Post by haihat on Nov 6, 2005 14:50:12 GMT -5
Hey guys, I thought this would be nice to have. Found from the freestylesessions message board. Posted by hdt415.
Ken Swift Essay #2 SERVED OR BURNT
Thanks to JUNIORROCK for providing this:
Served Or Burnt?
Ken Swift
It seems to me that, in Breaking, a lot of spectators to this dance are ignorant to the terms used to explain the outcome of Break battles or competitions. Usually, when a person would say they would "serve" somebody, they meant that they were going to take someone out. I think when you take someone out, you went to a point where your opponent couldn't hang anymore, and your moves were delivered better. Not necessarily that the actual moves were better, but that the execution was better.
Now, to burn somebody usually meant total dominance in the circle- to the point where one would do moves on the offensive and the opponent couldn't respond to the level of skills. In this situation, the aggressor wouldn't allow his opponent to come back with something to match, while at the same time not giving too much away. In my opinion, most battles that involve someone getting burnt usually deal with a person with a lot more experience than the other. You don't see that many well matched battles where someone gets burnt.
These outcomes & responses from crowds all depend on the level of intelligence behind the history and progressions of the elements of B-Boying. It takes experience: from actually being in a battle, winning some & losing some, and watching them to really understand and rate who does the best in a battle. You have to know the moves- old & new- to actually see who executed them properly. Not only that, if you know the moves and the people doing them, you also get to see whose biting out there.
Let's just say you saw a battle and you liked the moves one kid was doing and were almost positive that this kid won- but later found out that he bit a lot of shit from other breakers. One of the main things about early Hip Hop was originality. You wanted your own shit. This is what let people know what you were about straight across the board- style, character, fashion, etc.
Now, what we've talked about primarily surrounds the battle, not the time limited staged contest or competition which in most Hip Hop events (even though it's intentions are good) seem to cause controversy in regards to judging and overall presentation. I think it's just a matter of specifying particulars with requirements and/or wording to these showcases. Remember, no matter what the crowd does or what your friends tell you, you always know deep in your heart when you win or lose. If you compete or battle, of course you want to win- that's the objective- but even in defeat, doing your best is gratifying.
Ken Swift R.S.C.
_______________________________________________
Rocksteady Crew bio
Ken Swift (Kenny Gabbert)
Mr Freeze
Eazy Mike
Mr Wiggles (Steve Clemente)
Lil' Crazy Legs
Pop Master Fabel
Frosty Freeze (Wayne Frost)
Jimmy D
Jo Jo
Crazy Legs (Richie Colon)
Johnny Jay
Rip Ski
Lenny Len
Kuriaki (RIP)
Buck 4 (RIP)
Kippy D (RIP)
Undoubtedly the most highly recognized name in the b-boy world, the Rock Steady Crew was first formed in 1977 in the Bronx, New York. The two man team of Jo Jo and Jimmy D were the original founders. It was an important time for the dance movement. Disco was killing the artform and many b-boys had given up and gone on to other things. Jo Jo was a one time hustler that learned he could gain more notoriety on the dance floor. He is also often credited with inventing the back spin.
In 1979, Jimmy D realized the need for new blood and added in a member that would eventually be scene as a spokesman for the entire organization. That member was Richard "Crazy Legs" Colón. The other new member was Lenny Len. They began spreading the RSC name into Manhattan.
They used battles as a means of recruitment.
Mr. Freeze was one of the first real white b-boys.
Frosty Freeze was an elder b-boy (a member of the Rock City Crew) who was still interested in the game but was without a steady crew. He pledged his support with the younger RSC members if they needed him in a battle.
The crew's big break came in 1981. Photographer Henry Chalfant gave them the chance to perform at the Lincoln Center Outdoors Program. The event turned into a battle with the Dynamic Rockers. The show garnered coverage from various press sources including National Geographic. The result was world wide attention to the b-boy cause.
Not long after this Crazy Legs was named President of the Rock Steady Crew with Frosty Freeze and Ken Swift (who was part of a crew called The Young City Boys and was brought in as an RSC member after battling Crazy Legs) as Co-Vice Presidents.
But perhaps and even bigger break was the appearance by members Mr Freeze, Ken Swift, Crazy Legs and Frosty Freeze in the box office smash "Flashdance". This lead to a nation wide craze into what was now being called "breakdancing". It also played heavily into the development of the West Coast b-boy scene.
Lil' Crazy Legs, originally part of Rock City Rockers, got his name from his efforts to copy Crazy Legs style.
Had a regular Thursday night gig at a club called Negril which was run by Michael Holman (of Graffiti Rock fame).
In 1982, Rock Steady Crew became members of Afrika Bambaataa's Zulu Nation.
The established 98th and Amsterdam in New York as Rock Steady Park and it became a meeting place for all RSC members.
Due to their burgeoning success, they took on Kool Lady Blue as their manager.
They were part of a European tour that included Afrika Bambaataa, Fab 5 Freddy, various graffiti artists among others.
Members appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.
They recorded a record for Charisma called "Hey You Rock Steady Crew". The record is hardly a b-boy anthem, but it did reach the top of the British charts. They also released a single called "Uprock". Both songs appeared on their album "Ready For Battle".
The record did a have a downside. Due to contractual dealings, they were unable to perform live. The group was reaching the end of their initial popularity wave. Unfortunately some members didn't choose the right path during this down period.
Mr. Wiggles (also part of West Coast Crew Electric Boogaloos) and Fable from the Magnificent Force came up with an idea for a hip hop musical called "So, What Happens Now." It ended up being the critics choice in the New York Times and received rave reviews in The Village Voice and The Daily News.
Resurgence picked up steam again with their performance at the 1991 Source Awards as well as their first annual Rock Steady Anniversary Celebration.
