Breaksploitation

Rock Steady Crew

• Founded in 1977 by Jojo and Jimmy D, revived in 1979 by Crazy Legs

• Prominent members:

– Crazy Legs, Frosty Freeze, Ken Swift, Doze, Mr. Freeze, Mr. Wiggles, Pop Master Fabel

• Help bring b-boyin' to Europe and Japan

• Wild Style (1982), Style Wars (1983), Flashdance (1983), Beat Street (1984)

• 1982, New York City Rap Tour in Paris / London

– Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmixer D.ST, graffiti artists Fab 5 Freddie and Futura 2000,

• So! What Happens Now?, 1991 (a musical)

RSC v. Dynamic Rockers

• August 1981, Lincoln Center

• Made the news and National Geographic

• Photographed by Martha Cooper

• First major national media coverage of the art form

Dynamic Rockers

• Dynamic Rockers also battled RSC in Style Wars

• Members eventually formed Dynamic Breakers

– Why the name change?

• One of the first to do choreography with “power moves”

– 4 of 5 original members were on high school gymnastics team

• Not considered “true” or authentic bboyin', but the media grabbed onto the spectacle of this style

• Featured on 1983 episode of That's Incredible

• Also put out some records

• Featured in: Delivery Boys, The Exterminator, The Last Dragon

Flashdance (1983)

• Opening scene of movie

• Gave global exposure to the dance in Hollywood film

• People started dancing all over US and Europe because of this scene

• Mr Freeze, Ken Swift, Crazy Legs and Frosty Freeze

David Letterman Show

• Legs and Ken Swift promote Flashdance

News Media

• 1984 in Madison, Wisconsin

• Supreme Rockers

• Fueled the media fire

“Buffalo Gals”

• By Malcolm McLaren feat. World Famous Supreme Team

– McLaren was a manager for the Sex Pistols

– Brought hip hop to UK

– Bambaattaa called him a “culture vulture”

• 1982

• Video features RSC

“(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew”

• 1983, big hit in Europe

• 1984, “Uprock”

New York City Breakers

• Managed by Michael Holman

– Help produce Beat Street

• Originally the Floor Masters

• Graffiti Rock pilot, 1984

• Roxy Battle in Beat Street

• 1984 Presidential Inauguration Gala (in '85)

• 1984 on Soul Train

• Holman made breakdancing HUGE commercially; he was the Fab 5 Freddy of dancing

Beat Street (1984)

• Quasi musical; Hollywoodization of Wild Style

• Beat Street Breakers (New York City Breakers) vs. Bronx Breakers (Rock Steady Crew)

• Theme of incorporation

• Ramo v. Spit (Cap?)

• Roxy Battle

• Subway battle

• Kool Herc

1984 Olympics Closing Ceremony

• Breakers perform during Lionel Richie's “All Night”

• Cuba Gooding Jr. was in Majestic Vision Breakdancers who performed

Michael Jackson

Commercials

How To's

Break Dance (1984)

• Commodore 64

• Original Rhythm game

• Gameplay

B-Boy

• For PlayStation 2

• Developed by FreeStyleGames

– Also developed DJ Hero

Breakin' (1984)

• Based on:

– Radiotron

– Breakin' n Enterin' (1983)

• 1st Battle

• 2nd Battle

• Turbo “Broom Scene”

• Ice-T's first role

Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)

• TKO crew vs. Electrorock

• The lure battle

• Led to sequel Rappin' (1985)

Delivery Boys (1985)

• Features Dynamic Breakers

• A group of pizza delivery boys form a crew and enter local battle

• Some clips

Body Rock (1984

• Street dancer (Chilly D) makes it big and deals with the pros and cons

• Club scene

• Skeleton scene

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