How the Bronx brought breaking to the world

B-boying. Breaking. Breakdancing. Hip hop made it.
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When the culture of hip hop first began to take shape in the 1970s, it consisted of at least four fundamental elements: DJing, emceeing, graffiti, and breaking. Breaking, popularly known as breakdancing today, was created in the Bronx in New York City by Black and Latino youths. The term breakdancing as it’s used in the media, often mixes the dances of New York’s b-boying and west coast developed dance styles like popping, locking, and the electric bugaloo. Breaking began as a mode of self-expression; it was a part of a larger culture that reflected the social, economic, and political conditions of the youth at that time. It reached peak popularity in the mid-1980s, when a number of films were released showcasing it’s moves and the youth who created it-films like Flashdance, Beat Street, Wild Style, and Krush Groove.
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[@yepitsthatguy5278]

Damnnnn Vox, back at it again with the great content I didn't know I wanted until now

[@Cooltaha]

Back at it again!

[@somalipiratewhopiratedyour8513]

Vox is what buzzfeed tries so hard to be.

[@lazarj]

we get it

[@enzmondo]

Actually, Vox is the adult Buzzfeed, when a Millennial gets a quarter-life crisis and starts taking their millennial life seriously.

[@genericalias5756]

and then theres the optimistic little sister that is the great big story

[@mr.madman9467]

Somali pirate Who pirated your boyfriend but buzzfeed owns vox...or the other way around I cant remember

[@lourensed]

Mr. Madman no doesn't look like it. Vox media (vox's mother company) owns multiple big KZbin brands like verge, polygon and recode, but buzzfeed doesn't appear to be one of them. At least it doesn't say so on their website.

[@nate4550]

respect bboys and bgirls. its not just dancing, its a lifestyle.

[@raymondjblaze7761]

Facts

[@sls554]

So, what is the Life style?????

[@HolyRollerTV]

you dnt know what a life style means?

[@sls554]

@@HolyRollerTV I know do you know.

[@_Mach3]

If you’re not a Bboy or a Bgirl you wouldn’t understand so there’s no point in trying to explain.

[@preid122o]

While I don't have a personal interest in breaking, I'm glad to see Vox showcasing an American Subculture that doesn't get a lot of acknowledgment or support.

[@d.colecheef835]

FBA CULTURE

[@Ilovecheesecakebaby]

Blk american cculture. Why folks don't want to add the blk part in like it's some stain.

[@KBX12Gaming]

It's nice to see breaking being promoted and using its proper terminology as well. Big ups

[@rocketmagnet3844]

It's true, so many guys who breakdance can do loads of power moves, but just can't dance. They have no rhythm.

[@xroadwalker]

Yup! - they cant rock

[@malik87breaker]

Or many footwork moves. But no soul :)

[@betababy8545]

Powerheads u mean?

[@diempardon4259]

Mainly the Latino ones.

[@BocaNejra]

Because they were never educated on the culture (history, culture, traditions, music)... only the flashy moves that got them interested in the dance. As anything goes mainstream, it looses it's authenticity and it's connection to the whole culture behind like the guys said here.

[@obryan6251]

You don't see this anymore, trust me I live on south bronx.

[@itisjambo]

BryanMendez that's kinda sad... it's a cool tradition

[@HaloMG]

sad

[@obryan6251]

Agreed. It's a cool tradition.

[@arxvphoto809]

Maybe not in the streets, but I see it on the train almost every day.

[@obryan6251]

What line

[@enzmondo]

Watching all this breakdancing without the music is just wrong.

[@avastavery5489]

Exactly! Even when the dude is describing the "break" there's just elevator funk playing in the background. Guess we can thank KZbin copyright system for that.

[@DerInselaffe]

Certainly a shame. Coming from the UK and an area that certainly has no aspect of American culture, these videos are fascinating. Something has been lost in its translation to video.

[@kienquan99]

Enzo, these are breakbeats. Copyright fees to license the use of existing beats gets expensive so they picked up stock versions.

