Crazy Legs & Ken Swift - 1983

Full performance and interview

[@Scotty-P]

I love that David Letterman introduces this so sincerely.

[@Scotty-P]

@@juniorjames7076 Oh, you were going so well 'til you went down that route. Just how do you think that the various media; including television, exist at all? Now, New York City and several other American cities were indeed very dangerous in the 70's and 80's - BUT! - we could safely cherry pick the elements of musical and cultural expression which we could appreciate which were emanating from them, for real. I'm Australian, and here they've been recreating a similar socio-cultural/demographic scenario as existed in those areas then - actually, much worse though - except we're engulfed in it, and nothing of any 'pop' cultural merit can come from it because everything's already been done!

[@tonyceeone]

Ken Swift is a humble dude he doesn’t drink his water first he hands over a glass to crazy legs first - loyal dude always watch for signs

[@JUSLOFI]

To this day.

[@onthegrind7525]

Exactly Ken always came across as a real down to earth humble guy, Crazy Legs on the other hand total opposite

[@ALFA8902]

Classic tale of the Scorpion and the Frog!!!

[@javila6341]

🤣🤔Hold on...he was just being live on national television..you gotta play nice always ..besides that's pure elementary being civilized ..Don't hate on Crazy Legs🇵🇷💯👍

[@TheCrowzZz]

@@onthegrind7525 I don't understand why judge if they are children

[@barryschwarz]

Rock Steady Crew came to Adelaide, South Australia about 1985 or86, and I went to the Old Lion to watch them. Breakdancing changed my life, and I was thrilled to see my heroes in the flesh.

[@dimosraikoudis]

It's great to see this performance again and again. They were so young and shy at that time. Certainly... They have changed a lot today ! Excellent 💯👍✊🤜🤛

[@billclemons5593]

LEGENDS STILL! BBOY ROYALTY!

[@koolkeithultra1715]

Cleanest version i've seen of this footage, classic.

[@goohee22]

These 2 men are the Originals. The Goats . I remember watching this Live. Great stuff man

[@britdragster]

I remember seeing Crazylegs and his crew in London back around 82-83. Electro, Breaking and Body Popping was still a relatively new thing here in the UK back then. I also saw Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force in a college hall in my local town around the same time.

[@Hvelez64]

I laugh when people say that we Nuyoricans did nothing for the culture, remember we live next to you guys 🇵🇷🇺🇸🤦🤦🤦

[@aprodutube]

As a black guy I know the importance of Nuyoricans in disco and Hip Hop culture. Disco was invented in the black and Puerto Rican clubs of NY and Philly. Don’t listen to the naysayers.

[@Robocoppat]

These guys define the word Breakdancing. Very professional. I could watch them dance all day long

[@kariblack298]

They don’t define they just was in the right place at the right time he’ll people better then them that didn’t get the chance

[@krystiankrysti1396]

@@kariblack298 100% true and crazylegs maiontaned same ass 5months progress bboy skill to this day, dood never learned anything more since the 80s and he has tendency to shit on people who do lot of powermoves, sure he was where he was at the beginning but come fucking on... how long can you ride that wave without progressing

[@paulpaid]

Dave is the consumate professional. He knew the Brothers were young and steered the conversation nicely.

[@luiscruz9738]

Love crazy legs, but prince ken swift is one of the best to ever do it.

[@lasvegasloner4621]

I'd almost forgotten how important this performance is-- before the countless acrobatics were invented based off these guys (and a few others), and the more and more complex techniques all came from standing on shoulders before them, it had to start somewhere. Watch how smooth they footwork is. You are witnessing floor rocking in it's first form, and how they were already dissecting how they could improve it even without anyone having invented the outrageous stuff we eventually saw later. True pioneers right here.

[@marcosgomez8618]

They did not call it floor rocking There was uprock

[@Violinistic]

Exactly..and Down rock. Their 2nd single titled just that. Up Rock. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqDTaHVrhtp5r80si=_lD1L7ChGVNBG2k5

[@ohpopshop]

Damn, I miss this Letterman era. Great that all the hiphop/dance crowd here now remembers these gents as legends, but the fun thing for me is remembering what it was like at the time when Letterman would occasionally/often just feature something that at the time was still just a curiosity but it caught his show producers' attention and he said, "Sure, let's have them!"

[@lynneacevedo6641]

Yup! I'm 31 and he's kind of before my time but I LOVE his interviews for this exact reason ❤also something about seems not condescending like the ones now. Just genuine questions!

