Stuff B-Boys Like: Correcting People Who Say “Breakdance”
POSTED ON June 7th, 2010 BY Calvin
Never mind if it’s only been 30 seconds since the end of the YouTube clip that inspired him to become a “b-boy” — even if he knows nothing about the dance, history, or culture, one of the first things a beginner b-boy will do is correct someone who uses the word “breakdance” in any of its forms.
This verbal rebuking usually takes place with the utmost disdain and pretension (i.e., “Geez, Dave, it’s called b-boying, not breakdancing. You can be a breakdancer, but I’m a b-boy, okay?!”) The listener will generally be someone who meant no harm (i.e., someone’s little grandmother trying to give a compliment). And the hip-hop grammar patrolman will usually follow this with some ham-fisted explanation of how the word “breakdance” was “invented” by the “media” to “sell out” the culture.
Sure, “breakdance” does sound really cheesy, and it does present some past tense conjugation issues like “brokedanced.” But at the same time, there probably is something to be said that a surprising number of b-boy pioneers and celeb-b-boys are okay with the word “breakdance” — and, in fact, use it pretty frequently.
What do you think? Is it better to be the breakdancer or the condescending b-boy grammar guru?
CATEGORY: Stuff B-Boys Like
from what i know the term Breakdancing is the term the media used becuz they didnt feel like explaining that there were other dances like FunkStyles/Popping/Locking/RockDance/etc…so what they did is if u were a dancer in any of these fields they would just say u were a breakdancer, The media didnt care about history or the culture they just wanted to have another story, it didnt mean anything to them just thought it was a fad, but little did they know!
B boys
I think.. it is good that this word “breakdance” is there because like.. i began as a breakdancer who didn’t know anything about Hip Hop Culture…I even didn’t know that it is actually a Culture…
So if u are really interested in bboying u wanna know the roots ,right? In my opinion if u understand the dance and the Hip Hop Culture than u can call urself a bboy.. As long as u are just breaking because u have lessons every wednesday and it is ur hobby.. than call urself a breakdancer…also if u just go to jams to win money and u didn’t hit up cyphers.
But anyway.. in my opinion… without breakdancers.. there won´t be any bboys… because i think , mainly the most people start as breakdancers , cause they saw it on Tv or saw live Showcases.
Peace
To me the name is redundant, a dance called breakdance. I think it’s fine to use the term “break” as in “Let’s go break” or “I was breaking last night”. You could even argue that that’s more correct than the term bboy (as a verb). I just use the term bboy or break in my follow up sentence, no one likes a grammar-nazi. ;)
“Each one teach one.” – In my opinion it’s important to tell the “truth”. The media told nothing about the whole culture, history, meaning and hadn’t asked if it’s okay to invent a term that isn’t from the culture itself. I can’t respect that name.
I have that album. I’m looking at it on my floor right now.
Respect to Rain’s comment as well as Chris’s (Grammer Nazi)
I don’t come at people with sarcasm or anger anymore like i used to when i first started breakin. Now i’ll explain it like one of those random facts you have stuck in your head, they’ll usually accept it this way like that one annoying discovery channel fact you’ll know forever. Everyone around me now says breakin or bboyin. Only person who still calls it breakdance is my mom, but the lady’s excused. :D
With people who know nothing about b-boying or hip hop, I’m liberal with them. I’ll even say “I’m a breakdancer” to them, because chances are they don’t even know the term b-boying. But with people in hip hop, I’m a grammar nazi with them. Especially with the beginner b-boys. The ones that got into it a month ago or something. They still refer to it as breakdancing. I scream in their ears “IT’S B-BOYING. GEEBUS, AT LEAST USE THE TERM BREAKING.”
I am annoyed with the media who definitely try to define the culture. The image of women in Hip Hop as slutty background dancers is mainly put in the heads of the public by the media. When I gave a lecture at the University of Arts in Berlin about Hip Hop and feminism, a lady came up to me after the lecture and said “I didn’t know Hip Hop was such a great culture, I thought it was all about sex and violance.” She got that idea from the media. When we had the world’s biggest festival for women in Hip Hop in Berlin – for a whole month – and we asked MTV to come out and show THAT image of women in Hip Hop, they said it wouldn’t fit in their concept. They try to define the culture and they try to define the terminology and so I am just stubborn and say – fuck you! I am not accepting this. I know that when the oldschoolers in Europe started breaking, it was already called breakdance by the media over here and that’s how they learned it, so yeah, I am not annoyed at any B-Boy who says breakdance, but if I am writing a text or talk to somebody about it, I am not giving up the power of definition to the media, I’ll always try to honor the guys who created it and use their terminology.
