It’s been claimed perhaps every day that bboying is dying,
that hip hop is dying – that everything that was, is dying. I can see why a lot
of idealists and purists think this way, but for me, I see all this change
eventually as part of the evolution of a culture.
Surely there will be bboys or hip hop artists out there who will stray too far and still claim it as part of the culture; but at the same time, there will also always be those who stick true to traditions and keep it alive, and therefore I’m not too fazed. Change is inevitable – let’s just not forget the roots.
Surely there will be bboys or hip hop artists out there who will stray too far and still claim it as part of the culture; but at the same time, there will also always be those who stick true to traditions and keep it alive, and therefore I’m not too fazed. Change is inevitable – let’s just not forget the roots.
I think a lot of the changes we see today are all very
superficial especially the stuff presented in the media and to the wider public.
The surface is a very volatile territory because a lot of people in this space
do not know the culture very well, and so bboys try and draw them in in ways
they can understand and relate to well. This may mean adapting to the
preferences of the public (i.e. commercials, an overkill of similar displays of
moves and performing like monkeys at the will of command, which I don't entirely like but hey, it happens). In response, other bboys
may frown upon these.
I don’t think anyone should be quick to judge as everyone
has their own reasons for doing things. For all we know, maybe they’re just trying
to put bboying “out there”, or simply trying to earn a living. We shouldn’t worry about the surface but realise
that no matter what bboys do with their dance and their talents, some of them are
still bboys. We shouldn’t categorize them all as one and subject them to
similar ridicule. If they love the culture enough, they know well not to sell
it or corrupt it in any way.
Sometimes change occurs in the hands of the public out of
the control of any bboy. A good example would be the Korean bboy scene. In an
interview, Sebin (Gamblerz) noted that bboying had grown exponentially through the years
especially when Korean bboys have begun bringing trophies home. South Korean
bboys have obtained celebrity status and are getting sponsorship for what they
do. Jinjo for one have their own manager – similar to the likes of a Korean pop
idol. Bboys are appearing in movies and theatres like ‘Ballerina who loved a
bboy’ and ‘Legend of Flower’.
After all this over exposure, suddenly the fame began to wane and the South
Korean public losing interest. It may seem like bboying is dying, but this is
what I mean by superficial changes. It is dying for what most people see it,
but like any other culture, it is only changing and evolving. Sebin stated that
although most Koreans are losing interest in the art form, retrospectively,
this will allow the bboy scene to grow back into the roots. Bboys are now becoming
less arrogant and sincerely learning bboying for what it is. Although earning
money through the art form is still big over there, at least bboys know not to
sell themselves for it.
Like Crazy Legs said before, you can’t always view bboying
for what it was when it first started – you have to realise your own reality. For
example, the reality in the West is not completely identical to the reality in
the East.
Given the opportunity to live well doing what you love, it’s not a
crime to take advantage of that prospect. Bboying gives opportunities, and if
the opportunity is to earn a living through it, then there’s nothing wrong with
that. Just know that you can’t define it differently and pose bboying as
something else. Recognize the culture, its origins, its creators and respect
what they have started.
Crazy Legs also said: support each other’s scene.
Word. That’s definitely peace, love, unity and having fun :).
Love and Peace x :)
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