[@lifendeathchzlife5159]

Break dancing changed my life. I saw an episode of the new dance in the early 80s. I'm not sure what show it was on, but I wasn't impressed. Then later, my mom took me to see beatstreet. Mind you, I didn't ask to see it, I didn't even know what it was about. And man, when they hit the Roxy, I was blown away. I didn't want them to stop. I went home, moved furniture, and I learned how to windmill that night. I was hitting my ankles on the leg of my bed and everything. That was a fun time in my life. Cars would stop and watch us. We danced at halftime at our middle school basketball game. I was in the 7th grade when beatstreet hit the theaters. Fun times. At 50 I can still swipe and backspin, but I can't windmill that good lol.

[@robertwolfeii615]

You too. Me too. Times were great in the 80s. Now I am 51 and remembering memories. I used to go to my basement and used cardboard boxes.

[@lasvegasloner4621]

So you weren't impressed the first time you saw breaking, then you didn't know what Beatstreet was going to be about but went in to see the movie? AND learned windmills that night?? Something kinda smells here, and it ain't us.

[@thislazylife]

I was a popper back in the day. I'm 54, and will stop pop if you get me drunk enough.

[@ericbaptist7842]

​@@thislazylife😂😂😂

[@ericbaptist7842]

At 51, the only windmill I can do now is windmill cookies!😅

[@DamonHodgesOfficialPagePlus]

2021 and still here these memories will last forever :-)

[@uthman9979]

No face tattoos no gangster posturing speak in correct grammar. Talent. Legends

[@MrMitchell12996]

Just say you’re a racist, get it off your chest.

[@michaelmoezpoor2651]

Well, no face tats or posturing, at least...

[@arturogamboa1498]

Man these dudes would smoke you on the floor and then run ya pockets. They was stickup kids, a lotta young HipHop dudes was sellin or stealin sum so they could eat. Just the fact of life. They still deserve their props and respect regardless.

[@user-kl4bh4lq6r]

Ken Swift Poetry In Motion 🤸🦸👍

[@leowashington8991]

I'm 50 years old right now and I used to do this when I was Young, I need to Practice this moves

[@thislazylife]

Three weeks later, you get your windmill back? Or did you break your back? 🤣

[@johnnybiggunz1141]

Lmaoooo, he's in the hospital with a broken back 🤣🤣

[@rosiea.2605]

You'll break your neck now! 😂🤣😆

[@rianperle258]

Great quality and so nice to see the whole interview. Thanks for sharing!

[@RockScissorsRock]

Freaking Legends

[@ironmike-putsallkindavideo7840]

2 black dudes from the BRONX called the (NIGGA TWINZ) were the first ever B BOYS who invented BREAK DANCING back in the early 70's

[@adolfd7702]

Who cares

[@BoricuaNyc]

@@adolfd7702 facts 🤣🤣🤣

[@BoricuaNyc]

Nobody called themselves Nigg@ in 1970🤣🤣🤣

[@stevenlopez7230]

Amazing an phenomenal by this guy's an letterman💪💪💪🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

[@sterlingturner5420]

Black youth created breakdancing.

[@BoricuaNyc]

And NewYorkRicans🇵🇷🗽are bringing it to the Olympics

[@Dutchyyyy74]

They the same thing. Only difference is us Puerto Ricans got fucked by the Spanish in the 1400s before all that n got mix u see all shade in Puerto Ricans if u know then u know we the same frfr we jus got good hair 😭😂

[@snieves4]

It was a multicultural effort between caribbeans, african americans and others. Hip hop is for everyone.

[@omarcaban9917]

It was a hood thing period !

[@sirpoppinchuck]

This was monumental they got a chance to sit down and talk about their dance n share their thoughts. Usually if you had a manager or representative they would speak unless you were an actor, comedian, or public figure. Before I think “Shabba- Doo” from “Breaking” movie 1984/ The Lockers dance group in the early- mid 70’s of Soul Train n Robert Shields of “The Clinkers “ San Francisco Street performer were the only street dancers/ movers of 70’s n early 80’s that were able to speak on the couch about their original movement n dance.

[@carlramsamugh1170]

Phenomenal!

[@sexobscura]

*A street-challenge, Dave, is what completely stopped all gang violence*

[@flufycat2748]

So good! Timeless!

[@gaffle7646]

It was either this, Flashdance or a That's Incredible show (I think) that was my first introduction to Break Dancing...

