What is In Yo Head?

Here is a collection of emails that I have received from other hip-hop headz.

Posted 5/17/02

Yo,,, on the real, I think your time line is DopE! I had some research to do for this paper for school, my topic is underground hip-hop.You know cause lame mainstream people just don't know about the hip hop culture. Yeah so i came online an typed in Underground hip hop, and of course tons of sites came up. But I actually only went to yours and just by going over your time line, I don't need to go anywhere else (ThanX! for doing my homework!). I will definately come back and cheQ the rest of the stuff later, count on me telling others about this KicK asZ site

-GInGer

Posted 2/7/02

wuss da deal. i love the page so pr0ps to u..i was wondering somthing and i didnt know where to start..i love graf..i dont have much talent in it.but i love to make collages and post pieces on my walls..i was wondering if there were any gaffiti magazines with pics in it..or maybe preferably a free magazine by mail? if u know of any please get back to me...thanks and once again MADD PROPS..lol its gansta

-jaime

(Yo - check out your local Barnes & Nobles or Borders bookstore and look for "While You Were Sleeping", "Elemental", "Mass Appeal" or "Scribble" or "Big Daddy" magazine for the UK heads. You can also get some books online at Amazon.com. I have a page of them listed at: Hip Hop Books.)

Posted 12/19/01

Yo, this site is kickin'.

-Clare

(WORD!)

Posted 12/19/01

Not sure if you could help, but I'm desparately looking for an old-rare possibly bootleg / underground remix of the song Paul Revere / The New Style by the Beastie Boys....

It was VERY Obscene and I think it was done by a different band, maybe the Jerky Boys? (although it sounded exactly like the Beasties). The last time I heard it was in 1988, someone taped it for me and I have no idea where it came from.

one of the lyrics goes like this: f..u..c..k..i..n..g.. all the fine (fly) ladies are suckin on me.... I went to the prom I was feelin kinda mental, I started fu**in' all the pu**y I was meant to....

Any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks

-Mike

(I actually have this piece in my collection and it is called "The New Style (Fly Style)" by the Beastie Boys/Fly Boys on Beastie Record Co. It came out only as a promo and has "PROMO" stamped on the B-side which as the Dub version of the track on it. The group that produced it is called the "Fly Boys" - The geniune illers of rap in 1986. It is total bootleg material and hard to find.)

Posted 12/04/01

yo dawg,

always love the site, been a dope resource for me and other heads. always tell cats about it when they are looking for some good culture.
-Mcgraffbboydj01

(Yo - Thanx for the support and comments)

Posted 11/20/01

I'd appreciate any advice/resource you give me.so i can be down designin' & printin' my art on apparel, cap's & tee's. I'm tired of these peeps in Atlanta tryin' 2 get-over on me..sellin' pipe-dreams! /knaamean. It's not like that in chicago where I'm from or up north-period! It's-enough bread 4 all of us 2 get some!: stop tha hatin' knaamean?!. peace & hope u call me today

-reis k/a ruthlez

(You should peep out the website AmericanApparel.net They have wholesale clothing that you can print onto. Also check Beimar.com for hoodies, they are LA based and have good prices. Good luck with your designs..)

Posted 11/12/01

Whut up B-Boys!!!!!!
This is my Cyberspace Home, i eat, sleep and chill in front of this site everyday....lol.......anyways its the most illest site i have ever seen its easy to use and its mad tight,keep doing what u doin and dont stop doing it,i know B-Boys will grow into something even bigger than it is right now,worldwide domination baby,,,,,yeah....Oh yeah Reppin Malaysia 4 life.........peace.....

One Culture,
One Love

-Ariff Azhar aka. KILLAHBLADE

(This is what keeps me going, seriously. Peace out to KillahBlade from Malaysia.)

Posted 11/04/01

There is a new group that is out, but we have been stayign underground and thought it would be outstanding if P. Diddy was to produce us. We call ourselves the 420 boyz and we don't have no shame to the game and thats REAL. If you could get back with us as soon as possible it would be greatly appreciated.
-JOE BLACK

(P. Diddy - hmm. This is the first time I have ever gotten a request like this. You might want to look else where for a producer if you consider yourselves underground.)

Posted 11/04/01

Hello Brian, my name is Aidos [in talk - "i-dos"] I'm 16 years old, I'm from Kazakhstan (it's near to Russia and China, Middle Asia) I go to our city's break dance school but I learn in it (I can't study some things like "flare" and so on...). I need in help and if you've got study videos please send me It's problem here in Kazakhstan because here I haven't got any hip-hop magazines and I can't find any things like break dance video ... So I think u'll give answer on my e-mail
Good Bye,
Your very cool visitor

-Aidos

(If anyone wants to make an international friend in Kazakhstan send him a few hip hop magazines and a copy of a bboy video if you got one.)

Posted 10/24/01

Yo, from one old school B-boy to another, big up and mad respect for this entire websight! You fucked around and made my week with this....I had a couple of tidbits you may want to include in your timeline that were significant to the growth of hip hop overall. Whether you use them or not, keep up the good work! I'm on the radio daily on WOWI in NorfolK, Va., and will definatly give your sight some love. These young wanna be thugs need to know this shit!

-Kool DJ Law (Boodah Brothers)

(Yo, thanks for the hip hop timeline updates. I never knew the story behind how Scott La Rock got shot. I posted your entire list.)

Posted 9/28/01

How are you? Brian, I'm b-girl from Espain my addiction is electro-boogie. What is your favorite move?

-Pandjome

(My favorite b-boy move has always been the top shuffle/uprock. I judge a lot of b-boys by how much flavor or style they display when top rockin.)

Posted 9/28/01

bu site gerçekten çok güzel bir site ama hoşuma gitmeyen tek sorun sitedeki fotoların kopyalaması ve kaydedilmemesi bu olay için lütfenbir çare düşünün ;)

-YeKeNN

(Hmm, okay. I am not sure what the request was but if someone does let me know.)

Posted 9/21/01

I recently came about b-boys.com, and from what I've read and seen I'm feelin a little comfortable here. I'm very dedicated to HipHop its definetely been a huge influence in my life, and the way I live. I don't have much of a chance to test my skills where I'm from, it seems like I'm some kinda alien around here because I'm not caught up in the stream and I actually care about real talent, not just make believe fairytales if you know what im sayin... Anyways not to talk off your ear or anything but I just dont know how to go about gettin started and workin my way up.. hit me back when you get a chance.....one

-Krylobomb

(Well, since we re-launched our forums, the site has grown into more of a community and you will see an occasional beef here and there but most of it is in good fun. I would suggest you start doing audios and try to get your own home studio if you are serious about your work. Spend some time in the Educational forum and read up on some posts from our vets.)

Posted 9/21/01

Thanks a million for your website. I am Wassim 19 from morocco from morocco i love breakdance so so so much but I have a problem I don't have video tapes of breakdance I want to buy one from your site but I need a visa card I don't have it so ask you to help me please I'll send to you money and you send to me videos ok please please help me I'm waiting from you good news thanks a million your friend wassim

-Wassim

(Anyone that might tape trade or wouldn't mind sending this b-boy from Morocco a breakdance video would be much appreciated. I get emails like this all the time and wish I had more time to distribute videos and music internationally.)

Posted 9/21/01

Hey Brian, thanks for putting K.G.B. Crew 5th on the breaking crews list. Because of that, Im going to be breaking on B.E.T. show called "Oh Drama". Some producer saw our crew and picked it to be on the show. So once again, thanks

-B-Boy BoZo

(I get random email from producers and indie film productions about getting talent for there videos and shows. This is why I started listing your contacts on the site as a sort of b-boy directory and to allow you to get in contact with other crews that might be in your area.)

Posted 9/21/01

I understand that you know alot about hip hop and stuff, well I head a group of professional jamskaters...basically we are a group of breakdancers on roller skates... the old rollerskates with only 4 wheels... we have a website at http://www.breaksk8.com.

-Shannon Anthony

(At first I was like what? Then I peeped out the video clips on the site and they do 360s over people, backflips and dance routines and footwork with the old school roller skates. This is some original styles indeed.)