[@blackthanos85]

Enzo Mondo Don't need music. Dance to the beat of your HEART. 👊 BBOY 4 LIFE

[@rachelwickman4348]

Here after Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn’s Olympic disgrace 😭😤

[@SpiritMover314]

Prodigy from Mobb Deep died today........R.I.P. 😢😢😢. #Queens

[@NotoriousN_I_G_]

It’s so funny that I ran into this comment. Because as I was watching this video, I realized why Mobb deep used the term “crew” so much in their music. I thought they were just referring to drugs crews, and even though they probably were, that is not the origin of the term.

[@sls554]

First B-boys CAME from the BLACK SPADES IN THE BRONX and African Americans not Caribbeans and Latinos AND NOT HERC.

[@sls554]

African Americans were B-Boys/ BreakDancing from 1930s.

[@sls554]

Look up Conrad Buckner in 1955; Conrad is doing some B-Boys dancing on the floor. Also, the Berry Brothers. Please look these guys up.

[@BroadwaySamFlowers]

Thank you all these moves they talking about is from the 80s.... let them try to find that early 70s footage of Trixie and sasa

[@dreddthaseeker6492]

I have been all over the internet for the last 3 years explaining this to people. That they should see the interviews with Cholly Rock and other Black Spades. I'm glad I'm not the only person who has said this. 👌🏽

[@sls554]

@@dreddthaseeker6492 Okay

[@goldschool9050]

Why do those old 80's photos bring me so much joy? Oh yeah! I was a child in the 80's. Such a blessing.

[@allwecanseeisaboveusnow]

Some recognition given to the Bronx the boogie down 👌🏽👌🏽

[@JordanNoelleRealestate]

There's a video of vox deconstructing rapping a while ago. Love that very much, was hoping for another in that episode. Something about art and modern dance & music. With this episode, I think the wait is over :) Thanks Vox, original content as always!

[@cordellboss]

Jordan Tan that's the video that brought me to this channel has to be one of their biggest hits imo

[@cmooreHD]

Jordan Tan what's the link for that! I would love it! If not the link do you remember the name?

[@AlexanderGerliczy]

Immortal Vegan That video is probably the best video on Vox. It's so well made and interesting!

[@DiguYT]

Europe is my city

[@eddiehowell9871]

That's one hell of a megacity!

[@pidgeisonline]

England is my plane of existence

[@eddiehowell9871]

Mr Alternator stop appealing to my patriotism

[@somebody2619]

Don't Read My Profile Picture The Bronx is my continent.

[@maseelnaqvi]

Is that a reference to Jake Paul and Nick Crompton

[@sharonbre9347]

So nice to acknowledge the athleticism, strength and fitness of the bkids. I was also born & raised in the South Bronx.

[@visionarylast]

Where are the originators to speak on this shared culture? This was nice don't get me wrong but this just seems disrespectful to exclude black bboys from the discussion.

[@bishggfork2593]

'Breaking is made up of four elements' Me: WATER EARTH FIRE AIR

[@thirsty57]

The pioneer of this dance was young BLACK kids. black ppl is who created and influenced everything in hip hop. Why do you think the "ROCK STEADY" crew named themselves after a Aretha franklin song? If you gonna tell the story tell it right

[@TheAnswerWillleaveyou]

They are always trying to find ways to erase our history.

[@sls554]

The Black Spades were all African Americans in the Bronx, NY from Some racist Caucasian, and some racist Latinos too, but the Black Spades did let a few Caribbeans and Latinos in the group.

[@sls554]

Also, Brooklyn, Harlem, Queens, Staten Island, and African Americans Invented Hip Hop.

[@Ickguenthrasil]

wait, but bboy gravity is not a rb bc one champion?

[@Octavia680]

just one more example of how blacks and Latinos are so closely related. we're first cousins😘

[@sparkman1314able]

olsimmons1 Puerto Rican to be EXACT. lots of them are afro latino to begin with.