[@user-kl4bh4lq6r]

Fantastic stuff 👍🌠🌠

[@Malouco]

This was good times!!!

[@ProfessorKenneth]

These 2 are the best from their crew👍🏻💯 I miss the 80s

[@GhostVapeKIlla]

Sucker's break like TURBO and OZONE! ❤

[@kaiverse9568]

Crazy legs's prime years

[@kenyanthornell9717]

Thank you for this @SkillzOne !!! I saw a clip of the dance performance on KZbin b4 but not the interview as well. Supa cool to hear the interview as well.

[@GordonGartrell27]

The greatest American art form

[@30sandrita1]

My husband dances like this! Hi Sascha! ♥

[@leevarmc2601]

Off the chain legends of the game

[@felixleibas5359]

Dope!!

[@isabellacuentas3480]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Aktion-fq9cj]

Ken Swift should have hit the floor no less than twice in that Beat Street Battle, He's THe Best

[@gtedwards]

The actual battle between NYC Breakers and Rock Steady crew for Beat Street lasted 30 minutes, but it was edited down to the 5 minutes used in the movie, so it's highly likely that Ken Swift came out more than once.

[@marlonflores5077]

DOPE ASF! RRREEEEAAAAALLLLLL

[@mexicannena7563]

Crazy Legs And his Friend is Cute😂❤️😜🤑😝😩😜

[@philluppocketz8290]

Dope.

[@keliishaine]

💯Legends

[@ericsred5440]

Classic.

[@Lerf8]

2 Legends

[@jamjam4050]

Awesome 💯💯💯🔥🔥⭐⭐💥💥💥👌✌️✌️🌎

[@BoricuaNyc]

Hip hop culture🇵🇷🗽✊🏿💯🗽

[@jeanniepetrov9934]

Wepa 🇵🇷

[@beachlover9705]

Why do I feel like listening to RUN DMC 's "My Adidas "

[@kayflip2233]

So funky.

[@anthonyaitken2283]

" Legends...."

[@disneyboy2572]

The break dance like a vibration around the whole world at that time suspected to be the first time it ever be done that way the footwork swipe into baby Freeze

[@daskinder]

Crazy Legs!!

[@frankieanthony1904]

Puerto Rican Style 💯👍🏽

[@joshuaandbrenda]

🔥🔥🔥

[@lakagadillagonzalez6517]

Puerto rican the best

[@BoricuaNyc]

Ya Tu Sabe🇵🇷🔥🇵🇷🔥💯

[@juniorjames7076]

At that time, mainstream White media was so Cringe whenever they were covering something "new and amazing" happening on the "dangerous streets of NYC or Philly", but in the early 80s it was the few times you could see Black & Latino culture at all on television. I think at that time Letterman was on practically after midnight, which was the zombie hour for me. I don't know how i was able to sneak back into the living room to watch this footage when I was in the 6th grade in 1983. My parents would have killed me, but i had to see them once I heard they were on Letterman! There was also an episode of Ripleys Believe It Or Not that featured the New York City Breakers that EVERYBODY was talking about in school the next day when it aired!!! Haaaa haa. Such innocent days.

[@thislazylife]

I was 16 in '83, so my parents didn't care. I stayed up just so I could video tape it. Lost that tape years ago, so I was stoked to find this clip.

[@gaffle7646]

My first time seeing breaking was either THIS, That’s Incredible, or Flashdance.

[@krystiankrysti1396]

racist much ? Dood, its a coincidence what color you are and what color any dancer is

[@Sagefrakrobatik]

I was born that year

[@brandonGCHACHU]

These dudes are both alive and well today here in Feb 2024 but its sad they dont like each other and haven't got along in years

[@krystiankrysti1396]

cause crazylegs is and asshole, thats obvious when you hear him talk, this dood should resign many decades ago

[@thunorwodenson]

Break dancing comes from when djs would extend the break in a song and make beats out of the break in a song. Break dancing is dancing to break beats.

[@funkworthrollin4959]

Duh...

[@thunorwodenson]

@@funkworthrollin4959 I only said it because crazy legs didnt know and made up a definition on the fly.

[@funkworthrollin4959]

Word. I don't fuck with Legs. I'm a SWIFT cat.