Posted 8/8/01

sup bro i can break 2 punk :) j/k keep breakin dude

-SSuperman

(Hmm. I guess he just wanted to represent and let everyone know he is a b-boy.)

Posted 7/25/01

Yo brian, how is everythin goin, first I really have to tell u that u r doin an excellent job always gettin these newsletters 2getha; I'm just some German hip-hop fanatic, actually now living in Indonesia, but i really appreciate ur contribution 2 the Hip-Hop community.....not just talkin but actually also DOIN somethin...anyways nuff respect


-Chris

(These emails are my inspiration and life line.)

Posted 7/24/01

nice one with the site, and thanks for the newsletter. i write because i am thirsty for your hip hop knowledge worldwide. i am spending a couple of weeks in Croatia this summer and having been there already, i know that the b-boys are more than keeping it underground: there are signs of hip hop everywear, from the amazing walls to the people on the streets and the smells of greens in playgrounds but there is little open community that i know of at least. which could be because i don't speak the language, or because i am a girl... but nevertheless, there should be one and i would definetely like to be a part of it for the time i spend here (my parents are working here while i study in London) i spray too, so if you could hook me up with some tips, numers or names, that would be cool.

ps. If you ever are in London (where are you neways???) check out my radio show on London's one and only pirate hiphop station dedicated to playing only the hardcorest hip hop. its ItchFM @ 105.15. check out release show on fridays nites, at 2-4 am

cheers,

-viola

(Damn hip hop in Croatia - Nah, I know that you'll find hip hop influence all over the world now. When I was in Thailand a few months ago I didn't hear much hip hop on the airwaves but did see a lot of Graf while riding the buses down the coast. I also went to Hong Kong and ran into the Street Rockers Crew downtown on my way to a disco [that's what they call them there] and they had their boombox going and were holding up a corner with a full crowd of people in a practice session. I had email communication with one of the cats and he couldn't believe that I was actually in HK. Of course I represented with them for a quick minute but I was in my euro trash jeans. Good luck in Croatia and peep this Croatian Hip Hop site I found: Dope Jam.)

Posted 7/24/01

when do you want to visit Malaysia?...
maybe we can meet when you come to Malaysia....
are you a break dancer?....
if you are truly a hip-hopers,
maybe you can teach me some moves......

bye.......

please reply my email quickly.....

-mohd zikir

(This is my new Malaysian homie Mohd. I love international hip hop headz, they are so compassionate about learning more about the culture which is something that I think we have lost here in the US. I am planning on doing my next Asian excursion early next year sometime. I will be visiting Vietnam, Japan and possibly the Phillipines and Malaysia.)

Posted 7/22/01

I'm just writin this to let you know that your work is appreciated. I just stumbled onto this site and I'm in awe. Excellent representation of hiphop culture, seems like its all too few and far between in these last days. maaaaaad props! keep it up.
-mep

Posted 7/07/01

SOY CHILENO Y BREAKER ME GUSTA MUCHO EL HIP HOP.

CARLOS ENRIQUEZ

(Translation: I am a Chilean Breaker and I like Hip-Hop very much. Big ups to Chilie hip-hop heads in South America representin'.)

Posted 7/07/01

Hey Brian,

I'm a fifteen year-old B-Boy in the making. I just about have all the backflips and forward flips down pack. I can pretty much do the basic windmill also. But what I need help with most is the flare. I don't know if it's because I'm not strong enough or I don't have the momentum or what. I've studied this video a thousand times, I'm sure I have the basic motion but I can't complete and keep it going. Any tips, pointers, can ya help me?

-2bAb-boi

(I never was able to get this move down myself as I just focused on style and basic moves. I think the most important piece to getting the flare down is your momentum and setup of the move. Check out this video clip and watch it about 20-30 times like I did and wish you could muster up the strength in your abs and arms to do this. Flare MPEG Clip [450k file].)

Posted 7/07/01

wassssssup b-boys

How are things , I'm really interested in breakdancing but me and my mates cant find a school or any clubs that will teach us how to breakdance like you guys I can do a few moves like misties, spin on my head 540, half windmills and up-rock please e-mail me back if you can tell where or if there is any breakdancing clubs or schools near Sydney.

-James

(Here are some spots that you might want to peep in Sydney, AU)

Marrickville Youth Resource Centre, Yabsley Ave, Marrickville, Sydney, Australia
Tuesday 6:00 - 9:00pm
Info: 0412626680

Parramatta PCYC, Sydney, Australia (Near Parramatta Station)
Every Friday 4pm - 6:30pm

Posted 7/07/01

Check out this Star Wars Rap Flash movie that my boy Jules sent me. The movie file is large to watch so a high speed connection is recommended:

Star Wars Rap

Posted 7/02/01

I like what you have done to the web page. I found everything alright. I found some of the information I was looking for. But I wanted more information on hip-hop dance. Something like how it started or something. My friends and I are starting a dance team. We are dancing anywhere from hip-hop to cumbias. We also wanted to do coreography, but we don't know how to start. This past April we competed against ten other schools and we won first place. Well I guess that's it for know. I will check you out later.

-Gangstagirl

(Well, I usually check out sites like mrwiggleshiphop.net, he seems to have a lot of info on hip hop dance in all the forms and good interviews and stuff.)

Posted 6/29/01

As I wrote the other day of boycotting The Source, I was pissed off from the letter that Lucky Strike sent The Zulu Nation about Grandwizard Theodore, being disrepected. That means they disrepected the real world of hiphop, the pioneers of this culture. I don't like to get into political debates, but we all must understand that The Source, Vibe, (not incl. Bobitto), BET are not representing real hiphop. (Remember Bob Jonhson fired Tavis Smiley, the only real voice we had on real issues), because he sold us out, I will said this until these people understand the realness of the culture, and give us a forum to keep the culture real. We should not grant anymore interviews to all these sources of media, commericial rap magazines and not support BET in any matter. This is not a personal attack, or no I'm not bitter or mad, it's just whats right, I want all of the artists of today, to be remembered 5 years from now, they will have no use for you anymore, you been used and abused and look like hell. I heard that talk is cheap, when I did the biggest hiphop show ever, called Rapmania - The 15th anniversay of hiphop, which cost over 1.5 million to do, and that was 1991 (and yes all groups got paid), some of the management of some artists didn't pay there acts, we gave the tickets away for free, and remember Rapmania had 60 hiphop acts performing on both coasts, and no incidents.

Some Questions:

1 - How many old school hiphop & pioneer got free tickets to this up coming award show?
2 - How many are presenters?
3 - Any B-boys on Rock Steady - Mr Wiggles - Mr Freeze whoever?
4 - Any Graf writers getting awards this year?
5 - When is the original Spinderella, Wanda Dee, Jazzy Joyce hiphop female DJ's will get there?
6 - When are the first set of hiphop promoters gonna get there awards? Without them there is no hiphop!
7 - Why not forget all this and say hey we fucked up, we will bring Theodore out, and cancel an act who can get some light next year, no reason why that can't happen. The record label is not gonna let that happen, right?

Solution: Here's the answer, we can solve this matter now. Here is the list, fly out:

1 - Theodore
2 - Grandmaster Flash
3 - Kool Herc
4 - Bambatta
5 - Kurtis Blow
6 - DJ Hollywood
7 - Eddie Cheba
8 - Reggie Wells
9 - Mele Mel
10 - Pete DJ Jones

All expenses paid and present Grandwizard Theodore with his awards on stage, let David Mays present the award with all these pioneers on stage and show how much you made a mistake and apologize to Theodore and the hiphop culture.

11 - If not the we understand but to go on, we must unite together, those who feel justice is not done, we have to now bond together. Why should Whodini, Kurtis Blow or any old schooler or pioneer pay for a ticket, you should be grateful that they are in the company of this award show that I respected as others, you can lose alot this time, but as we all know, black people never follow throught on what they started, but not this time, much love to everyone and hope The Source understands alot of people are feeling the pain of disrepect, fix it.

Your Brother,

-Van Silk at hiphop25.com

(Show some respect to the pioneers and send The Source a letter in support of this cause.)