[@diempardon4259]

@Johnny Rutz "Puerto Ricans are NOT LATINOS THEY ARE CARIBBEAN ." Though Puerto Rico was once considered apart the Caribbean like Cuba and they are still considered both Hispanic/Latino because of Spain's colonization prior being becoming a U.S territory.

[@MrSivram28]

Only Afro Latinos are brothers of African Americans. Not mestizos and white latinos

[@sls554]

That is a LIE African Americans and Latinos are not Cousins.

[@sls554]

@@Octavia680 The true The original Puerto Ricians are The Taino indigenous group of Arawak Indian not Spanish, but now Puerto Ricians are mixed with Taino, Spanish, and Africans and probably more.

[@Amidat]

I remember those NY days... They used to come out on the street corner with a piece of cardboard and battle. I tell you - they helped calm down those crazy Bronx/Uptown streets.

[@jupitersgaleforce9238]

so no black people in the black created art form, figures

[@MrSivram28]

That's how they steal our history and culture. We don't protect our heritage. They also claim Disco, House, Techno, Jazz as not of black origin now.

[@westsidecrew5578]

you guys are massively overrepresented in music, films, tv, sports etc so give it a rest guy...you did create it but you let it go...it was the Puerto Ricans that brought it to the world in the early 80s...yet they are never mentioned in "hip hop"....so if anyone should have any issues it should be them but you don't see them whingeing...

[@ABlue-iz4rg]

@@westsidecrew5578 there is no such thing as being "overly represented" when we created it and it is apart of OUR CULTURE, dumbass. Latinos came later when things were already formed.

[@sterlingturner4876]

Okay so where are the black people who invented it at???? Not contributed...but invented!!

[@sls554]

​@@sterlingturner4876Amen, African Americans Invented Hip Hop, the Black Spades B-BOYS/BREAK DANCING FROM 1930s.

[@jpoopmafia6009]

Amazing, simply amazing

[@Neontronique]

Vox, I get chills when you do breakdowns of arts, especially hip-hop and dance. You have just made my whole day. Please make the videos longers. I hate to complain, it's just not long enough for my morning coffee.

[@BetaSwimmer]

Don't forget about the dance. Thank you guys for noting that major issue with the modern community of breaking, and hell a lot of emergent styles where the battle and acrobatics have often overtaken the original art and joy of the dance itself.

[@joshlevy3480]

If you get this message, I personally find it sad that the change has been immense. The first few years, it was about the funky style and the dance. It unrecognisably changed into what looks to me, just acrobatics with spins. Great shame the original funky flavour of the dance was not passed on. I suppose it will be lost forever. Cheers anyway.

[@skillet6870]

Thank you Black American dancing, and dancers, dating back to the 1940's and 1950's for creating what later became known as 'Breakdancing' Just watch the Mills Bros. and other films from the 1940's and the 1950's

[@ev8318]

Thank you to the PR creators of the power moves who paved the way for breaking to be in the Olympics.

[@skillet6870]

@@ev8318 ...and thank you Black Americans for sharing your artistic brilliance and genius in the unrivaled creation of Rap and Hip Hop.

[@ev8318]

@@skillet6870...and thank you PR for taking breaking to another level and to the point that you got certain types hating on you and ignoring the hard work you put into it.

[@skillet6870]

@@ev8318 Yes, thank-you puerto ricans for demonstrating gratitude in acknowledging the fact you and your people did NOT create Rap and Hip Hop since Rap and Hip Hop does NOT derive from puerto rican culture or latino culture. The fact that Rap and Hip Hop is derived from R&B, Soul, Funk and Spoken Word should be appreciated by latinos--- particularly puerto ricans.

[@ev8318]

@@skillet6870 Thank you PR for taking the cocreated part of breaking and introducing it around the world. Thank you PR for understanding the meaning of the word culture unlike certain other folks who think that it's all about race.

