ALIEN NESS STATUETTE BY HARD FLEX

BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE PEEPS DOWN AT HARD FLEX CLOTHING IN PARIS, FRANCE FOR MAKING THIS STATUE IN MY HONOR.
YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE IN THESE PICS BUT THE STATUE ALSO HAS ALL MY TATTOOS!!

FIRST GENERATION ZULU KINGS CHARLIE ROCK

One of the first original 11 Bboys in Zulu Kings

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Anything you lack, is your weakness"
-Kamel,
Boogie Brats/Zulu Kings

DRUNKEN MASTERS PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE......

HISTORY OF HIP HOP (the realest version you can find) MUST SEE!!!!!!!!

PHOTOS: NEW YORK - END OF THE WEAK 10YR ANNIVERSARY

EODub (End Of the Weak) was founded in 2000 as one of the few weekly platforms in NYC where hungry MCs could showcase and hone their talent. What started as a small Open Mic in the back of a restaurant has grown into NYC's longest-running weekly hip-hop show and an International Hip-Hop movement.

Shout out to Mazzi Soul Purpose for including me and my people in the 10 year anniversary show... much respect.


Photography by Brina Martinez Photography

KID NESS AKA ALIEN NESS CIRCA 1986

"THE ART OF BATTLE" - BOOK REVIEW BY DJ RENEGADE.

A definitive work has just been published.
The first, and only of it's kind ever done.

It's a book on the strategies of battling as applied to the art of breaking.
Written by, in my opinion, one of the foremost experts in the field and student of the art, Alien Ness.
Ness has a deep history in the game which I won't go into here, but suffice to say, the guy knows what he's talking about.
He's been putting in work for many a year and is living proof that u can keep building and contributing as long as u want.

As a mixture between a pamphlet and a book, the Art of Battle(AOB) is filled with reams of information that, in this day and age of staged battles, are extremely relevant and useful.
Invaluable to both competitors and judges, it covers many of the main issues of battling and an insight into how said battles may be viewed.
Many people don't understand the science of staged battles, how to approach them, how they are judged, how to increase one's chance of winning etc.
As an example many dancers don't realise that almost all judges use a round per round system.
Some still think that battles are judged as a 'whole'.
This book makes an attempt to look at all of this and find some type of resolution.
Whether it succeeds or not I'll leave for the buyer to decide, but trust me...u won't be disappointed.

The book is divided into 4 main parts, but really it's just one long structure.
It's written in a very free-flow/stream of conciousness manner as if he's having a conversation with the reader or holding a seminar.
For me, in a subject of this nature, it is the perfect approach.
We are, afterall, dealing with scientific art and artistic science.
We are artists, but to enable judging to be consistent and make any sense we need to look at it scientifically.

U can tell he put a lot of thought and work into this book. It's filled with so many tips we take for granted but often sleep on. ie "In a crew competition, maintain an orderly line that's clear from the dance floor."
Seems obvious, right?
Now take a look at as many battles on youtube or dvd/video that u can find and see how many times this 'rule' is broken!!

Another example: "Never steal rounds".
Huh? Many crews do this. But as Ness states; no stolen runs are ever judged by any judge he has ever met. He can also add any I have met as well. It's a waste of energy and a blatant waste of what could potentially be a good round. Either by spoiling the original run or 'throwing away' a good one.
Imagine a situation where Cico does that and hits a nice 25 round '90 that won't be counted!!
Save that stuff for the cypher battles.

This information is all within the first few pages!! Believe me, ure on to a good one here.

Cop it: http://www.artofbattle.com/

OLD SCHOOL SONG OF THE DAY

1520 Sedgwick, Birthplace of Hip-Hop Saved By $5.6 Million Loan

A building that is recognized as a Hip-Hop landmark in the South Bronx has been rescued by a federal loan that will halt the building's sale, allowing the rents to stay affordable to its hundreds of tenants.

DJ Kool Herc and Senator Charles Schumer led a campaign to stop the sale of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue from being to private investors, who planned on raising the rents and selling the property, which would have displaced many of the building's current occupants.

Additionally, the  building is recognized as the place Hip-Hop music was born, when Kool Herc hosted a legendary party inside the building's recreational room in August of 1973.

The building received $5.6 million in financing through Mayor Bloomberg's New Housing Marketplace Place plan, which was created to assist physically and financially stressed multifamily buildings throughout the city.

In 2011, $3 million has been committed to make much needed repairs to 1520 Sedgwick Avenue.

“This is a huge victory for Sedgwick residents that will serve as a model for preserving affordable housing throughout New York City" said Senator Schumer. “The message here is clear, residents of 1520 Sedgwick, and residents of affordable buildings throughout the City, should not be used as pawns for predatory equity investors to make quick profits. The purchase of this note is a major milestone that we hope will be a big win for residents of Sedgwick.”

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn acknowledged 1520's contribution to the world and as grateful the building had been saved from unscrupulous speculators, who simply planned to buy the building to flip it.

“Three decades ago, DJ Kool Herc mixed funk songs with African beats and rap, and hip-hop was born during a house concert in the basements of 1520 Sedgwick,” said Speaker Christine Quinn. “Hip-hop has often been an expression of hardships and 1520 Sedgwick has seen its fair share of struggles. After the fiscal crisis, 1520 Sedgwick became a victim of predatory equity investors, and we were at risk of losing a historical and cultural landmark. But with this purchase and $3 million of Council funding for repairs, we will now see the rebirth of 1520 Sedgwick – and maybe see history created once again. I’m particularly excited that this will give tenants a chance to recreate their homes, not to mention the possibility of one day converting the building into a co-op."

