New York City Breakers

The New York City Breakers (NYCB) is a breakdancing crew and hip-hop group that was established in the Bronx borough of New York City. They were originally known as the "Floormaster Crew".[1]

History

The New York City Breakers are a breaking crew from the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, originally known as the Floor Masters, the New York City Breakers rivaled the popularity of the Rock Steady Crew.[2] Michael Holman, an up and coming filmmaker who promoted Hip-Hop parties at a night club called Negril, grew bored of watching the same breaking crew dance and wanted to host a Breaking Battle. The Floormaster Crew accepted an invitation in 1982 offering to battle the Rock Steady Crew at club Negril. The Floormaster crew combined footwork, style and power, Micheal Holman saw the crews athleticism and signed on to be their manager. Holman then took the some of the Breakers from the Floormaster crew (Action, Kid Nice, Glide Master & Powerful Pexster) then recruited the legendary B-Boy Lil Lep from the 7 Deadly Sins, and with the help of writer "Phase II" renamed the group the New York City Breakers.

Holman worked with Chino Lopez, the leader of The Floor Masters, and visionary himself, on finding and recruiting new members to build The New York City Breakers. Unfortunately the other b-boys from the Floormaster crew were not asked to be apart of the New York City Breakers. The original five members were: Action, Kid Nice, Glide Master, Powerful Pexster and Lil Lep. Holman then added Flip Rock, Mr. Wave, Icey Ice and Lil Alex. The New York City Breakers became one of the most famous and influential B-Boy Crews in the world.

The first performance as the NYCBs was on the nationally televised show called The Merv Griffin Show. Soon after, the NYCBs began appearing on everything from Soul Train, Ripley's Believe It or Not!, P.M. Magazine, CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, Amnesty International Gala, That's Incredible!, and NBC's Salute to the Olympics just to name a few. Sixteen Candles, Beat Street, The Freshest Kids, and are some of the noteworthy feature films they appeared in as well a cameo in Body Rock.

The NYCBs appeared on the first ever Hip Hop TV show called Graffiti Rock, were featured in the book entitle "Breaking and The New York City Breakers", published in the fall of 1984 by Freundlich Books, and released an Album Break-Master Featuring New York City Breakers that went Gold with Posters and array of how to break steps, but are best known as the first ever Hip Hop group and/or artists to perform in Washington D.C for a sitting President, specifically Ronald Reagan, during the 1984, "Kennedy Center Honors." The performance was broadcast nationally on CBS, and is considered a landmark for the acceptance of Hip Hop culture in America. While performing in tribute to legendary choreographer, and Kenndy Center Honoree Katherine Dunham at the Kennedy Center Honors, the NYCB's befriended Frank Sinatra, (also an Honoree that year) who was so impressed by the NYCB's, he hired them back to perform for the 50th Presidential Inaugural Gala, which Sinatra was the organizing Chairman.

The NYCBs were one of the first Hip Hop/B-Boy crews, that helped spread Hip Hop culture around the globe, touring and performing for Presidents, world leaders and royalty (including England's Price Andrew and the King and Queen of Norway), they will always be remembered as crucial pioneers of Hip Hop Culture.

At the height of The NYCBs fame, Matthew Caban (Glide Master) died in a motorcycle accident.

Original Five (N.Y.C.B.) Members

Additional Members

References

  1. ↑ "The New York City Breakers". Old School Hip Hop.
  2. ↑ https://www.msu.edu/~okumurak/dancers/nycb.html
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