[@Nelsonsedarojocynthia]

This is me ( used to be chief69) from when I was not saved.. actually ended up a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Highly recommend anyone watching this to watch our content online to see and learn and understand that I was wrong about a lot of things...

[@bboyisaac07]

Kool Herc himself said that the term Bboy (Break Boy) had nothing to do with the break in the record. It came from the slang term "breaking" that people used meaning going overboard. Nowadays, people say "doing the most" or "doing too much." This was just applied to the dancers.

[@elir.torres8642]

I am 45 and lived in the Bronx in 1985 and it was created by bkacks and Puerto Ricans dancing on the sidewalks. I remeber this like it was yesterday.

[@tumbel99]

I’m from the uk and I was an old school B-BOY from the very early 1980’s,man I miss those because breakin today is not the same as it was back then,it’s too commercialised these days.

[@Luboman411]

Ahhhh...back when New York City was the center of great cultural ferment and innovation between the 1950s to the 1990s. You got abstract expressionism, minimalism, pop art and digital art in the avant-garde art world and rap, hip-hop, voguing, break-dancing and graffiti in popular culture. I wonder if we'll ever see something like that in New York City again. Once gentrification started shooting up into the stratosphere in the 1990s, that's when this cultural ferment in this city died down and has almost been killed off. It's rather sad, actually.

[@Fealo31]

Just saw dj kool herc last year in California at freestyle sessions the floor was full of people of all color and religions it was awesome, long live hip hop the real hip hop

[@frankbiemans]

Vox, please keep it up. Such high quality content. Thank you.

[@Dufaze]

I love this series! Please do more including other styles of dance! I'm particularly interested in Popping and its history.

[@HeggemusNL]

Thank you for reminding me to listen to the song: ''Hey You - The Rocksteady Crew''!

[@khalidmohammed3973]

Why isn’t Trixie the founder of BBoy breakdancing mentioned in this video? 🤔🤔

[@emili0r3y46]

Hip Hop Evolution on netflix is a great show and traces the origins of hop hop in the 70s to the golden age of the 90s

[@ironroad18]

Hope they show and deconstruct the difference between "breaking", "locking", "popping", "roboting", "puppetry"and "tutting". Breaking and later tutting was developed in NYC, in the 70s; where as locking, popping, puppetry and roboting was personified on the West Coast, mainly in the Bay Area, Fresno, and LA around the same time. The dance styles of the different coasts didn't start blending until the early 80s, though the media likes to term it all as "Break Dancing".

[@decentlydoingit]

Happy birthday hip hop

[@joegarcia7824]

we were break dancing in the early 70's at st mary's park recreation center dances. one of the first great break dancers, rubberband. died there in a fight with another kid in 1972 or 1973. we used to break to it's just begun, give it up turn it loose, melting pot and then came bongo rock. nice memories of my childhood in the Bronx. in my opinion the first break dancer was cuban pete a puerto rican mambo dancer from the fifties.

[@BoricuaNyc]

🗽🇵🇷🗽🇵🇷🗽🇵🇷🗽🇵🇷🗽

[@MissCraig]

Someone should have passed this video to the 2024 Olympic committee before they delivered that unseasoned line up of break dancing.

[@showmestatefinest5412]

Give credit to the creator who are black American

[@chrisdooley6468]

I miss these days 😢

[@ImNotSorry1954]

Yes‼️👏🏽👏🏽 Represent! 🇵🇷💪🏽✨

[@AmericanLord]

Represent what? My culture??

[@blackclothesblackcat8873]

As a non-dancer I didn't know what to expect when I took Breakdancing for PE last semester but it was amazing. It made me fall in love with dancing. I'm taking street dancing this semester. BTW: still not a great dancer.