The Source - Editorials
215 Park Avenue South, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10003
email: holla@TheSource.com

Posted 5/15/01

Whats up,

Peace, first I would like to say this has to be one of the most educating sites on Hip Hop, as a culture and as a lifestyle. As a hip hop person, I like to always educate myself on facts and to learn the history of something in my interest, and this website is doing that. Thanks

But I need help on a song I've been trying to track down, and possible obtain. The song that came out in the late 80's called the "THE WOP", now if you can help me on any information, that I can use, would be appreciated very much...PEACE&LOVE

-Bryan Arciniegas

(Thanks for the comments and kudos. I am 29 now and still learning about this culture that I have been apart of for so long. I have been asking all of my old school homies about that track and no one can remember the artist. If anyone knows who did this cut, email me.)

Posted 5/15/01

Whats up,

I'm in the beginning stages of learnin how to pop, and some things like that. Is there any videos you recommend to help out. To this point i have been goin by some clips off the internet, and just how i think it looks. I heard that this mr. wiggles guy has a few that are really good so....Anyway, any help is appreciated, and if you know of one better let me know. Thanks.

-Matt

(Well, there are many forms of popping and locking. If you are looking for a good "Bugaloo" video then definetely peep out the Mr. Wiggles videos at www.mrwiggleshiphop.net and if you want to learn some routines then check out the Bboy Summit videos for ideas but don't bite. lol.)

Posted 5/15/01

I was wondering what future there is in breakdancing? Im getting into this and i didn't know if this is not the best way to go for a career type of activity and just for leisure. Please e-mail me with help.

-Jonathan Cullington

(I am not sure about a career in breakdancing but there are crews who make a good amount of money selling videos and doing performances. B-boying is done mostly for the love of the culture and I can say that I have gotten paid to break but 9 times out of 10 are more for leisure. My advice to you is to stay in school.)

Posted 5/15/01

I need to convince my parents that breakin' is a good way to stay in shape and and stay away from drugs or something and I need some help on my turtle, I can't seem to lean on my right hand.

-David Perez (B-Boy Split)

(B-Boyin is just like any sport that you would do at school, it keeps you busy enough that you usually are more interested in staying fit then to stray off and do mischief things. Your parents should attend a bboy competition or sit down and watch a video with you sometime to understand the culture a little more. B-boy crews to me have always been sort of extended family which most times end up being some of your lifetime friends. As far as your turtle goes, do some wrist curls with light 5 lb. weights to build up strength and side to side crunches for your stomach.)

Posted 4/29/01

hey! I am so very impressed with this websites work to inform and promote hip hop as an original american art form. The only thing missing from the story of the elements of hip hop is a small section on beatbox. The reason for my concern: the hip hop community has never fully recognized the singular nature and use of beatbox in the genre. Beatbox is part and parcel to hip hop. At ground level, where there are mc's there are beatboxers. this is not a new phenomenon, isolated fact or passing fad. Beatbox has always been a part of hip hop culture, but from my perspective, it lingers between the subject of smoking weed and the style of new shoes...in popularity ratings. I am not saying that this is a problem and it needs to be remedied. In fact i have a theory on why the popularity of the practice is not pervasive among members of the community. Tthe people who do recieve a considerable amount of attention for the talent tend to be grandmasters. (haha) no really. To gain national attention, one would need to be at the performing level of a auditioning violinist to a recognized city orchestral organization. Also, there is a small, undefined and targeted audience due to the lack of continued artistic evolution on the subject. While mcing, djing, b-boying and graffiti have all seen serious changes in style and participation - beatbox has not...or not in hip hop that is.. While there are next generation beatboxers in hip hop, they number few enough to count on both hands and everybody only seems to know one or two of the cats that are out. ok...enough for now. If you want to continue a discussion on this gimme a call or email. Thank you for making a place to discuss these issues in hip hop. peace.

-Zack Freeman

(The lost element of hip hop culture: The Beatbox. After reading this email, I went on a search to gain some more insight on the origin of the beatbox. From what I could find, it seems that the Beatbox originated from Jamaica where 45s would have dub versions of songs on the B-side and MCs would chant and make percussion sounds during shows or sound system clashes to hype up the crowd. Hip Hop has taken it to a higher level where it is now classified as a genre or subcategory within hip hop culture. I myself am a beatboxer and have been beatboxing since the late 80s and have been in many cyphas sessions and bathroom battles. I have added a some information on the hip hop timeline to reflect on some of the legendary beatboxers and to give them some respect for the artform. Thanks Zack for bringing this topic to light.)

Posted 4/26/01

Hi, I just wanted to say you: "How are you doing?" That's ALL!! I'm from Israel, just walking around some sites and have found yours. so, ok, GOOD LUCK! Very nice, actually!
-Karina

(Thanks for the note and visiting the site. Getting this email just reminds me that Hip Hop is a global culture.)

Posted 4/26/01

Brian,

I really hope that you can help me out. I've been trying to find information on local Grafitti artists who would be interested in doing up my truck.

I have an old full size blazer, black that i just brought back from Alaska. I know it may sound crazy, but this idea just popped up in my head.

Unfortunately, all the guys I knew back in the day are no longer around. I'm a little older but I still appreciate the talent and dedication that serious grafitti posess.

If you can point me in the right direction that would be greatly appreciated.

Respectfully

Fred Burgos, NYC.

(Anyone in the NYC area that might be interested in this, drop him an email.)

Posted 4/26/01

Hey B-Boy,

My name is ryan a.k.a. A.D. Proof and i have a hip hop show from 4-6 every friday on KCSC. I would love for you to get the word out and peep the show. We are in California and go to school up in Chico State. We keep it real for the north state. Get back to me thank you so much for your time and keep up the good work.....

A.D. Proof.

(Check out this show on Fridays, Chico State is in the Pacific Time Zone which is 8 hours behind GMT for you international heads.)

Posted 4/4/01

First, I would like to THANK everyone that voted for me last month. We got nominated under the Best Elements Category and now need your official vote for the 5th Annual Online Hip Hop Awards:

18. Best Elements Website - Awarded to the website that best represents Hip-Hop's fundamental elements of breakdancing, b-boying, turntablism and emceeing.

Show Support and place your vote.

Posted 4/14/01

hey man i've been posting for a while on a couple of sites i really like this one alot but it needs something like maybe a battle area seperate from an open mic area cuz posts are run off the page with newer posts before replies can even be made please consider this i'd really appreciate it.

Dialect.

(Thanks for the email and comments. I upgraded the list to have 50 posts per page on this forum and collapsed the threads so you can navigate through them easier and comment on new posts. Freestyle Forum

Posted 4/11/01

Vote for your favorite Tupac song from the new album "Until the End of Time" which sold 429,000 copies in its first week, Interscope Records is conducting a survey of the most popular songs from the record:

Tupac "Until the End of Time" Survey.

Posted 4/10/01

In your second bullet for 1975 where you mention Coke La Rock and Clark Kent (aka Tyrone Smith, my cousin) as members of the Herculoids, you failed to mention the fourth DJ of Herc's crew who was Timmy Tim. Sorry that I can't remember his real name.

As a general note, I would like to commend you on the content of your web page. I always felt that Kool Herc and the Herculoids never really received the recognition they deserved. Your site is the first one I have visited that not only mentioned Herc and Coke La Rock but also my cousin Clark Kent ("not the DJ for Dana Dane" as you put it).

Here is something you didn't mention, besides giving parties at the rec center at his home address and the Hervalo, the other club he rocked was called Sparkle located at 174th Street and Jerome Ave in the Bronx. It also had another name that I can't remember, check with some old schoolers whose memory is better than mine. After 40, long term memories don't come easy.

Phyllis Wilder

(And here I thought I was old school. Phyllis is from the true skool era of hip hop and I would like to thank her for taking the time to read through and make these corrections and additions. Mad Respekts!)

Posted 4/2/01

This is one of the first time I surf on the net and I found your adress somewhere in my search. Most of my friends call me kik; I live in the south of France, near the Mediterraneen Sea, in a small village, near Montpellier (look on a map), since few month, I was living in Paris all my 30th first years. I was a suburban man and now I am a countryman, it is more syncronized with my feeling. With some friends, we have created the T.E.V crew, it is more a spirit than a warrior trade mark. TEV is the abbrevation of three sentences "Toujours En Vacances", Toujours En Vie", Toujours en Vadrouille" Translation: "Still on vacation, still alive, still roaming".