Peace
Actually the name is “Breakin”, then the media called it “Breakdance” and in the 90′s people started to call it bboying to not use Breakdance”
Haha I use to correct people when they said “breakdance”. I got sick of them spacin’ out half through the explanation of “bboying” and the how the media literally blah blah blah’d breakin’ haha. Now I don’t bother unless they’re being ignorant ass of it or they’re literally asking me legitimate questions about it. Just as long as I understand what it all means, it’s all good with me.
wtf is a bboy?
Lol ^^^^^^^
In Oz we have to put up with most 25+ year olds saying ‘rapdance’ so I’m pleased if they just say breakdance let alone bboying
@keith/#13: I thought I was the only one who said “rapdance!!!!” hahah. I say that all the time joking around, like “hey you rapdancers!” Or “rapdance fighters!” Lol
THis made my day
^ROFL
I believe if you are truly trying to represent this dance and it’s history you will undoubtedly give it it’s due respect, and use our (bboys/bgirls) vernacular (breakin, bboyin/bgirlin).
and it does present some past tense conjugation issues like “brokedanced.”
haha nice
lol rap-dance
word, mad ghey when I see ppl going nuts about using that term. I use breaker, breaking and maybe a few other forms other than bboying for the dance and so do most others. I dont like using breakdance but I won’t fukkin die if I hear it, especially from someone who doesnt know better
i deal with it until ppl come up to me and say “breakdance for me!” like i’m some sort of monkey or circus elephant
Respect the culture. Correct someone in a “throw in random fact” way.
Shit takes less than 5 seconds to do. If you wanna be a jerk about it ask some if they’re ever seen ballet dancing, jazz dancing, cheerleader dancing.
1st person, active, Past, Present, and Future tenses of the verb TO BREAK/BBOY:
I broke yesterday.
I am breaking/bboying right now.
I will break/bboy tomorrow.
As a noun:
I am a bboy
To break it down… but this is just how i see it!
Breakdance or breakdancing is the physical act of throwing down.
B-Boying is a way of life… Its how you wear your cap, your trainers, what music you listen to, who you roll with, how you talk, how you walk, where you hang out… what you think about.
It’s you steelo.
B-Boys breakdance.
I see no disrespect in the term “breakdance”
ps.
You can’t really say “i broke yesterday”… The term breaking doesn’t come from the word “break” as in “broken”. It comes from breaks, as in the music… and who the funk says “That brokebeat yesterday was dope”…?!
If you say “I broke yesterday” you are referring to yourself as an object… that got smashed! haha
I WAS BREAKING YESTERDAY will do ;)
My balls are itchy.
^^^ I agree with john
I don’t take offense if people use the term “breakdance/ breakdancing”. This is the term I heard growing up before I actually learned and love the culture.
Yes, media exploited the scene but we can’t deny the fact that it helped us significantly getting it out there to our brothers in asia, europe.. all over the world.. And I bet you, they first called it (and probably still) breakdancing.
It’s by no means degrading to me and for those who don’t know, let them carry on with their uninformed term. I know my breaking culture and as far as I know, it is NOT defined by it’s name but by it’s people.
So for those who blows up steam everytime they hear the word “breakdancing”.. just relax and carry on, there’s more important things to worry about. Hell! it’s better than the name “cha-cha” or “mambo”.
This is an age old issue that will be around forever if you love “BREAK’N 1 & 2″ & in my case, the song “Let’s have a Break Dance Party.” If you sample that ausome groovey tune in that song, you guilty of enjoying the cheezy love of it. My path began in 2003. After being corrected & dealing with all the hate & fustration. All I can Say at this Level is…”It doesn’t mATTER, & i’LL LAY THE smackkkkkk it down!!! on your candy asses.”-”Just know your roe JABRONIE & JUST….bRING IT!!” Followed by a common hand taunt & the people’s brow.
All the soul sisters in the back ground say, “Just bring it on.”
& the MILLIONS, & MILLIONS, OF Break’n fans around the world chants, “Break dance, break, break & the anthem “Breaker’s revenge comes on, followed by Just Begun, Pick up the pieces, Apache, & lastly the MEXICAN.” dREAK DANCERS, EBOYS, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS & SUPPORTERS/Who don’t know about /give a dam/ or even second think of what they are doing or who they are offending subconciously in their efforts to encourage their son/daughter/friend or collegue.
