Rocksteady Crew 21st Anniversary
July 25
Gaelic Park, 240th St at Broadway, Bronx (no phone). Subway:1 to 238th
St. Sat 25 at 1pm.
The Rocksteady Crew's 21st anniversary throwdown continues with a free
park jam, just like back in the day. For Rocksteady info, call
212-358-3918, or
visit their website at www.rocksteadycrew.com.
Rocksteady Crew 21st Anniversary: International B-Boy Battle
July 24
Marc Ballroom, 27 Union Sq West between 15th and 16th
Sts(212-243-7969). Subway: L, N, R, 4, 5, 6 to 14th St-Union Sq. Fri
24 at 1pm. $15.
The Rocksteady Crew's 21st anniversary extravaganza continues with
this afternoon exhibition of B-Boying. There's a beatbox
demonstration, a panel discussion on the art of battling?and of course
the battle itself, with $1000 prize for the winner. For Rocksteady
info, call 212-358-3918, or visit their website (is is the '90s yet?)
at www.rocksteadycrew.com.
Breakers' revenge
The old-school hip-hop resurgence continues with the Rocksteady Crew's
21st-anniversary party
By Adam Goldstone
If any further
evidence was needed to
prove that old
school hip-hop is back
in the cultural
spotlight, 1998 has
provided
plenty. The original spirit of
hip-hop has, of
course, always been
lurking in the
background in New
York: The U.K.
jungle scene has
frequently
borrowed hip-hop lingo,
graphics and
samples, and
late-'70s/early-'80s sneakers and
tracksuits have
been back in fashion for years. But in the past year, the pace of the
resurgence has quickened and the interest grown more widespread. Jason
Nevins scored a worldwide smash (and Run-DMC members saw their careers
suddenly revitalized) with his house remix of the rap pioneers' "It's
Like That." The track has inspired copycat overhauls ranging from
bootleg remixes of the Beastie Boys to Nevins's own forthcoming remix
of House of Pain's "Jump Around." Then there's the rerelease of 1983's
seminal hip-hop flick Wild Style and the boom in old-school rap
compilations. Even underground hip-hop has been undergoing a
renaissance, with acts like the Khromozomes, L.A.'s multi-MCJurassic 5
and the Rawkus Records stable taking the music back from Puff
Daddystyle pop innocuousness. Meanwhile, electro has enjoyed a minor
comeback--and its influence is increasingly felt--in many clubs, and
turntablist crews like the X-Ecutioners and San Francisco's Invisibl
Skratch Piklz are the beneficiaries of a renewed interest in battle
DJing. The original ethos of hip-hop culture, it seems, is everywhere.
Capping all this old-school fever is the hoopla surrounding the 21st
anniversary of the Rocksteady Crew. The most famous of the
break-dancing troupes to explode onto the scene in the early '80s,
Crew members went from b-boying in the streets of their Spanish Harlem
neighborhood to performing all over the world. The Crew started in the
mid-'70s as a small group of friends, and eventually grew to 500
members, with chapters all over the world. Led by Richard "Crazy Legs"
Colon, the Rocksteadies didn't hang up their sneakers when breaking's
15 minutes in the mainstream were up. Today, the Crew is still active,
performing and passing on b-boying (and b-girling!) traditions to the
next generation. Colon teaches break dancing to kids in the Bronx,
oversees the excellent Rocksteady Crew website
(www.rocksteadycrew.com) and runs a merchandising operation, selling
T-shirts and videos (including hip-hop documentaries and tapes of Crew
performances).
The Crew's three-day anniversary celebration this weekend could be the
event that takes the old-school revival to the next level. The
festivities kick off Thursday 23 at Wetlands' hip-hop film festival.
The club will be screening a number of flicks about the rapping,
breaking and graffiti scenes. The next day, there's the International
B-Boy Battle at the Marc Ballroom, featuring a $1,000 cash prize and a
panel discussion on the art of battling. On Saturday 25, a free
concert at Gaelic Park in the Bronx will bring the near-mythical
old-school park jams back to life. Then on Sunday, there's another
performance by the Crew and a "b-boy grudge match" at the Manhattan
Center, complete with Internet simulcast. Finally, there's a
turntablist competition at one of hip-hop's most hallowed venues, the
former stomping grounds of Bambaataa & Co.: the Roxy. Plus, various
as-yet-unconfirmed after-parties are promised.
The talent lineup is breathtaking, with the old, new and "true"
schools all represented--or, rather, representing. Details as to
exactly who will perform where were sketchy at press time, but DJ,
radio personality and hip-hop industry stalwart Bobbito the Barber
hosts most events, joined by veterans like Chief Rocker Busy Bee, Sway
& King Tech, Lord Sear, Ray Roll and others. Old-school artists
scheduled to perform include T-La Rock and the Fearless Four, while
ultra-legends Grand Wizard Theodore, Kool Herc, Grand Master Caz and
Cash Money wreck shop on the decks. Representing the new school are
the likes of Common, the Beatnuts, Coco Brovaz, Black Moon,
Non-Phixion, Mos Def, Jurassic 5, Tragedy, DJs Evil Dee, Cucumber
Slice, Eclipse and many more.
So whether you were doin' it in the park back in the '70s, were
breaking at Negril or the Roxy in the '80s, or are hearing this stuff
for the first time, you'll want to check out this rap lover's delight.
For updated info on all events, lineups and after-parties, call
212-358-3918, or visit the Rocksteady Crew website at
www.rocksteadycrew.com.
July 23-30, 1998
==
" A naked lunch is natural to us,
we eat reality sandwiches.
But allegories are so much lettuce.
Don't hide the madness. "
-- Allen Ginsburg (1954)
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