MUSIC VIDEOS FEATURING YOURS TRUELY........

SugaPop- yellow butter sunshine 

 

 

Tony Touch & Total - I Wonder Why (He's The Greatest Dj) 

 

Antipop Consortium - GHOSTLAWNS 

 

Paulini - So Over You (Australia)

Color Wars

Why is it that every crew in the world claims to be the best, but when i ask them to put their colors on the line i can hardly find any crews?
Makes me wonder if cats really think they are the best, or say it cause they think its a "bboy" thing to do.

A SIGN FROM GOD

So, in december of 2006, Youval and i started talking and he gave me an invite to come to a jam in France called TEMPLE OF STYLE that they have every year in December. there was no money involved, but i love France, and got alot of friends there, and money really isn't a big deal, so i pack my bags and head for france.
i get to the jam the first day, which was a hip hop freestyle dance comp, but breakers are still doing thier thing in a cypher on the side.
now at the time, i was 39, and at my old age, it takes me a long time to warm up, and in the north of France, in December, its freezing!
so needless to say, i wasn't dancing that day. but like always, I'm still supported the breakers, so im in the cyphers, giving props and such to the cats doing their thing.
all of a sudden i notice this one cat on the opposite end of me, he staring hard, wispering in his boys ears, his boys start staring hard, and i wasn't born yesterday so i know whats coming next.
i turn to my boy
 Lamine and say, "damn, im gonna get smoked today, i know this cat is gonna call me out, and im so cold i cant move."
just as i finnished the sentence, the dude, comes blazzing out the the sidelines, in a furious and agressive, hard, top rock, i feel the tention from the other side of the cypher, and everyone is staring at me like they know homeboy is gonna call me out and they gonna see a battle.
homeboy does a spin to get closer to me, and just as he points his finger in my face, THE MUSIC DIES WITH NO WARNING!
he is staring at me puzzled like "what do I do know?"
 I look and point at him, and as loud and as demeaning as I can so the whole cypher hears me, i say "THAT WAS A SIGN FROM GOD HOMIE, DONT TEST ME!"
and the cypher went crazy!
Brutha got smoked without the battle even happening!
fastest battle i ever had.

ROLLING WITH THE BLACK SPADES

BLACK SPADES FOR EVER!!!

ROCK DANCE HISTORY: The Untold Story of Up-Rockin' by Jorge "Fabel" Pabon

FOR ALL THOSE WHO THINK ROCKING, OR "UPROCKING" STARTED IN BROOKLYN, THINK AGAIN!!!!
THANX TO POPMASTER FABEL THE TRUTH IS SLOWLY COMING OUT. MORE TO FOLLOW
ROCK ON AND ENJOY.

THE BLUEPRINT

Beaver of the original Zulu Kings is credited for starting teh bboy boom.. However there is always a root.
Here is a picture of me standing alongside the one who in Bronx River projects is known as "Doc"
Doc is original member and now leader of a neighborhood gang called "The Reapers"
Aside from being a member of the reapers, Doc, who in this days was known as "Pooch" was also a fantastic funk style dancer.
When I say funk style I don't mean popping and locking. But more or a bronxstyle version of alot of the dances you saw on soul train in the late 60's and early 70's.
Doc aka Pooch is credited for teaching Beaver, Robbie Rob, and Pow Wow

NEW PUBLIC ENEMY PREVIEW!!! A WWW.BBOYINSIDERS.COM EXCLUSIVE!!

PHOTOS: HELSINKI, FINLAND - CIRCLE PRINZ 2010

Photography by Brina Martinez Photography

THE FIRST BBOY

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

ORIGINAL FLYER FOR KOOL HERC'S SECOND PARTY!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR FULL VIEW

THE END ALWAYS JUSTIFIES THE MEANS

BACK IN 2000, THE BEEF WITH THE "SO CALLED KING" UPROCK STARTED.
THE REASON IT STARTED WAS CAUSE AFTER BATTLING 8 GUYS, FEVER ONE, MY LONG TIME PARTNER, WAS ATTACKED BY RC IN AN UPROCK BATTLE.
I WENT TO A JAM AND SAW RC, I SAID TO MYSELF.... "OK, IM WEARING A HEAVY SWEATER, TIMBERLANDS, AND LEATHER PANTS, BUT IF THIS NIGGA TRIES TO SHINE, IMMA EAT HIM!"
IF I WAS A MEMBER OF DYNASTY ROCKERS PROTECTING HIM OR ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CREW, I WOULDVE BEEN CALLED A SOLDIER BY RC, BUT SINCE THE RETALIATION WAS AGAINST HIM, IM WRONG AND A TROUBLE MAKER.
EVEN AT THE END OF THE CLIUP YOU WILL SEE ME SAY TO HIM "DONN'T EVER MESS WITH MY PARTNER"
I AM WHAT I AM, SOMONE WHO BACKS UP THIER CREW AND THIER FAMILY.
LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME ALONE.
"I RIDE FOR YOU, YOU RIDE FOR ME, YOUR ENEMIES ARE MY ENEMIES, CAUSE YOU AINT NEVER HAD A FRIEND LIKE ME!"
-TUPAC SHAKUR

PHOTOS: HELSINKI, FINLAND - WORKSHOPS @ SAIFFA FLOW MO DANCE STUDIO

In August 2010, me and Teknyc were guest teachers at Saiffa Flow Mo Dance School in Helsinki, Finland.

Saiffa’s founding members are pioneers of Finnish streetdance and are part of the crew, Flow Mo, the most successful crew in Finnish streetdance history. 

Thank you to my entire Flow Mo family for the love and respect... and congrats on your new studio!


Photos by Brina Martinez Photography