“The bottom Line” is it’s love & as long as everyone is having a ball & a dammmmm, good time, you honestly gonna cut the music, stop the hype, just.. to be a preacher & kill the vibe. If you feel that it is your soul EPIC Duty, then in the words of NIKE-”Just do it!”
bE WARNED, YOU’D BE THE STINKER OF THE PARTY.
To get mad or gather animosity of a word is like someone shooting someone for saying a “yo momama” as a joke but taking it as an insult & taking a life over it.
Live with that retared mistake of the past cuz every one at one point has “OVER REACTED.”
I know this is long, and I’m still growing strong.
If you don’t follow it’s ok, I’m just freestyling with the universe, a level so beyond that it doesn’t matter what people think. It’s what you know & how you choose to be the change.
Talk is cheap, bitching is wack, be about it, & all tittles will come eventually if you perservere all the BS/DRAMA.
I LOVE THIS POST & thank you to all the people who have it in their heart to understand & just deliver positive education.
I leave you with this clip from the MAN/THE MASTER OF coolness.
My childhood inspiration of Real Rock n roll:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMHVrHdYLJ0&feature=player_embedded
tHE FONZ;)
PEACE-LOVE-& RESPECT
Visualize, realize-BAY BOY:D
Here’s another food for thought, maybe it’s just me.
How correct is it, to tell a girl, your a man.
Try to prove it through this dance
Then at the end say
I’m a B-”BOY”
Then have a girl say..”tOO BAD, YOU’RE ONLY A BOY, & NOT A DRY COOL WALLFLOWER gq GUY WHO JUST CHILLS, LOOKS GOOD, lOADED WITH CASH & WOULD NOT GIVE UP BEING CLEAN & Cool to show of or attempt to do anything else other than an age old clechie.”
Hese-THE SONG”i LIKE MY BARRRRTENDER,” & MORE rAP SONGS RAPPING ABOUT “i GOT A PATRONE IN MY CAR”…BLA BLA & BLA.. iF i WERE TO JUST STOP EVERYTHING & START SPIT’N & CORRECTING, THE WORLD WILL BE LIKE MY BLOG.
iF THIS Is entertaining to read, then their is hope & a god.
If you’re like, WTF
welcome to AMERICA.
Sings
“Living in America.”
You might as well sap & erase all the great 80′s music, style & history that put fun & amazing dreak dance moves that so many wanna do when they start out, only to be told later that you can’t bite other cool moves from everyone else. Then have this delusional concept that if I take a move I love & think it’s fing cool & tweek it slightly-I’ve made it my own.
I love MJ & IF it wasn’t for FREESTYLE SESSION VIDS, who would have known this culture existed. And as A 5 YEAR FORMAL hAPKIDO MASTER, Tell people–”Hey your doing a side kick/based on what part of your feet-if your using the side of your feet-it’s a blade side kick, & if you use your heel-it’s a BRUCE LEEE’S FAMOUSE SIDE KICK.”
Do what you love yall, there is a time 4 everything, & if people reallllllly wanna know, or learn, GOD will help them find out cuz Life is all about “Take the good, you take the bad, you put it all together & there you have the facts of Life.”
Last remix song..”Live your life.”
PEACE OUT & SEE YALL in the “BATTLE ZONE!”
@@@@@@ Maspito, comment #22
You are wrong, go watch The Freshest Kids…Who coined the term bboy? DJ KOOL HERC, break boys, boys who break, comes from the street terminology “to break” to “go off” to “break the boundaries of something” “to go above normal” to BREAK! Everyone thinks it comes from breaks on the record…but it’s not!
Peace! Research, study and learn this history well!
It’s not as clear cut as Freshest Kids might make it seem. See what Kool Herc himself said about the origin of the word here: http://morethanastance.com/features/of/2009/11/kool-herc-the-uncut-interview/
B-Boy, Break boy, Dances to the breaks on a record. something wrong with this logic???!-Do tell;)
b-boys only BREAK TO THE BREAK OF THE record. So break is simutaneously refering to the action of dance & the cue of the music to break. I own the FRESHEST KID DVD. I’m pretty sure it stated like this, so be very open, cuz people will debate over anything.;D
I call it breakdancing. If you got a problem with it see me in the cypher. Then we will find out who the real breakdancer is.