I send you some photos , tell me if you are interrested to put them on "b-boys.com" under a heading like "there are still some french artistes alive on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean" (we have other stuff to send you)

1st photo: Les champignons aux Paluards (Mushroom for the guys of Lapalud) - Lapalud is a smole village close to the highest cliff of europe,it's a climbing place really crazy)
2nd photo: Naty, c'est toi? (Naty, is it you ?) in Lacanau ocean (Surf spot) near Bordeaux (the wine)
3rd photo: Claire (first name of da girlfriend of my friend ). Letters made by KUIT (My friend) , flowers by KIKNATY (me)

I wait your answer

PS: I hope that you succes to understand my fuckin' accent, but for your answer, please, don't use too much slang if you want to be understood.
Kik

(Confirmation that Graffiti is not dead even in Southern France. Don't worry about your accent, you should read some of the emails that I get from Americans. lol.)

Posted 4/1/01

HE who does his love (Hip Hop) needs others in their community to support the Love but living in Regina Saskatchewan there is no love. People here love hip hop as much as me, but the writers, B-boyz, writers, DJ's and rapper's and to high on there skillz (so what they think are Skillz). Anyway I feel bad saying that but it's true in such a small city we should come together and learn from each other but every body is about there own deal. Our culture needs help! But why I speakin to you is that CANADA SASKATCHEWAN REGINA need some support so I'm asking from one hip-hop lover to the other, help give me some hook ups people who would help. I don't know how but some information would help. I have loved hip hop, when I was 10 im now 19 years old it's my life, is my religion. I bring it to the next degree, I have been a DJ for a year, I have breakin off and on for 2 years and I have writing for 7 years, mc and even try. please email back because I have been working on a 40 foot mural in my school.

The Jiz

(Sounds like you need to start yourself a little collective of artists and any other heads that might be interested in throwing hip hop events, find people new in the hip hop scene that might be more open minded to your ideas.)

Posted 4/1/01

I haven't been a "Hip Hop head" for very long, but I've REALLY thought about Hip Hop and it's meaning for a while now. I've finally come to the conclusion that Hip Hop is not a culture anymore, it is a way of life. The word culture means that only people with the right ethnic back ground can enter it. Now, all though I live in the middle of Prep Central, that doesn't mean that I don't know anything about Hip Hop.

I am probably the most calm, down, and dirty new school Hip Hopper around town. Not to brag but I really think when it comes to Old School Hip Hop I know just about as much as the people that lived it. I know about the Urban Wars...and I knew about the costumes they wore. But what I didn't know was how PURE it was until just recently. What I would give to go live in that era! Not givin a shit about the world and just breakin and sprayin and MCin all day long! I've tried to influence MANY people to actually think about thier Hip Hop back grounds, but they're too ignorant to realize that their music and culture has just reduced itself to just about the lowest level there is. People like Ludacris who keep rappin about gangs and shit, need to realize that if they would just think about what they're saying, they'd realize there AREN'T any real gangs any more.

Back when my brother was groing up in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Texas, you couldn't walk down the street wearin red or you'd get shot! Doesn't matter who you were, or where you were from...you'd still be dead. Now, you can go to even Down Town NYC and wear red and still be safe. And even if you DID get shot, it wouldn't be because of the same reasons you would have gotten shot for 10 years ago...But in the year that I've been breakin, and just livin Hip Hop, my life has changed dramatically. I now have one of the best views on life anyone can. I don't give a FUCK about the world, and I'm only 15. I am a happy kid and no one can phase me.

But as I was about to say, another influence on me in the ways of Hip Hop, is the music. Back then when Hip Hop was just being formed...the music was so pure...The illest beats you could imagine, designed JUST for breakers and poppers. Who could care less what the song is about, all they care about is if the beat is good, and if you can break to it. But when I reflect on artists such as KRS-1's lyrics, I've realized the originality and creativity in his rhymes. And not just his rhymes, the way he sets them up. Sure rhymes can be amazing some times, but if they don't FLOW together...then why even try? I love how KRS-1 doesn't lose site of his goal, and that is to make you bounce on the floor and do a good job doin it. All though there are a selected few artists today that have some EXTREME talent, I'm still not feelin them all the way. Take Eminem for example. EVERYONE loves Eminem, I like Eminem for different reasons than most people. I like Eminem because he's breaking the mold of "Bitches and Weed" but I'm STILL not feelin him all the way. His beats are dope, and his rhymes are SICK! But how he uses them is not what I am proud to say is a part of Hip Hop. But although Biggie talks about that stuff, I still LOVE him...I love everything about Biggie, he is probably one of the greatest rappers of all time. Deffinately up there with DMC and Sugarhill, because of his beats. His beats and his originality. His beats are AMAZINGLY fresh, and his style is some of the best I've ever heard. He has a flamin tongue and he knows how to use it.
BBoy Stretch

Posted 3/25/01

Whaazzuupp "B-BoY BrIaN" I sure do appreciate you writing me back with that info on those Cazals. You must be a True "B-Boy", becuz you were on top of where to get those glasses from. I have looked up and down, under rocks and crevises and had no leads. If I were still living in NEW JERSEY, all I would have to do is go over the Bridge into NEW YORK to find them becuz I know a store on Canal Street that sells them but I can't remember the name. I wish that I had photo's of me 'Poppin' and "Breakin" to give you becuz it was real in those days '1982-'1985. I had friends that used to take pictures of us at that time in our moves, but I never thought of obtaining any pictures becuz It was just an everyday thing. Now I realize that all of that was a classic era and I was in the middle of it but dont have any pictures to show. I have friends that still have photo's of me and our Crew "Poppin" in the day but it is hard for me to catch up with them, now that everybody is married with kids and spread around the country. I went into the Air Force in 1988 in New Jersey, about 3 or 4 years after Poppin' and Breakin died out, but to my surprise when I went across the bridge into New York, "Poppin' and "Breakin' were in full swing. And to this day, they still "break" with totally different and complicated moves than we used to do...Much respect to those who still keep the art-form alive. I lived in California for a couple of years and they "POP" there also, mainly the Mexicans in the "Barrio's in L.A..But yes it still goes on. Like I said before, I just turned 32 years old, but I can still "POP" and can even "Windmill", (We called it "Scissors' or 'EggRoll'). And I still rock the Shell Toe ADIDAS (that's a prerequisite for a B-BOY). Well anyway, keep the Art-Form alive. If you need any info on anything regarding this "B-Boy" culture, I'd be glad to help becuz I'm still "B-Boyin' at the age of 32.

Terence

(And here I thought I was the only one looking for Cazals at age 29.)

Posted 3/15/01

yo sup to the headz that put this site together. I just want ya'll to know that this is my number 1 site to go to for Hip Hop although not as big as other Hip Hop sites its still good in originality which a lot of other sites lack. I have been posting keystyles since I can remember....probably around last winter. I've come upon at least 5-10 posts that say "This site's going down hill" or "This site's wack" but they're really referring to the forum ya'll got here which I admit could be a little more advanced and have different subsections within the freestyle forum (ex. Discussion Forum).

Now I have stuck up for this site on many of those occasions and I would just like to post this. We all owe it to this site and many like it for supporting our culture and spreading it to other countries through the internet. I for one would like to thank Brian and the others who dedicate their time to making sure Hip Hop is tought and shared. With that said I have a suggestion. Ya'll seem to be good at looking things up, so I was wondering if ya'll could post up a history page or a timeline I think that would help everyone else learn more about Hip Hop like as in where it started and how far back it actually goes. Just a suggestion....I love the Old Skool page ya'll got it'd be nice if ya'll could expand on that. Thanx and keep doing what ya'll are doing.

Bboy Arsonistic

(Thanks to these comments, I have added a new discussion forum for MCs and a hip hop history timeline page to the site. I plan on upgrading the forum section to the infopop.com BBS very soon so people can register to post and moderate the boards.)

