Hands down the best footwork whether up rocking or on the floor. Can’t believe this is the same man who as a teen was one of the strongest battle dancers in beat street against the NYC breakers and the true tour de force of Rock Steady Crew along with Buck 4 and Kuriaki. Ken Swift could put Crazy Legs to shame THEN and NOW
Aww what a gem of an interview. Thanks for posting this. The way this guy who was 'there' breaks it down, is exactly my sentiments on how I feel about where Hip Hop came from. The elements he describes as the sublte details that people miss in the big two trick pony show, is what has always kept me to it like a magnet also. Do ride the rhythm applies to any dancer who is dynamic. I wonder how many kids broke their wrists trying for the gold? You need wisdom and patience with this art. Peace.
After seeing Ken swift talk about B-Boying I have a deep respect for him now, he talks about the very soul of the Dance, and I love that he talks about how the dance was always about Battling other Neighborhood kids, and Not the screen, so true Hollywood made some awful movies about Breaking. the Best one sorry to say was Flashdance keep it swift Kenny mad Respect fro Los Angeles California you the shit kid.
HE IS 100% RIGHT!!! ... about both paying attention to the beat and dynamic of a song(or what's the point), and, for stating that not only people forget breakin originated out of an alternative to gang fights ... breaking became a non-violent form of outdoing each other and walking away with equal shame to that of losing a fight. If you got beat, you got SMOKED! Plain and simple. Do it with feeling and from your soul, know your roots, and most importantly, ride the beat.
I will vouch for what he says about breakin, but only the south bronx had burning buildings like the 138 st near the P.R theathre. The mid and North Bronx did not. And floor master AKA New York City Breakers and Curtis Blow were from Kingsbridge in the North Bronx a beautiful area near the resevour and they pioneer many moves inspire by electro pop like Kraftwerks and other freestyle beats mixed by DJ's blasting from thier window sills or mixed tape tracks from the boom boxes that only a few of us could afford.
He is so right- it's not for tha stage it's will always be inner hood for eva. I came up with that. yes it's big but tha flow is hood. Emcee djaying all of it hood for evea yes no rules but your own. YES !!!!!!!!!!
Hey man, worries, all good!! I understand your comment, yes, in the early 70's fights def broke out over it ... no doubt, I can't deny that. ... and Bambaataa/Zulu certainly made the big change! I dont know how old you are, but I am old school and was one of the better BBoys in NJ from about 79' through 86' and was in a crew called Floor Lords and remember it all like it was yesterday! (not the infamous Floorlords from Boston, 1 word name - ours was 2 words - just coincidence ;-)
Respect to: ***ROCK STEADY CREW & UNIVERSAL ZULU NATION*** Respect to Prince Ken Swift, Mr. Wiggles, Legs and all RSC immortals. Peace*Unity*Love*Havin' Fun!
Perhaps Beat Street's big battle scene was more about clinically showing off the individual moves (here's one headspin, here's a windmill, here's a dude crazy vibrating, etc.) - the brief section in Flashdance felt more true to the origins of the dance - the actual application of it, as it arose out of the asphalt and onto the stratosphere. I have to say though, I still prefer Beat Street as a Hip Hop movie - even if it is a slightly glamorized/overdramatized look at the Hip Hop culture.
What he meant was that its not meant for the stage because of some gestures or taunts that breaking has. Its a way of provoking a guy and sort of "showing him up" with your own skills.
@funkateer17 - That's a really good question! I'm not really sure and would love to know that myself! After about 86'/87' the trend had it's first fade from popularity around here and I moved to a different regionand got into other interests (skateboarding, surfing and BMX freestyle for instance). I really lost touch with what was going on until the past 5 years where I realized it's become such a huge global culture. I'd love to know that though - Great question!
Money and Corporations wanted it to be more sport than dance and that's what they transformed it into. It was totally dead. The movies were Already 2 yrs old before they came out. Made in 1981 release in 1983. Poppin was the Wave. Hollywood put it out as something new, rebranded it and the world thought they had something new and exciting and PR. THE FIRST BLACK BBOYS NEVER GOT RESPECT FOR THE START OF IT. THE TWINS,SASA , CHOLLY ROCK, BEAVER. EVERY CREW STARTED 5-10 YRS AFTER THE ORIGINALS BEGAN. BLACK SPADES.
Explain, I understand freedom of expression but you don't make any sense making a remark like that. If you're going to say something like that then back it up with an explanation. Smh...
Early on I didn't appreciate Ken Swift as much because he's so busy on the floor. Eventually I realized that I just have to pay more attention to what he's doing. The cat has an endless bag of tricks.
i think one thing he said was incorrect, bboying is to find respect from others and not saying f*ck you or get of my block, because of this people say that bboying is associated with gangs and sh*t, thats what gives bboying a bad reputation. Other than that, everything he said is true.
that breaking in his eyes isn't something that can hold the status of a sport in other words something thats for everyone because of its raw aggressive nature. i mean you wouldn't want to take your fiances parents to a toprock battle with people throwing punches and stabbing eachother and shit
According to him bboying doesn't belong on the stage. My question is this then: would Rock Steady have ever gained their popularity through mass media if it wasn't for dancing on stage? I fell some tension when many og's say that bboying doesn't belong here and there, and yet the newer generations are doing their part in getting bboying recognized as a sport so that bboys can have a financial future. Maybe Ken Swift can say a few words about Korea's bboy industry.