[@ozoomiy]

Just take your time man no one is great at the beginning it took me 4 months to learn the basics and I'm still learning after 4 years of bboying

[@ianciborowski2983]

Okay, I got mad respect for anyone that can do a round off, flip flop, double back flip, without any damn mats

[@larrenceespenido5528]

One of the most influential dance crew is the rock steady crew that brought Hollywood fame to breaking

[@seanstroman6087]

HIP HOP is FOREVER

[@Murmurrr]

I was excited when I saw the title, but underwhelmed by the content. This felt like a "What is break dancing 101 video" Personally, I think an investigation into why bboy culture has become bigger in Asia, and Europe than in the US is a more compelling story, but that's just me.

[@FalafelTheBurner]

This is entry-level info, which is important, since b-boying is one of the most mis-understood cultures in the world. And in order to for people to understand why bboy culture has become bigger in Asia, and Europe than in the US, people need to understand the fundamentals of what makes breaking breaking.

[@hopelesscreative6977]

I think the hip hop hype has died down (since what it was when it started) and i feel the rest of the world picked up on it later and that hype still isn't gone yet.

[@sparkman1314able]

FunkyMilk Because they saw Black Americans doing it and was inspired by the dance and the music. the culture is worth imitating thats how dominate cultures work.

[@Wakeupgrandowl]

Why would they talk about the imitators without talking about the originators? I do feel they missed the mark about 'bringing it to the world' though. They didn't actually explain why other cultures picked up on it at all.

[@westsidecrew5578]

+Brandon Sparkman - you are wrong. The blacks stopped breaking by the late 70s....It was the Puerto Ricans who brought it to the world..they had the moves, the style and charisma...blacks were not the inspiration. Breaking was at it's peak globally 83 - 85 and it was the Puerto Ricans who brought it tot he world then and were the inspiration.

[@georgiamclennan]

This just made me feel great ☺️ what an awesome way to start the day

[@bryancruz1877]

Glad to see my home town, the Bronx have some recognition on Vox

[@gallimead]

Sigh. ... I'm 46, happily married Brit living in Ohio. But thanks to Grandmaster Flash, The Sugar hill Gang, the classic book of Subway Art, and an original pair of Jordans, nothing could touch my dreams back in the early 80's

[@MB1z]

this was so cool.

[@TKO_CEY]

HIP-HOP

[@benji.B-side]

I'm an old school Break Dancer, it became my life! There is old school footage on my channel of me and my Break Dancing friends. B-Boys, will always be boys! Peace and love to you all.

[@okccitizen4400]

Shout out to the pioneers

[@user-bo1fg6tw5e]

why is this lady's voice so nice to listen to? Vox has damn good narrators.

[@kratosofsparta4650]

Puerto Rican and Cuban music never in my life herd that combo

[@bgirlrokafella]

I agree with everything reflected here.. I stay in the community but I also enjoy a career with it.. and I won't stop til the day the wheels come off. Peace.

[@kienquan99]

Offensive/Incorrect terms for the dance: Breakdance Correct term for the dance: Bboy (male)/Bgirl (female)/Breaker/Breaking (both) As someone who has been immersed in the culture for over a decade, we associate the world "breakdancing" as either an insult or a term to tell the explain to the public what we do because they are not familiar with the other names. Why? When breaking was sensationalized in the 80's, bboys and bgirls picked up a immense amount of work and allowed the commercial media to dictate and coin the definition of the dance as "breakdance." At the same time, the mainstream media dictated when the dance was considered a dying fad, wiping out the dance for more than a decade. Ever since the recovery of the culture in the 90's, we still associate the word "breakdance" with the same commercial exploitation that practically killed our culture. In other words, we think a bboy/bgirl/breaker is a part of the dance culture. We think a breakdancer is a sellout. Just adding more to the documentary :)

[@jero3933]

The real talk ...thkx for creating bboying thnkx alot cauze when i break it gives me my own pleasure... Not for showoffs...

[@sneedfeed7204]

Vox is mildly interesting.

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

Somali Pirate Who Pirated Your Girlfriend How about very.

