It was Orientation Week ‘12 at Auckland University when I finally saw these guys in person. That particular week had a theme for each day
and one of them was Hip Hop on Wednesday. Hip Hop Day? Pure happiness. This meant events in the Quad were going
to be all about Hip Hop. Suhweeet! I didn't have class that day but I managed to drag myself there anyway because I'm hardcore like that.
It was Hip Hop 101 at the Quad with every element of Hip Hop present. I had a mean view when I watched some beatboxing only to give it up because one of my rookie friends didn't know where the Quad was. When we returned the infamous ReQuest crew was there doin' their polyswagg thang and completely packing the crowd tight. They are still as fierce as ever - makes me want to work on my dance facials.
Soon the long awaited bboy battles were next! Four amazing bboy crews were lined up to battle each other; Nomadz, Common Ground, Hopskotch and Dese Guys. In the first round it was Hopskotch and Nomadz. I know that Hopskotch had a lot more experienced bboys but it seemed that they went with the rookies this time round - probably experience building and giving opportunities for the new guys. Nomadz advanced through to the next round. The battle between Common Ground and Dese Guys was easily won by the former.
Then it was the finals between Nomadz and Common Ground with CG cleanly taking the win. They weren't fully perfect but their shortfalls were compensated well and their sets were clean and gratifying to watch. Power moves are the shiz when it comes to moving a crowd that knows next to nothing about bboying because the difficulty makes it fun to watch. Bboy Leerok was basically flying, he was defying gravity each round and that gave the audience something to watch. What I like about him was that not only did he have power moves to please the non-bboy crowd, his executions were very clean and pleasing to watch for those with keener eyes. Big props.
Introducing Common Ground
Common Ground was formed in the year 2000 and resides in the
quake city, Christchurch. Its humble beginnings of being simply a crew at the
bottom of New Zealand have grown beyond national boundaries and now include
subsidiary constituents in places like Australia and South East Asia. Much
practice, discipline and dedication have taken these Kiwi bboys to the far
reaches of the breaking world, entering international competitions and winning
a few others.
Amongst their list of achievements include representing New
Zealand and taking out the 3 v 3 bboy showcase in the 2010 Hip Hop
International Dance Championships in Las Vegas. One member of the team of 3 was actually unable to go due to visa, so the remaining two, Leerok and Grub-D adopted a local bboy, Bebo, to perform with them. Having done that, their expectations for winning became null but they still basked in the amazing experience of performing in the Hip Hop Internationals. In an unbelievable turn of events, they ended up taking the Championship title.
Image: Acorn in the Auckland Cypher (left), Grub-D in the Wellignton Cypher (right)
In 2012 two members of Common Ground, Acorn (Aron Mahuika) and Grub-D (Davy McCavitt) were selected through a series of cyphers to represent New Zealand in one of the most recognized bboy competitions in the world. The Red Bull BC One Asia-South Pacific Qualifiers was hosted in the Auckland Vector Arena which garnered the attention of many bboys nationally and internationally. It is a competition that hosts 1 v 1 bboy battles where the world's top 16 bboys, selected through qualifier rounds all over the world, will battle it out in one night at a host country in which this year is Brazil. Grub-D had actually been the Asia-Pacific representative in the top 16 in 2011 and have returned in 2012 to try and qualify yet again. However, with competitors from Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong and South East Asia, competition proved to be fierce. Eventually, both our kiwi boys didn't make it to Rio de Janeiro as they were taken out by the likes of a fierce Korean duo, Shorty Force and Differ, with the former being the winner of the Asia-Pacific Qualifier Round.
Common Ground inspirations include Abstrakt, a member of USA crew, Skill Methodz. I think he's super dope too. He really is abstract in the way he bboys and really captures the attention when he gets down on the floor. Common Ground members are also inspired by the incredible South Korean bboys who developed the bboy culture in their country in the shortest amount of time. They came out as a phenomenon in the bboy world for being able to master skills worth ten years of practice in half the time. On youtube you see them posting how to do basic bboy moves only to find the content being a tutorial on airflares. Only Korean bboys would think that as basic.
When asked about their different bboy styles, Leerok said during a battle he feels like he's unleashed an inner warrior. Hailing from a land where warriors reign even on the sports field (take All Blacks for example) this is hardly surprising. Grub-D simply states that his bboy style reflects his attitude - that is, being cheeky.
Source: TV 3 News; Jessica Rowe (reporter)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the above images