They have also been featured in several music videos in the last 3-4 years.
________________________________________________
Ken Swift Essay #2 SERVED OR BURNT
Thanks to JUNIORROCK for providing this:
Served Or Burnt?
Ken Swift
It seems to me that, in Breaking, a lot of spectators to this dance are ignorant to the terms used to explain the outcome of Break battles or competitions. Usually, when a person would say they would "serve" somebody, they meant that they were going to take someone out. I think when you take someone out, you went to a point where your opponent couldn't hang anymore, and your moves were delivered better. Not necessarily that the actual moves were better, but that the execution was better.
Now, to burn somebody usually meant total dominance in the circle- to the point where one would do moves on the offensive and the opponent couldn't respond to the level of skills. In this situation, the aggressor wouldn't allow his opponent to come back with something to match, while at the same time not giving too much away. In my opinion, most battles that involve someone getting burnt usually deal with a person with a lot more experience than the other. You don't see that many well matched battles where someone gets burnt.
These outcomes & responses from crowds all depend on the level of intelligence behind the history and progressions of the elements of B-Boying. It takes experience: from actually being in a battle, winning some & losing some, and watching them to really understand and rate who does the best in a battle. You have to know the moves- old & new- to actually see who executed them properly. Not only that, if you know the moves and the people doing them, you also get to see whose biting out there.
Let's just say you saw a battle and you liked the moves one kid was doing and were almost positive that this kid won- but later found out that he bit a lot of shit from other breakers. One of the main things about early Hip Hop was originality. You wanted your own shit. This is what let people know what you were about straight across the board- style, character, fashion, etc.
Now, what we've talked about primarily surrounds the battle, not the time limited staged contest or competition which in most Hip Hop events (even though it's intentions are good) seem to cause controversy in regards to judging and overall presentation. I think it's just a matter of specifying particulars with requirements and/or wording to these showcases. Remember, no matter what the crowd does or what your friends tell you, you always know deep in your heart when you win or lose. If you compete or battle, of course you want to win- that's the objective- but even in defeat, doing your best is gratifying.
Ken Swift R.S.C.
_______________________________________________
Rocksteady Crew bio
Ken Swift (Kenny Gabbert)
Mr Freeze
Eazy Mike
Mr Wiggles (Steve Clemente)
Lil' Crazy Legs
Pop Master Fabel
Frosty Freeze (Wayne Frost)
Jimmy D
Jo Jo
Crazy Legs (Richie Colon)
Johnny Jay
Rip Ski
Lenny Len
Kuriaki (RIP)
Buck 4 (RIP)
Kippy D (RIP)
Undoubtedly the most highly recognized name in the b-boy world, the Rock Steady Crew was first formed in 1977 in the Bronx, New York. The two man team of Jo Jo and Jimmy D were the original founders. It was an important time for the dance movement. Disco was killing the artform and many b-boys had given up and gone on to other things. Jo Jo was a one time hustler that learned he could gain more notoriety on the dance floor. He is also often credited with inventing the back spin.
In 1979, Jimmy D realized the need for new blood and added in a member that would eventually be scene as a spokesman for the entire organization. That member was Richard "Crazy Legs" Colón. The other new member was Lenny Len. They began spreading the RSC name into Manhattan.
They used battles as a means of recruitment.
Mr. Freeze was one of the first real white b-boys.
Frosty Freeze was an elder b-boy (a member of the Rock City Crew) who was still interested in the game but was without a steady crew. He pledged his support with the younger RSC members if they needed him in a battle.
The crew's big break came in 1981. Photographer Henry Chalfant gave them the chance to perform at the Lincoln Center Outdoors Program. The event turned into a battle with the Dynamic Rockers. The show garnered coverage from various press sources including National Geographic. The result was world wide attention to the b-boy cause.
Not long after this Crazy Legs was named President of the Rock Steady Crew with Frosty Freeze and Ken Swift (who was part of a crew called The Young City Boys and was brought in as an RSC member after battling Crazy Legs) as Co-Vice Presidents.
But perhaps and even bigger break was the appearance by members Mr Freeze, Ken Swift, Crazy Legs and Frosty Freeze in the box office smash "Flashdance". This lead to a nation wide craze into what was now being called "breakdancing". It also played heavily into the development of the West Coast b-boy scene.
Lil' Crazy Legs, originally part of Rock City Rockers, got his name from his efforts to copy Crazy Legs style.
Had a regular Thursday night gig at a club called Negril which was run by Michael Holman (of Graffiti Rock fame).
In 1982, Rock Steady Crew became members of Afrika Bambaataa's Zulu Nation.
The established 98th and Amsterdam in New York as Rock Steady Park and it became a meeting place for all RSC members.
Due to their burgeoning success, they took on Kool Lady Blue as their manager.
They were part of a European tour that included Afrika Bambaataa, Fab 5 Freddy, various graffiti artists among others.
Members appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.
They recorded a record for Charisma called "Hey You Rock Steady Crew". The record is hardly a b-boy anthem, but it did reach the top of the British charts. They also released a single called "Uprock". Both songs appeared on their album "Ready For Battle".
The record did a have a downside. Due to contractual dealings, they were unable to perform live. The group was reaching the end of their initial popularity wave. Unfortunately some members didn't choose the right path during this down period.
Mr. Wiggles (also part of West Coast Crew Electric Boogaloos) and Fable from the Magnificent Force came up with an idea for a hip hop musical called "So, What Happens Now." It ended up being the critics choice in the New York Times and received rave reviews in The Village Voice and The Daily News.
Resurgence picked up steam again with their performance at the 1991 Source Awards as well as their first annual Rock Steady Anniversary Celebration.
They have also been featured in several music videos in the last 3-4 years.
________________________________________________