[@Tripleseis88]

@Libertad PatriaMOST DEFF ,,, CRAZY LEGS , 🇵🇷

[@kinkiesse7736]

@@thunorwodenson Actually before DJs, it was drummers aka "drumboys" who were extending the 10secs drum breaks in a song before DJs started doing it (1971)

[@jullienromano2009]

I wish I was born In the 80,s 😪 I could have break danced with people and not be made fun of for breaking

[@thislazylife]

If you were born in the 80's you'da been like two years old. That woulda been kinda dope, though, little two year old bustin headspins.

[@anitamartinez9309]

Find a group on Facebook

[@beverlywaits7663]

😁👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾💯💯💯💯💯

[@jasonwilliams7902]

The Legendary Rock steady crew

[@johnmiller3970]

Drink champs brought me here

[@johnd1466]

So today first time I’m seeing this 31.3. 2021, it’s from 1983, looks like Prince Ken Swift is 5 years younger between this & Beat Street being filmed I presume between November 83- Feb 84?

[@knaledge6207]

If yall like this and all of its essence go check out k solo riker island stories its definitely a backdrop to the essence of this particular culture REALITY aight

[@kaykayjohnson9427]

Sad how the originators, BLACK SPADES, never got the true credit of the creators of Break dance , Bronx Boy , BBOY style. Salute to BronxDale and DJ Mario.

[@gixxer750cc]

Shout Out to Trixie, Sasa and the Ni**a Twins!!!

[@lynnm2227]

Breakdancing? They are not dancing. This is gymnastics with music playing in the background.

[@gaffle7646]

@Kay Kay Johnson… well maybe because they (the Black Spades) were too busy $elling dope, using dope, had no passion or business sense, or kiLLing one another to push the art form into a career. 🫵🏾 Don’t blame the w̴h̴i̴t̴e̴ Puerto-Rican man for taking the art form to stratospheric levels around the world. Do better… 👊

[@RandomFlavor]

Disco King Mario introduced me to Hip Hop at his infamous Rosedale Park Jams in The Bronx during the late 70's alongside Tex DJ Hollywood & Grand Wizard Theodore.

[@AMOKIAN]

How many did we rewind that Flashdance VHS snippet before we got Wild Style on VHS?

[@nmahangu]

The Bronx was the most gang infested neighborhood on earth in '83

[@funkworthrollin4959]

Glad I was born there. 81' Can't you dig it???

[@Malouco]

They were swiping these guys styles back then

[@thislazylife]

Track is the break from Pleasure's "Let's Dance."

[@hmangaihzuala9830]

Breaking/Breakers. Ma man, said it right

[@dlum73]

" i got them and i put them on"

[@Sandra-Ross]

Showing my kids where the history is.

[@ianmena9373]

How old where these guys here 🤔 was this before or after touring with Africa Bambaataa

[@KY-YE]

It’s crazy how Latinos don’t get credit for being part of hiphop from the beginning & creating it… it started in the BRONX… like that’s Latino as it gets!! & at that same time created Salsa & Reggaeton… but I’m one them people who looks at black & latino as same.. not all but most.. also.. gotta give credit to Fat Joe for bringing up this topic to the mainstream.. heard him say this a few times..

[@johnnybiggunz1141]

I wouldn't even say Latinos. I would say New York Ricans. If you get my drift.

[@javila6341]

@@johnnybiggunz1141 100%

[@ConquerWealth.network]

Because they wasn't' they are second generation' not the creators' they came ten years later' That is why' They get credit for contributing and helping to evolve breaking' That is the credit that they deserve'

[@sterlingturner5420]

They didn't create hip hop or breakdancing black people did back around 1971 or 72. Ricans actually called it "jungle music"..but when it gained popularity and breaking was dying with black youth in 1978,they picked up the dance and kept it going. So they get credit for participating later.

[@sterlingturner5420]

@@ConquerWealth.network 💯 kzbin.info/www/bejne/anO8coqsd750ga8

[@beachlover9705]

All hail Ken Swift , his moves are some of the most complicated neva duplicated ever. Why isn't there a doc about him?

[@rottnlove]

The songs volume was so quiet except for the beat it sounded like the Vengaboys we like to party at first.

[@DareeRock]

𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙃 ‼️ 🤩

[@thefishisraw117]

4

[@thrillagorilla11]

CAN SOMEONE TELL ME THE NAME OF THIS SONG ?

[@dwillz6648]

Bronx Rockers

[@tweetydimes1]

new yorker showlaces with the adidas tho

[@Tripleseis88]

Laces will never tied. Pumas with a toothbrush in the back pocket

[@oldwarriorlife]

AND BOTH THESE DUDES ARE STILL BREAKING. WATCHED A VIDEO OF THEM "BATTLING" IN RUSSIA LAST YEAR.

