Mini-documentary by Wills Glasspiegel for NPR. Features members of the pioneering crew of DJs, Ghettoteknitianz, and dancers from Terra Squad, Red Legends, Taliban, Tribe, Leaders of the New School, Nu Era, Goon Squad and more.
In 2007, the high energy fast paced movement of the feet, twist and turns in motion dance style called "JUKING" blazed the ghettos of Chicago like a forest fire. When it came to the best of the best juke dancers in Chicago, hands down Lil Bit was the Floyd Mayweather of this dance movement. After meeting 17 year old Lemon, 18 year old Sway, and 16 year old Auriel at a neighborhood block party, Lil Bit became the 4th member of their dance group: "L.O.A girls" better known as the Ladies of Action. News of their dance group caught the attention of a popular Chicago Footwork D.J. named D.J. Lightbulb. D.J. Lighbulb organized the biggest power move of his D.Jing career by bringing together the best juke dance crews in Chicago giving them a chance to win $50,000 and dance in the music video's of Ciara and Chris Brown. After months of narrowing down the competition--the L.O.A girls were among the finalist for the dance show. With days counting down to the show and everyone's excited, D.J. Lighbulb hadn't told anyone that the show has been cancelled. Now faced with a major disappointment to himself, the L.O.A girls and the entire city of Chicago; D.J. Lightbulb must make a decision on what to do? Lemon is faced with a teenage pregnancy, Lil Bit has been struggling with a horrifying secret and life in their violent neighborhood begins to cause problems in their young lives. D.J. Lightbulb and the girls road to prosperity will be anything but easy. But att the end of the day. They are all just "TRYING TO LIVE"
I live in the Netherlands, where hakken became a thing in the 90's, connected to the gabber movement. Apparently it's become a thing in the US now too. Stylistically it reminds me a little of footwork, except looking at these guys move it kind of feels like footwork's slightly stupid cousin. This is so much more sophisticated
I guess I'll let the cat out of the bag. He may be telling the truth from his perspective but I am the originator of footwork. I am the father and the song that is considered the mother is, "Work That Mother F-----" by Steve Poindexter. I was at "The Rink" in Chicago battling House-of-Matics and I did this dance for the first time in 1991 or 1992. In the crowd someone said, "Did you see that n----- work his feet?" When people asked me what it was I said footwork. My name at the time was M.C. Tick. I was a dancer for the group F.O.G. (Force of a Gun). We were from Altgeld Gardens. That's the truth. I was inspired by the cartoon Tom and Jerry, when they had on their suits and was jitterbugging and M.C. Hammer's the typewriter and an episode of Steve Urkel when he was playing the accordion and kicking up his feet. Those were my inspirations and I worked on it at home, but when I went to the Rink I did it for the first time publicly and killed it! These young people these days have totally evolved the dance and I'm impressed.
Kookie D Thanks sweetheart but no thanks. I'm in my 40's. There's noway that I can do what I used to do. I no longer reside in Chicago either. These days I live vicariously through Chris Brown and Ciara. LOL
The house scene started in the warehouse, too me that the rave scene in the deep south side Chicago diffenlty influenced the moves. The breakdance scene always went hard in the chi. Harvey expo center was lit
Chicago's roots Larry Heard dance music. Kraftwerk too. And it's got to have soul. Techno soul like the guys from Detroit. Juke the good juke music has those abstract jazzy chords. Hah guns n Roses grew up on that. Metroplex Teklife Dirt Tek Rec Electrofunk hyperdub favorite labels
This is a Cool documentary. Quick question. Is it more common for folks in the mid-west to speed-up and tweak beats than slow them down? I ask because, for a while, it's been the opposite here in FL.
Love my city I remember seeing cats foot work growing up in the city Chicago is so under rated too much music and talent we have but all seems to only get light is the shootings
Again....this is nothing but AFRICAN roots in us that never left. Check out "Shangaan" music from South Africa. It's an old tradition that has the exact same rhythm patterns and dance moves.
the only people who truly know about the trax and footwork/house dancin is the people and dancers tht were thurr from the beginning. I AM TAY a.k.a INFINTY OR ty whatever um one of the originals i tore the hearts out of many dancers and still is to this day if you under 24 you dont knw shit yet keep livin.. cuz i am THE GOD OF DANCERS.. PERIOD.COM BECUZ ITS MORE MENTAL THAN IT IS PHYSICAL.. YALL BETTER ASK THE LOW END ABOUT ME.. THTS WHERE IT ALL STARTED
Get over yourself and stop being so righteous. Spread the wealth that is juke, and don't claim "you don't know how it really is unless you were at the start." Get out of here.
