntable. Hmmm, Double K, I don't think Kool Herc would've let you play at the Burning Spear if he'd clocked this. Why and how did the needle get over there?



That's all for now. The next post will feature a 'cut-out-and-keep' guide to the b-boys at The Roxy Battle! So what's up with that, punk?

More about → Beat Street....flashback!

THE OLD SCHOOL RADIO HOUR

These podcasts are well worth spending some time listening to. Your host is "TG-The Analog Master of Disaster" who you may have met over on oldschoolhiphop.com which is where I know him from.
Have a look at the archives for shows with Mr Magic, Melle Mel, Jazzy Jay, MC Chill and others.
The first one I went for was a special on Beat Street and Breakin' with special guest co-host, Fast Break (who appeared in Beat Street).  

Check the archives here.

Also TG has made a video for Bon Rock's "B-Boy" song from 26 years ago. A strange choice, but Mr Rock seems happy enough to appear. The little b-boy - Little Vicious - is pretty fantastic as well.

More about → THE OLD SCHOOL RADIO HOUR

Happy Birthday Patti Astor!

So who came first, Patti Astor or Debbie Harry? Well Debbie Harry actually by about 5 years. But they seem to be one and the same person in my mind as both were all over New York city in the late 70's, early 80's and both had a major influence in the formative years of hip hop.

Here's a great little video about the life of Patti (in 8 minutes!) and you'd be surprised at the unseen archival footage as well as bits and doodads of Fab 5 Freddy, Lee Quinones and Zephyr chatting about the great lady.

More about → Happy Birthday Patti Astor!

Rock, Rock, Electro Rock!

Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to visit the Hippodrome in London in 1985 to witness Mike Allen and his amazing technicolour Hawaiian shirt while he compered the legendary b-boy event that was Electro Rock.
Featuring some of the best-known UK artists at the time (spot a young Goldie credited under his real name of Clifford Price in The B-Boys crew) as well as a special appearance from the mighty Afrika Bambaataa, there are some great moments in this video.
I used to have this on vhs until someone skanked it, and my BBC doc A Hip Hop History and come to think of it my home-recorded, Westwood doc, Bad Meaning Good.
If you were in the crowd, shout out and let us know where where you are!
Highlights include (but not limited to)....

KC's flying headphones (22.14)
Bloke who used to be on Eastenders (28.10)
Mike's strange attire (5.38)
Junior Gee's mullet (8.01)
Strangely arousing legs akimbo action from Uprock (33.32)
Is it a girl, no it's Sipho (RIP) before they dropped although that doesn't explain the bizarre moves (35.40)
And my favourite, watchthecamera, watchthecamera, watchthecamera, watchthecamera...SHIT! (50.10)

N.b. According to Wikipedia, Mike Allen was born in 1942 which made him 43 years old when he appeared on Electro Rock. He's now 67.......!?

More about → Rock, Rock, Electro Rock!

Beat Street Volumes 1 & 2

Oh yeah, this is what I'm talking about.

"Open the door, Lee, open the door"
"I got a rocket in my pocket"
"So what's up with that, punk!"
"Damn Spit!"
"One talkin' paint, the other one money and they're so fulla shit that it ain't even funny"
"Maybe I'll catch me a female"
"Look, a white one!"


So many classic quotes in this film. So what if it was a little bit 'Hollywood', it brought hip hop to little English towns and no doubt the smaller European provinces.
Who doesn't chapter-skip to the b-boy battle at The Roxy with Breaker's Revenge?
Who doesn't chapter-skip past the toddler-with-a-spray-can 'graf' on the train by RAMO ("Hip hop ya don't stop").

Directed by Stan Lathan (Def Comedy Jam, The Bernie Mac Show, Hill Street Blues), who was 39 years old at the time and possibly didn't fully understand the culture. There are some cringe-worthy scenes and the Rae Dawn Chong love interest sub-story didn't need to be there. But then we get the killer 'dance-off' (I hate that term, sorry) with Rock Steady's finest, Crazy Legs.
While we're on the subject, is Crazy Legs now spelt with two 'g's as in Crazy Leggs as I've seen recently in print? And also when the fluck did Grandmaster D.St become DXT? When? Why?

Here's the tracklisting for the soundtrack.

1 Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five - Beat Street Breakdown (6:48)
2 The System - Baptize The Beat (4:25)
3 Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force + Shango - Frantic Situation (5:08)
4 Juicy - Beat Street Strut (4:57)
5 Sharon Green Lisa Counts & Debbie D - Us Girls (3:55)
6 Cindy Mizelle - This Could Be The Night (4:51)
7 Arthur Baker - Breaker's Revenge (4:52)
8 Jazzy Jay Son Of Beat Street (4:06)
9 Juicy - Give Me All (4:32)
10 Tina B - Nothin's Gonna Come Easy (4:50)
11 The Treacherous Three - Santa's Rap (6:09)
12 Jenny Burton - It's Alright By Me (5:14)
13 Rockers Revenge - Battle Cry (4:53)
14 Ralph Rolle Phony Four MC's-Wappin (Bubblehead) (6:13)
15 La La - Into The Night (4:27)



Link here

And here's the password written small cos I likes to mess withs ya..... repo136saysyoubettereatyoureggsbeforeIbreakyourlegs

More about → Beat Street Volumes 1 & 2

B-Boy 80's Adverts

Found these little gems on YouTube the other day.
Anyone remember any?

**Don't forget to pause the Player at the bottom of the page first**


Weetabix Breakers





Right Guard B-Boy




Hersheys Chocolate Breakdance commercial circa 1984




Michael Boogaloo Shrimp Chambers Aqua fresh Turbo Ad





And lastly this one which can't be embedded so here's the direct link to YouTube.

K-Tel breakdance Commercial
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qgZfH5xKWc4

More about → B-Boy 80's Adverts