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

***** But, what Trump tweeted out last week is kind of important.

[@GuilhermeVieiraSechat]

Well, I didn't expect to hear about Capoeira here

[@freestyleoldscool135]

Thanx for great videos back in past

[@coqui1550]

I LOVE THESE MINI DOCUMENTARIES. VERY EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIVE.

[@kyndread71]

If I were the President, I would nominate DJ Kool Herc for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Herc had a massive impact on hip-hop culture, not just for the US, but for the world.

[@B_GNation]

Remember to mention Trac 2, Jimmy Dee and Jimmy Lee, who were the founders of the Rock Steady Crew in 1977. Frankly speaking, it's hard to summarize the history of this dance.

[@sirpoppinchuck]

Bgirl Rock-a-fella!!!!!!! He didn't mention the term " breakin" to go off, get off on, breakin point!!! Thats what happens when you hear the beats you " break" i think its still good they show tha real culture hip-hop!!!!!

[@starryfolks]

hello vox

[@yamasyc]

As a BBoy I really liked this video

[@TheHajinator]

asians took breaking smh, they're dope though I can't lie

[@freestyleoldscool135]

Thanx very much for teaching me this moves in 80s and popping. ..thanx alot.....

[@liawatson5789]

2:25 That gymnast has gorgeous legs!

[@najatcherqaoui9450]

O-O

[@OfficialDennis]

This is great

[@J-Hz]

Would have been great if they mentioned that Bboying is one of the 4 elements of hip hop. South Bronx was pretty much the birthplace of Hip hop

[@kawealuv952]

Boogie Down!!!

[@cmooreHD]

Vox is just amazing! I swear that say that every video. I just learn or even reminded of so much!

[@Yog.1]

Hopefully they do one for Popping and funkstyles :)

[@lez9185]

Is that video from a tribe in Africa break dancing a real video recorded in the 1950s ?

[@Germania9]

Breakin' 2: Electric Voxgaloo

[@malik87breaker]

Zedfinite wrong. There is no bad acting. lol

[@McJamEs209]

I'm very happy that they did this. Thank you!

[@dotardjchump9980]

Vox, Thanks for This! I remember this stuff growing up in the Boogie Down in the 80s! It was a magical time with Video Music Box & the underground hip hop scene! Brought back memories!

[@ucan810]

Well put together! like the bit close too the end about community & family & giving back. Cheers for uploading, godbless ;)

[@Yak-uj3jl]

Watch Beat Street.

[@shadrachpatricks5604]

Great video! Can ya'll do a video on "history of percussion in African music"

[@nucleus1392]

Just wanted to drop by and thank you guys for the hard work & quality content, along side such masterpieces as MY FIDGET SPINNER BROKE MY FINGER. Thanks vox. Luv u. 🌈

[@neokennime6756]

this makes me miss the 80's

[@selmalinnea9870]

THIS IS WHY THE GET DOWN WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT SHOW

[@cash4laughs71]

My friend's deceased mother is the woman in the 80's movie breaking.

[@gabrielsanchez1644]

ProGamer code may she R.I.P 🙏🏽

[@yuhdumbting3214]

Did you guys know the reason it called breaking because there a part in the songs called the break where it was just drum and nothing else

[@slipz9481]

Vox should make a video about Capoeira.

[@abibnoor]

The Get Down comes to mind. Bronx..Cadillac and dj malibu.

[@ZoomILike2flyAway]

That there is The Rocksteady Crew

[@fairyoozeify]

ayeeeee chief 69! good to see you here man!!

[@YouAdii]

Breakin in the Olympics 2024!!!. If the Bronx does not represent, it would be a shame. Start sponsoring these young kids now.

[@solo4minutos]

I just love the narrator voice

[@freestyleoldscool135]

Its a great way of feeling free...

[@Tony-1971]

I remember it was huge back in the 80's. Remember going to see a movie at the cinema back then called 'Beat Street.' People may be calling it 'Breaking' or 'B-Boying' today, but back in the 80's everyone called it Breakdancing.'