Posted 3/6/01

Yo, I really apreciate havin' this site around. You guys are doing a great job at keepin' me occupied. Not just freestyling but also being able to read whats on everybody elses minds, helps my day go that much better. I just finished a 100% freestyle album with my crew the Syndicate and your web site was the one that gave me this idea. I just wanted to tell you that you guys make a difference in my hip hop community. I'm doing a project in Germany this summer just a couple shows but I have myself and your inspiration to thank.
-Blow Da Spot

(Peace to the Syndicate crew and much appreciation for the positive comments.)

Posted 3/6/01

Corbis.com is SELLING graffiti images to the masses for comercial use! They have a compilation CD-ROM of 100 graffiti works selling for the tune of $279.00!!! The images on this CD are labeled URG0001 through URG0100....URG0019 belongs to KAOS!

Please check out and see if your work has been stolen! If it has.....DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Corbis Graffiti Pics

comrade

(This is completely wacked. They are exploiting these artists pieces and not paying any royalties on them. Send them a message and speak your mind.)

Posted 3/6/01

Yo I´m writin' from the Aztec capital México, and Breakin is my life, I´ve been breakin for just a few months , but there´s nothing phater than that, word, yo , I need names of places on the net where I can buy music, It´s really hard to get good disc in my side of the border, or at least some names of real funky breaking jams, or poping jams 'aight.

Thanks man,

peace out

Luis Chavez

(You should try to order some mix tapes from Urban Anthem or Homebass which are linked under the hip hop stores category on the links page. I found my favorite jam from back in the day available as a free MP3 download at Man Parrish's website. The song is Boogie Down Bronx and this is a classic breakin and poppin song.)

Posted 2/25/01

I hope you can help, around 1981-84 there was a hip hop record released and unfortunetely I cannot remember the artist or title but, the subtitle of it was "The Wiki Wiki Rap" with a follow on record with the subtitle of "The Wiki Wiki Rap Part 2" (these may have been spelt Wicki or Wicky). I have been trying to source records cd's & mp3's of some of the music I originally started DJ'ing with and so if you can find out the name of the artist & both tracks i will be very grateful.
Steve B

(This is part of the frustration of being a crate digger. It took me forever to find out that the "It's Time" cut was done by Al-Naafiysh and called "The Soul". I am not sure what this song is but hopefully someone will be able to help you out. Check out this site I found about early electro while I was looking around for your track: Electro.)

Posted 2/22/01

WhaazzuuppHeadz? I started Poppin' & Breakin' in 1982. I have been an original B-Boy since that Era started. We used to cut school to go to other schools across town to break our latest moves on rivals. It was serious back then, I dont know what it is like these days but we took it very seriously. We used to break on rivals the same way that they bang these days on rivals with gunz. We didnt worry about violence too much back then. Back then if you got "ate-up", you went back and practiced your moves for next time. I can still "Pop" my azz off at this age... I was Known as "Mr.Tic" becuz I could strobe my whole body like 3-D. I dont see any Exotic Poppin' like that anymore except on the west coast. Every now and then I'll push back my living room furniture and cut a windmill a few times just to make sure this 32 year old body can still do it....I still can. But I can't turtle anymore. But all that aside, I need your help with something.

I used to have all kinds of Cazals( EyeGlasses) when I was in High school....the single bar (like DMC) and the double bar (like the Fat Boys). I am looking for the double bar style model 623, but I can\'t find any anywhere. I have looked all on the Internet as well as eyeglass shops with no luck. I know that somebody is selling them becuz I see people with them in magazines and other places. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Terence

(I saw them in the magazines too and I hear there is a shop in NYC that sells glasses that are knock-offs of the vintage Cazals called alife. They have a site but it is down right now: alifenyc.com. You can try to call 212-555-1212 to get their phone number, they are in Manhattan on Lafeyette Street. I believe they go for around $60-80 dollars.)

Posted 2/22/01

Hey, everybody...I have an interesting addition to my site. Just finished a Beat Box track called "Beat Box Building Blocks". It's 100% organic being entirely created with my voice thru a Shure SM-57. It's my first Beat Box track, as Tony did others on my site. The first half is sampled & sequenced Beat Box, and the last is all live. Also added a remix which is like nothing I've ever heard before...all Dubbed out with filters and echos. The very end of that mix blew my mind when I first heard it. It's different.

The site has been updated also, and "Vivaldi Break" is a step away from the top of the chart. If you haven't already got it, grab it. Now's the time cause it could us your help. Good Hip Hop is hard to find on mp3.com, and if you think this fits the description do your part and support it. Also check out others I've run into like Sphere of Hip Hop, Seventh Heaven Planets, ParanormL, Sackcloth Fashion, AesopRock, Ceebrolistics, Anticon...it's out there. I'm working hard to keep my myself around because mp3.com is now letting artists that pay them get priorities on the charts...titles that are bolded to stick out. Bad enough having to deal with all the hyped thug rap floating around. I think it's wack myself...you can even sell your CD's for up to $30 now. Of course, cause mp3.com gets half...maybe we can do something to keep this from happening if enough people disagree. I dunno. Anyways, thanks and respect.

Analyst

www.mp3.com/alien8

(I feel your frustration, that is how it is dealing with the 'Big' industry or corporate world. I downloaded your beat box track and was impressed with the originality. Sequencing and layering your organic beat box was a brilliant idea. Check out his mp3.com page, it is one of the best I have seen and is fully developed with good links to other indie artists. When you download any tracks on mp3.com, just put an email like testtest.com on the registration page so you don't get spammed from them.)

Posted 2/15/01

I love your site so much,
the linx are the best & your doin' pretty well!
I am from England and am a big Hip Hop fan.
I skateboard & breakdance, as well as listen to jazz, breakbeat & drum 'n bass.

(Respekts to the UK heads for holding it down on the hip hop and drum 'n bass tip. I can't wait to check out London, England again.)

Posted 2/15/01

For as long as I've been posting on the freestyles forum, there's been this guy I CHING who always talks junk about other people's rhymes, never posts up his own, and always ducks battles. Well, I finally challenged him pretty severely about two weeks ago, giving him until tonight to write or come up with a verse to post against me, and I'd do a keystyle against it within 15 minutes of his post.

After a lot of bickering over the past few days, we finally found a verse he posted that he had been bragging about, one from June 28, 2000. I and a few other heads determined that he had bitten lyrics from Killah Priest and the Last Emperor. We also discovered that he's been pulling this ish for almost as long as the forum has been around. Since he ducked this incredibly big battle, and since he's been such a fake MC for so long, do you think you guys could put something on the website where everyone can see proclaiming I CHING the Official Bitch (or Biter, or Fake MC) of B-Boys.com or something like that? Hit me back. Love....

(I wasn't quite sure what to do with this email but post it so you all can read it.)

Posted 2/13/01

I am a oldschool hip hop tapes collector such as the coldcrush, fantasti, kurtis blow, busy bee etc. and i was wondering if you or somebody you knew could sell me some tapes or you might like what i have and want to exchange please get back to me peace I have 62 tapes at this moment.

Troy L Smith.

(I collect a lot of old skool tapes and vinyl myself and have found auction sites and yard sales to be the best places to search for this type of material. You should peep out the music auctions on ebay.com.)

Posted 1/22/01

I've been to this website once about half a year ago, and I'd like to let you know that it's really improved, but besides that I had a question regarding learning about mixing. I plan on buying turntables online that are used and since i'm new to all of this I'd to know where or how's the best way to learn about all the equipment that I need and vocab and stuff.? also my friend told me that it's better to just buy a couple of break dancing tapes instead of going off to a school to learn. l'd like to know if you agree or if you have another opinion. ok thanks. please respond back!

priscilla.

(Well if you are looking to buy some equipment to begin mixing then I recommend that you try to find some used Technics SL1200-MK2 turntables [wouldn't settle for anything else] and if you want a top notch scratch mixer then you probably want to get a 05-Pro Vestax mixer or any of their other scratch mixers. There are many other companies that make scratch mixers, just make sure the the fader is smooth and if it is used be sure that you don't have noise in the fader when you go from one channel to the other. On the b-girl level, I recommend that you go out and buy either the battle of the year tapes or bboy summit tapes and study some of the basic moves so that if you decide to take classes you won't be starting from scratch.)

