Hip Hop Memoirs

The History is good but so incomplete by Rico69. A picture of the hip hop landscape in its infant stage based on his personal experiences.

The history is good but so incomplete, then again this is told by those who survived to tell. I will try to add a little more from my experience, so here i go, who is to define the word "hip hop" itself? Why to me this is timeless youth culture predates its history? If you catch my drift, to me the essence of this idea, came from generations before, I grew up living the popular culture of the mid 60's into the 70's & 80's my primal eras, I was born a wild & free spirit. To me the movement got popularized in New York but the pre-history or the roots of hip hop came from all over and in times before us, myself an immigrant from Nicaragua C.A, came to live in the Bronx NYC in 1978, I instantly fit in to the street culture naturally.

To make a long story short, then Dee Jaying was the thing cus' disco was "whats up". I began my collection of 45s and 8-tracks, and of albums, now MCing (rapping) was taking place at the park jams, but Breakin' was the thing I was too familiar with, being the fact that I was doing my bridges, hand walks, kipups and all the moves I practice the earlier 70's from watching kung-fu flicks I knew since I watched Bruce Lee as "Kato". I wanted to be physical and good at it, now this guy name Derek aka "el moreno dk" as they call around the block then, was chillin' & dancing to "Apache & Drummers Beat", Cracker Jack you know the break (ers) beats etc. Doing his top & footwork somehow we ended up going up against each other, battling as we say, we show each other up then his thing was jerks and swipes, footworks & freezes. Mine was floor control and all the kung fu tricks I mastered earlier. We call it even , Derek was the only "break boy" I knew then in 78' til i saw this other one at my school, the next year at my high school, I later came to know his name was Track 2.

I retired by then since I was truly doing it before it became popular known as breakboying I say to el moreno dk(RIP), and my earlier partners Domingo, Herbie, Enriquez aka Pipon, Topo (Groudhog) and Frijol. I remember where ever you are. Thanks for been such showoffs. In the robot & drumbreakdancing you bunch of no good solo showoffs basters. Then the 80's came, I graduated from H.S. popping was making noise at the party, "Planet Rock" and all that was making noise, Planet Patrol reminds me when the "Vigelantes Crews" was becoming popular earlier along with subway art, I saw then craze of roller & the kickdance not to mention every one knee spinning, but in 82' I saw the windmills some youngster threw against a kick dancer in a dance battle I remember thinkin "wow, now i seen it all". Now I grew up on the moves that are the predecesor to this but I never imagined anything like this; "wow again". Breakdance had arrived reformed and renewed as a force to be reckon with, I began to practice the new moves, I ended up joining crews, the likes of the Bronx Break Master, BIA, and Incredible Breakers. Battling the likes of crews named Chief Rockers, Hot Feet, 240Breakers. Rolling with the Bronx & Boston Floor Lords,& Crazy Breakers. I hang with the best, lived Breakdancing at its height, til 86 the final year I founded the Ultimate Force crew. The year Incredible Breakers took out the New York City Breakers, Rock Steady in the last battle contest, and Frosty Flakes pop served Mr. Waves in Electro, but that was one time. Back then anybody cut claim the title, I am sure Chief Rockers could give all the crews a run for the money, if they would have attended. Dynamics where probably to old to win by then. Well I enjoyed this moment in time, I hope you enjoy the story too and be able to find it helpful. This is my story & I am sticking with it.

Sincerly yours,

the Original Richie Rich$aka Mr.DO!rock in the 80's.

I got a story for the 90's and for the new Millennium also a lot you will find it interesting too but am out of time & space a guest and this is still unfolding. To summon this story in short, I was born in a Carribean country and raised mostly in the "Ghetto of the Bronx New York City". My page is in the history book, even though it would be missing. Peace. Big up to all the real old school & the original hip hop heads and to the new elementary school heads a shout out to all. For the love of the game...

Contact: Rico69.