I just had to post this. This clip was posted on my Facebook timeline by ‘a friend’; it brought back so many memories. And, lately, I’ve been doing a lot of reminiscing, particularly in terms of music, but also with film.
In 1984/85, in the small city of Maseru, Lesotho, a small b-boy (breakdancing) crew was born in a high school called Machabeng. The only space we had, to figure out moves and draw inspiration from, was a movie called Breakin’ which centred around two characters, Ozone (Adolfo Quiñones) and Turbo (Michael Chambers). One of the legendary moments in this film is the one below, with Turbo (Boogaloo Shrimp) pop-locking with a broom.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVrWDPi12zE
It is so surreal watching this after so many years. We used to rehearse in a little classroom after-school. A group of teens looking for something to inspire us … something different … in hip hop’s early days … before the mediocrity.
having been part of this urban youth movement since day one.. around ’84.. it breaks my heart to see how what was once a beautiful thing is now something used as a tool to amass money.. even people that started out with me are doing it.. sad.. very sad..
but good memories.. as you so rightly say
Nothing wrong with making money from something you love, as long as you don’t dilute the art form.
Oh, Kojo, by the way, there is no such thing as pop-locking. What Turbo is doing there is popping. He was a boogaloo.
O-zone locked. Two different styles.
Just thought I’d put that out there.
Thanks Earl.