Posted 1/18/01

I need your help!!! I am from France (near Paris) and every year since 1998 their is a Hip Hop festival in the city I live. The city organizes it but I and some 20 other young people help the city in the organization. The festival is about the Hip-Hop culture in general (dance, rap, graff, DJ, roller, DMX ...). I would actualy need you help for movies: We would like to play American movies on the Hip-Hop community/culture. Problem: We can find the good American movies but we hardly find them. The best movies probably don't even get there because as long as immigrants are the bad boys everything is great but when we find out that they actually can think we kind of get scared! Anyway, we would need to have the titles of movies or documentaries so we can try to find them in France.

If you can't help it's no big deal, thank you already for having taken some time to read me.

Oh! I also wish you a happy new year (health, dinero and everything that goes with it!). I hope you understood what I tried to explain!

Bye
Zaynah.

(Well, let's see - The classics like "Beat Street", "Breakin", "Style Wars", "Wild Style", "Krush Groove", "Turk 182", "Graffiti Rock". Some newer movies - "The Show", "Rhyme and Reason" and maybe some DMC videos like "Best of the Best" and a bboy video like Rock Steady Crew anniversary videos, "BBoy Summit" or "Battle of the Year" tapes.)

Posted 1/15/01

YO! Bro im Ennio from Romania,and i have a breakdance crew......here in Romania this kind of dance is less known.....maybe u can do something with it....hope so. Any way i mailed u because i need something .....i dont know how to say this but me and ma crew don't have a breakdance surface u know ....that kind of carpet....and here in romania u cant find something like that......i hope maybe u can help me and i will pay it.....i'll send u the money first and after that u can send me the carpet.....we really really need this carpet ....plz help us!!!

BREAK STUFF crew PEACE!

Militaru Ennio.

(Is there anyone that can help these guys out. I am looking into some linoleum surfaces for them but if someone else has a hook up drop them an email.)

Posted 1/15/01

Yo. Dis site is off tha chain, fo real! I was wounderin' if ya could hook me up with that grafiti font on your logo. If ya can, and keep up tha good work.

Alex.

(The font for our logo was made in Photoshop 5.0 by my good friend Sua aka Sion1. He basically markered out the letters and scanned them in and cleaned up the edges and added the fades using layers and the airbrush tool.

Another way this effect can be created is using the brush tool in photoshop and set the angle at 45 degress and the roundness at 5% or less and this will give the marker effect. You can then do your tag steady with the mouse and clean up the lines after you render the layer.)

Posted 1/15/01

yo mad props to ya man. keep up the site. cause we gotta keep this hip hop alive. peace

Caspa.

(True-Dat.)

Posted 1/15/01

obicham breaka i vsichki koito sa maistori na sporta!!! iskam da popitam kak edin obiknoven chovek moje da stane breikar. Da kajem che e na 40 godini kak moje da naychi neshto bez golemi ysilia. CHAO NA VSICKI BRAIKARI OT JAMBOL.

petar.

(Umm. Translation anyone?)

Posted 1/15/01

dis is adam in pickering ontario. I really want to learn to dance hip hop as well as break. But I can't find no clubs or dance studio's that teach u how to close to me. Anyone know were a brotha can learn how to break and dance hip hop!! please send as much info that u know will help me. Thanks a lot man. peace.

Wes Douglas.

(You might want to check out the Scarborough town shopping center in Toronto, Ontario in the Youth Recreation Room. (Goto Mcowan and 401 highway. The mall is visible from the highway. The youth recreation center is inside the mall. They have sessions on Fridays from 4 - 8:30 pm, contact Dyz-zee for more info.)

Posted 1/15/01

I'm Dan from the UK (north wales to be precise) I think I'm the only B-Boy here, so no crew then. Everyone here sucks, and we need some more cool B-boys (fancy shippin' some people over from NYC?) Anyway, I'm practicing some breakin moves, and I'm building my collection of clothes. I need to get some more people involved properly, I mean a lot of people walk around like "wiggers" because of the show here in the UK called ALI G, (its a comedy show in which a comdian dresses up in a bright yellow FUBU tracksuit and a tommy skull cap and interviews important poltical figures in a streetstyle accent) I'm not even sure if I can be counted as a b-boy yet? when can I actually say "yeah I'm a b-boy??" Theres hundreds of "Grebo's" around here, or Goth's as you'd know em, with there long black hair, cult religions and metal music (urggh) and theres quite a few skaters with there punk rock. but noooo B-Boys. I'm gonna try and pick up Spray Painting cos that really rocks, and liven this town up a bit. I do DJ, but I don't play Hip Hop...and I House Head, but its all got a breaky edge. I'm like Armand Van Helden really, and I'm into hip hop too. Anyway if you could help me please do, I need to get some more people in this area involved without them thinking its a cool craze of the moment. oh yeah, what paint should I buy to spray with? and where do I get those changable nozzles? I don't know anything about see, and some of those designs look really hard to do! and complicated. So I'll practice on some stuff at home first, but I need to know a bit about the basics, what type of paint, where from (we have the same big stalls here in the UK as over there, but if you tell me the type of paint I'll be able to dig it out) and do I need anything else other than paint nozzles? any help at all to do with spray paint would be great. thanks a lot.

Dan.

(Well as far as recruiting B-Boys to North Wales, that might be a difficult request, you should get your friends together and start a crew. I recommend you use Krylon for paint and Rustoleum for filler. The cheaper the paint the more likely it'll run on you. You can try to find the nozzles online, they are referred to as Fat Caps. I used to pull caps from the hardware store off of oven cleaner sprays and other household cleaners. They usually have a wider spray and the caps on Krylon are better for outlining your pieces.)

Posted 1/15/01

Dear Sirs,
We are the producers of a documentary about the hip hop movement in the outskirts of metropolitan Sao Paulo city (Brazil's largest megalopolis), where rap is a very strong social force. We're taping in digital video a series of testimonies about music and violence in the suburban ghettos. We experiencing several difficulties in this work, specially in terms of financial resources. The country is quite poor, and there is also the lack of interest from the official organizations, due to obvious political reasons. We are writing to ask any advice you could give us. We are in desperate need of assistance from producers or any provider of financial support for the conclusion of our project. We have more than twenty hours of taped interviews with musicians, community leaders, etc. We also have several written articles and newspaper clips about the project, and we can send them to those interested in helping us, along with the image clips. The documentary team is composed of three members: Mauricio Eca (director of several award-winning productions, including prestigious rap group "Racionais MC" music videos), Teresa Eca (screenwriter) and Cobra (rapper) Looking forward to any reply.

Best regards,

Teresa Eca.

(This is very unfortunate that they are having problems getting this documentary completed. Contact Teresa if anyone has any resources or contacts that they can help them out to get this project completed.)

Posted 1/15/01

yo what b-boys.com. My name is manny but i write "RUMEX". but i had so many names dog i cant stick to one. i need a ill name or a name that fits me. i love graffiti.seeing my nigga who writes nerds influenced me. also many other graff heads i no like "coma.iw", "win.cas" and my nigga "nerds.NB". I try and try to get ill, but i don't know what the deal is. i think its because i cant find a name that fits me. my reg.handwriting tells i look like i write graff. this web site is ill. b-boys.com is the shit. i seen some ill flix on here. some old nasty shit. i went to new york about 4-6 months ago around the bronx. i took some photos. i took some of "KINGBEE". "UNDERGROUND ARTIST"on some old mural shit. so fucking nasty dog dam. but if you can help me hit me back up. peace.

Manny from Boston, MA.

(I think that RUMEX is a tight name. I know many cats that write different names but you should seriously try to lock one down so you can get recognized by the one main name. Why don't you try MANE or ENAM. I would love to see those pics you took in NYC if you can email them to me.)