[@rottnlove]

I was born in 80 and I pop, lock and almost breaking just watching this type of dancing lol😅

[@javila6341]

David Letterman was just a Smart ass..always and forever 🤣

[@RAMIRO0]

I'm down with Rock Steady Crew but my boys lost to New York City Breakers. Got to keep it real.

[@KL-uc3rq]

Why oh why does everything devolve into an argument?? When hip hop was talked about in my circles it was west and east coast not race or ethnicity because poor doesn’t seem to take race into account so it seems that folks should look for unity because these guys were the absolute best when it came to their particular dance style.

[@MagnumBoy50cal]

Crazy Legs without Gazelle or Puma Suede but in Converse, kind of specific choice

[@MrSteve-hy9yo]

Slight correction, bboyin (correct term) is for everyone. You just have to put in the work. We all had to start somewhere.

[@Malouco]

Ima get drunk and try this chit! (30min later)… I JUST PUT ANOTHER WHOLE IN THE WALL 😳

[@jakovasaur]

The first windmill ladies and gentlemen!

[@bustamantepatricio]

What song is that ???

[@gaffle7646]

“Let’s Dance” ~ Pleasure

[@princegroove]

Rock Steady epitomized breaking during this era throughout the world.

[@tookeetalaska1387]

Boricua baby!!!!

[@TheGloriousLifeMinistries]

who ended up here because of versus?

[@jpadarath27]

Can't believe they were high as hell on acid when they did this...lol..

[@davidtoledo2988]

How would Ken Swift classify Mr. Wave? bboy or not? I've never seen Mr. Wave do foot work. I'm not challenging his perspective I just want to get a better understanding of how he classifies a bboy.

[@IAMGWH1]

@David Toledo Man that’s a question I’d like to know also! I” heard” a long time ago when this was fresh 1980 in Florida they had 2 types of b boy dancing 1) TOP rocking & 2) Bottom rocking? Ozone & Turbo #1 Crazy legs & Ken Swift #2 no pun or disrespect intended so please correct this if I’m way off on the knowledge please!

[@B.Scruby]

@@IAMGWH1 Nah. Top Rock and Floor Work. Top Rock is the dance done when standing up, Ken once said that this is the only part of Bboying that is purely a dance. While Floor Works, which are the more gymnastically inclined moves, consist of things done when the Bboy is in the floor (i.e. Footwork, Power, Back Rocks, Threads etc). Both Top Rock and Floor Works are part of a formula for a set. A set is what a Bboy does in a round, think of it like their full showcase. This formula must consist of 1.) Top Rock, 2.) Get Down, 3.) Floor Works and 4.) a Freeze to close out a set. Back in Swift's time and before his time, this formula was pretty much solidly followed by everyone. But as the dance evolved, people began to mix it up to showcase their own style. Like putting a Freeze in between Toprocks, or maybe starting out with Power or Freeze instead of Top Rock (which is now called as a Blow Up). And there used to be two types of Bboys, these are the Style Head and Powr Head. But now, the skill cap is high because of the evolution of the dance and Power Heads are learning Style, and Style Heads are adding Power to their sets. Nowadays, Bboys growing up are more rounded in all aspects of the dance instead of just choosing a certain type and sticking with it. People now realize that Power massively helps Style, and Style vastly improves presentation of Power. Edit: Forgot to say, Tricking (or Flips) have also been added to the Bboy repertoir decades ago. When Bboying started, there weren't alot who did Flips. Now, almost everyone does because it adds to Flavor. You'll see Bboys start doing Flips out of nowhere from really weirdly difficult angles. And some Flips combined with Power Moves or Flips combined with a Freeze, depending on difficulty and risk factor, are known as Suicides.

[@lyricalabyss]

Mr.Wave was a popper.

[@emceeultra2677]

@@B.Scruby Kenny said if you take footwork out of breakin you have gymnastics,martial arts contortion etc. Footwork is the only thing where he said I never seen that before and that's the raw shit that's where muthafukas were going off

[@dimviesel]

Never knew they did Letterman😎 I was still in diapers back then

[@Utahsaint]

If you don't know what you're doing, don't try it.... Crazy Legs, cool as fuck.

[@The_One_Cosmos]

The roots of breaking are miming, martial arts, and other early elements of dancing