Posted 1/7/01

I was recently in Los Angeles and saw a city bus that was wrapped (with the graphics all the way around) and saw a picture of a guy with the name Mopreme printed on it. The bus had StatusRecords.com printed on its side so later when I got home I logged on to the site to see what it was about. There wasn\'t a whole lot of text mostly pictures and links. I had only heard the name Mopreme once on a 2Pac record, but this site didn't say there was any relationship between him and Pac. So I searched his name on Copernic and found out the he is Mopreme Shakur half brother of Pac through their father Mutulu Shakur. He was a member of the group The Thug Life Outlaws and known as Komeni. He is also the first voice you hear on "All Eyes On Me" he says "a coward dies a thousand deaths, a soilder dies but one". Come to find out he was also the guy who rapped on the Toni, Toni, Toni song "It Feels Good" when he was a young teen going by the name of Mocedes. For some reason their keeping this real quiet, not saying anything about his relationship with his brother. If you want to see what he looks like go to statusrecords.com maybe they will post some samples.

Paul

Posted 12/17/00

Yo wutup? Im just a beginner learnin how to pop. Im a gymnast so i can already do a lot of the power moves. I was just wonderin what crew Mr. Wiggles is from and what city its based out of. Thanks Yo.

David

(You are way ahead of most heads by having your power moves already. Make sure that you are well rounded and don't forget the fundamental moves like toprockin, footwork and freezes. There are a lot of power move breakers that just go out in the circle and don't display any styles. Mr. Wiggles was originally down with the Rock Steady Crew but now is also part of the The Electric Boogaloos and I believe he still lives in NYC area.)

Posted 12/17/00

Yo wat up. this ia Adam from PA. I have been breakin for about 2.5 years now. When i got kinda bored i felt like i needed somethin else, so i went to the hardware store on the corner and copped some paint. Ever since then i have been puttin up tags, and pieces, and been bombin constantly. I really feel that something happens when i am paintin my shit up where people can see. I'm usually writtin with only 1 person thats Joe. It's weird how something can make you feel so cool and you know it's illegal but you are like a fiend with paint pumpin through your blood. i don't know why im writtin this but i just felt like doin it.

Adam E

(We all know this feeling, it is called Hip Hop and it gets addicting sometimes. Keep spraying and send me flicks if you get a chance.)

Posted 12/12/00

I noticed you do thorough coverage on an international scale yet somehow manage to forget about your own neighbours next door north. hip hop on an underground scale is reaching blistering levels in Toronto (T DOT) alone, neva mind our west coast (Van-Grooves) and even the inbetweens (Peg City etc.). Are you lacking the research/resources to shed international light on the true north, or just plain sleeping? nice site.

kiko44

(I know that the T DOT has become a hip hop mecca in Canada and have been making plans to come check out your scene this coming year. I have been hearing the buzz for a while now and with artists like Choclair, Da Grassroots and other indie unsigned talent Toronto deserves its much due respect. If you would like to be my Toronto writer/contact or know of someone that is interested let me know so I can include more articles and reviews from your demographics. For those of you that haven't heard and are looking to expand internationally, Toronto is a short drive from Buffalo, NY and has been labeled the Canada's biggest urban music market. Choclair was signed by Virgin in 1998 and his album "Ice Cold" went Gold (50,000 copies) 35 days after its November 2 release in Canada and debuted at number ten on the Canadian SoundScan chart, the highest ever debut for a Canadian hip-hop album.)

Posted 12/05/00

I was wondering were I could find information on some early 1980s break dancing movies. I can remember be a kid and seeing Breakin, Breakin 2 ( which were kind of cheesey ), and the ghetto classic Beat Street. If you know where please drop me a line. Thanx.

DJ Flow

(Check out the 80s Movie Gateway site and you can see pictures and cast crew information. The movie has been out of print for quite sometime but if you want to buy a copy of the Beat Street classic visit my Movie archive. It is listed on the bottom of the page.)

Posted 12/05/00

This is Derek from Boise, Idaho. I was wondering if you guys could play my tape for some DJ crews down there. I'm looking to move on with my career which is hard to do in this city. I am hoping to get some connections soon. So, if you could send me a tape of there stuff also that would be great. I will be sending you a mix tape of my stuff soon. Please help me

DJ Flow

(You should post a message in our general forums and see if there are any promoters in areas that you wish to relocate to that are looking for new upcoming talent or if people can distribute your music ahead of time if you already have a spot picked out.)

Posted 11/23/00

Hi! I'm looking for some ol skool threads for break'n. Can you give me some advice? (the kind of clothing lee and the NYC breakers were wearing in Beat Street. Know any good web sites?

peace,
AC

(You can find old skool threads at your local Salvation Army, Goodwill stores or any other vintage clothing stores. If you live near a large metropolitan city like San Fransisco or Seattle check out the Buffalo Exchange or Atlas Clothing if your in Seattle. I have found tons of Adidas sweatsuits in second hand stores, if you find anything online, expect to pay a lot for it, unless you get lucky. A good auction site to check out is ebay.com)

Posted 11/23/00

hey yo! hie! I've a question; I want to learn breakdancing. I'm from Istanbul (from Turkey). I've a lot of friends, who are b-boyz but they don't have time for me (I'm a good DJ and because of that I've a lot of friends who are rappers and they have cds too). How can I learn breakdance without a b-boy? Must I buy videocassettes or what? Please help me.

WaGaBoNd

(If you are interested in learning how to break, you should check out the breakdance movie clips that I have on the site. You can right click on the links to save them to your computer. I would start with the fundamental moves like top rockin' and footwork (six-step). There are a few instructional websites that have simple animations so you can get the basic concepts of the moves. Get some cardboard boxes and tape them together or practice on some gymnastic mats once you step up to some power moves.)

Posted 11/23/00

I`m A b-girl from Austria. My Crew is called Female Artistics. I want to get in contact with you because I want to know more b-girl crews. You know in Austria we have a small b-boy scene and there is only one b-girl crew. If you have some information for me, please contact me.

soeck

(There are many B-Girl crews everywhere but only a few of them have websites that I know of and I have a few of them linked on the links page like shebangcrew.com and syrenz.com. You should also look on the icq contacts page and get in touch with all of the bgirls listed.)

Posted 11/23/00

Whats up, my name is Miguel Im from NY and am looking for a location to throw a bboy jam. If you know any places that are real cool when it comes to hiphop I would appreciate any help. I checked city search and it sucked! Any websites where I could find spaces to rent out would be cool too.

Peace Mega45

(If you are seriously interested in throwing your own Bboy Jam, the first thing you need to do is get a production name, budget, insurance and security quotes for the event. When looking for the actual venue, you should first start with the standard community centers, church activity centers, armory halls, or 18 and over clubs that might be open to doing a daytime event. Some universities or schools will also lease their space if you have the security and insurance covered. I think the freshest spot to have a Bboy Jam is at a roller skate center, the floor is perfect and they usually have a DJ booth already and a sound system. Breakin does a job on floors and you'll probably have to pay to have it cleaned and waxed afterwards. Good luck with your event.)

Posted 11/09/00

Hello, Brian!

Thank you very much for your letter. It's pleasant to see letters from America. I live in Moscow. I'm very interested in hip-hop culture, but in Russia it is not developed well enough. We have a lot of people who want to develop it but we also have grown-ups who hate rap and think that hip-hop is something terrible and forbid teenagers to listen this music, to play streetball, to dance break-dance. But mostly parents and teachers hate GRAFFITI. They said that children MUST study and study even if they don't wanna to do that. That's why teenagers have so many problems with adults.

ABOUT HIP-HOP SHOWS. Well, in Russia we have some festivals. But it's pity that someone have much money and become very famous MC and don't know how to ''read'' rap! And someone who have talent (but no money) if he wants to be famous shoud go to another city or win in some festivals for young MC only to conclude a contract with famous record-label.
Diana

(I have been really interested in learning more about the hip hop scene abroad and esp. in Russia and it seems that we all experience similiar struggles with our parents, peers and the whole music industry. I predict that we will see some indie hip hop coming out of Russia in the next year.)

Posted 11/09/00

hey whats up well I was looking at your site and its very good you look like you would be a good dj well I was wondering if you no how to hook up some beats ya know like instrumentals cause me and my boy Jarann are starting a lil rap thing and are only problem is like the instrumentals well If you could hook something up lete me know.

Heather

(If there are any beat diggers out there that are waiting to bust out with their beats, get in contact with Heather and Jarann so they can rock some lyrics over them.)

Posted 10/29/00

Online Music Awards - Click Here to give us a vote for the 'people's choice award' and be eligible to win a playstation 2. The link will open a new window and you will still be able to continue using this site.

Posted 10/23/00

Where can i find a nameplate I have looked everywhere and have asked everyone. good look'n.

EpochB

(I get this email once a week and here is your solution. Contact DJ Brock (he is one of the original DJ's from NYC in the 70's). They can be made the traditional way or can be made from your very own design. They can also make custom nameplates for chains. These all can be made in either Chrome, Brass or 18k Gold. You can contact DJ Brock 1-404-401-6724 or email him:DJ Brock.)

Posted 10/21/00

ay sup? I really dig the site.... When are you guys gettin sum milk crates in? I'd like to order sum for my records (like 8 of em), or could you recommend any place where I can buy them? I'm fiendin man, the supermarkets in my town got fuct up milk crates, I never had to pay for them shits before, and I rather get milk crates than sum rubbermaid tub, cuz Im fruity like that. thank you for your time.

K-Blitz

(Tucker Model 0240 Full Storagemate Crates, similar to the old style milk crates, they are available at ACE Hardware Stores or from The Container Store, a mail order source in Texas. Their phone number is (800) 733-3532 and the price per unit is $5.99 each regardless of quantity. Shipping is $5.50 for any order under $55.00. For orders over $55.00, shipping is 10% of the order total. Dimensions 14" x 14" x 13" 7/8 High, I have a few of them in midnight blue. Barcode part number 076874240415)

Posted 10/21/00

Whutz up cuz? my name is Willy G and i'm from Knoxville, Tennessee. Yea we were shoes and i'm not inbred. I just got into break dancing and shit like a couple weeks ago. I saw your page and just letting you know in a couple months there will be a K-town crew representing. If you can help me get started at all i'd appreciate it. I got a group of three including me to get down on it. I only know one kid that break dances around hear and he got put in a wheel chair about two months ago by some big dumb redneck. Keep it real.
Wilber

(This email was funny as hell. I can't wait to meet some b-boys from Knoxville, TN. Well, check out our breakdance movies section on the site and hit up our links page and check some of the break links.)

Posted 10/09/00

Peace, checked out your site after hearing it on miami hip hop, the 2 of us were spot lited on the show so i wanted to see what you guys are all about, im loving what you got going on and i hope that you guys keep up the hard work.hopefully we could hook up and throw ideas to each other and also help each other out, this is our project that we got going (JAY WHY ) drop by let us know what you think and hopefully we could hook up down the line.
GHETTO-MIKE from JAYWHY DOT COM

(For those of you that haven't peeped out our new show, you can listen to the archives at Miami Hip Hop.)

Posted 10/09/00

I´d like to know there isn´t any b-boys concert in portugal?

Saulo

(I am planning on doing a worldwide tour maybe next summer to have b-boy events all over the world and need to seriously sit down and start writing some grants to get this funded.)

Posted 10/09/00

hi this is Joanna Harris, I'm from New Zealand I just wana say that B-Boys is the bomb!!!

Joanna

(Your support is much appreciated.)

Posted 10/09/00

HI! I'm a writer from Greece and i wanna say, first of all, that your site is really cool but unfortunately you haven't got any videos. Anyway, i wanna say that i'm very dissapointed by the fact that my country is ''on purpose'' left out from all the good sites, breaking or graffiti. We also have good writerz and really good b-boyz (did you know that Nico's brother Stammis from the THROW DOWN CREW is right now in Greece teaching young people how to break). Well that's it for now, thanx for your time.

KING KEBZER FBC4LIFE!

(Well, like I always tell my friends, give it some time. It takes time for good things to spread while mainstream garbage spreads like a virus. You should get a free homepage online and put up some pictures about your crew and breakin culture in Greece.)

Posted 9/25/00

I am interested in your "beeboy" tshirt. i would like to order it, but im supposed to contact u first.

(Well, here is the deal on the shirts, we are sold out of the 'BeeBoy' shirts and I plan on making some more next time I get back up to Seattle. The screen is up there. I am in the process of getting some nice zippy hoody sweatshirts made with a B-Boy embroidery on it. I have to scrape up some cash to order them but should have them on the site some time this coming month.)

Posted 9/25/00

Hey this is Pocahontas and my question is, do you know of any hip hop competitions around or close to the midwest area? If you do could you e-mail me back and give me some ideas. I'd appreciate it.

Thanks

Pocahontas

(You are welcome to post this to our forums at: Forums in the events area and someone might get in contact with you with some information.)

Posted 9/22/00

hey. whats up. i heard this song on the radio but i cant find out who sings it or what the song is called. i think its something like jukeslide and by someone in badboy. so if you can email me back if you know or not that would be cool. thanks!

kevin

(I actually am not up on too much badboy entertainment cuts. I am not a big fan of Sean Puffy but you can peep their website at: http://www.peeps.com/badboy/ )

Posted 9/21/00

Hi Brian,

My name is Grace and I am interested in learning how to dance hip-hop. Are there classes that you know of that I could take?

Eager-To-Be-a-B-girl,

Grace

(I get this question about once a week in email. I would start calling local dance schools and community centers to see if they offer hip hop dance. You can usually take a dance class at the community college and a lot of schools are getting hip hop dance classes. I know here in Capitola, CA there is a hip hop dance class at a dance school down the road. The other thing you can do is buy a few break videos and teach yourself in your garage. Bust out some cardboard for padding and go to work.)

Posted 9/21/00

My name is Katie, and this was my first time checking out your site, and I must say that I am thoroughly impressed. I appreciate all the effort that has gone into your site, and needless to say greatly appreciate any person that is out to inform and improve instead of make a buck. I am a writer, still in school, and would love to share my flavor with your site and those that are continuous visitors. My email address is: Katie so feel free to send me mail, letting me know if you are interested in adding new fresh talent to your site. Thanks for your time...

(We always welcome any talent here at b-boys.com. If anyone has essays, opinions or stories that they would like to feature on the site please send them my way.)

Posted 9/21/00

Yo whats up from Greensboro, NC. I used to get up in upstate NY started writing in '81. Done plenty of walls some of them still untouched after many years. Have a real job now, at a television station as a creative services director but I still like to piece. I have about a few dozen photos with the crew, and about 10 hard bound books of art from 82 on up to the present. It's cool to look back at the old shit and laugh. Listen I'll send ya some shit If you tell me what file format you want them in.

Spin AKA Spinner, (SEC2 Second to none), SII, WIZ 29, SPINNER, SCAN, SCANNER, City J

(We hope to have an interview and some of his photos on the site soon. It is nice to hear that old skool heads are still out there and making it.)

Posted 9/5/00

Yo - your site has all the shit I'm in one. I haven't found any other site with graf fonts yet. mad styles.

UM - Underground Mafia
Wonder Mic

(If anyone else finds any graffiti fonts online, let me know so I can add them to the collection.)

Posted 9/4/00

I can't think of a tag.
I'm just starting out I'm in no gangs or anything.
Everyone I think up seems to be taken I don't wanna steal someones.
I was wondering if you might be able to give me some suggestions.

Thanks,
Mathew (I need a tag ASAP)

Mathew

(I can remember when I was in this exact position, I went through about five or so different tags. Let me think of something original for you... How about MTW - Meant to Write, Many Times Written, Manifest The Word. Sometimes a short tag is nice so you can focus on the letters and your style.)

Posted 9/4/00

Hey, i've been trying to do headspins for a while. i can balance on my head and spin once but can't keep going. i was wondering if u could give me some tips.

Gaven

(Get a beanie or something for your dome and go into the tripod position and use your legs to begin the rotation. Remember to keep them spread out for more balance once you get spinning, your hands now act as a guide and to balance you so you can continue the spin. After the first rotation, land your hands for a moment and use them to keep your momentum while at the same time keeping your legsin a open position. The closer you keep your legs, the faster you tend to spin and more unbalanced you get.)