Jinjo Crew | Starking 2009

With three members of the Jinjo Crew landing in LA to compete in the 3 on 3 BreakLA battles (Fe, Mold and Vero), I imagined just how much support they have back home. I still find it fascinating the fact that Korean bboys have a huge mainstream fanbase without appearing in big projects like movies and music videos. Simply, they are famous doing just what bboys do – battling and competing.

What I find even more fascinating is when two of my favourite things, k-land stuff and bboy, intersect. The key here is Korea.

I’ve been a huge fan of the Korean Variety Show 1 Night 2 Days season 1 for a long time. As you probably already guessed, breaking is also an indispensable passion of mine. At times these two things feel like 2 parallels that will never find space to collide. So when they did, it was a huge choking surprise that I openly welcomed.

No. The 1 Night 2 Days cast did not decide to take the Jinjo Crew out for a spin on starvation and survival, in fact it wasn’t even on 1 Night 2 Days. It was on Starking, hosted by Kang Hodong, a member from 1 Night 2 Days. Featuring in the episode are also some of his cast mates, Eun Ji Won, MC Mong and Kim Jong Min – so in a sense, it felt like seeing a cross-over of 1 Night 2 Days with breaking.

Heh. Check this video out (it's only part of the episode) – it’s crazy funny how these hosts try to do their own rendition of Jinjo’s set.

Seeing the looks on the audience’s faces (also famous people) is a good example of how amazing breaking can be to people who don’t know it well enough. Just check out how they constantly have to replay certain moves. It’s one of those things people in the scene take for granted. Bboying is huge in Korea but to have them still surprised emphasises the idea that some things will never cease to amaze. Give yourself a pat on the back for being a part of an amazing, jaw dropping culture.

Also, we gotta give it up to the Jinjo Crew. When Jinjo first emerged, I admit, I’m one of those people who took a long time to find a liking for them. I’m not sure why. Although sometimes I feel their moves are for show and they sometimes seem to overkill sets with tricks, I can’t deny the fact that they are one of the most original and creative crews out there. Props to these boys.

Good luck to Jinjo in BreakLA and also to the crews X-Mob, Battle Born, Lionz of Zion, Squadron, Knuckleheadz CA, Killafornia, Physical Poets and Squishy Docious. Don’t know if that’s all of em lol (according to Nasty Ray’s IG).

Peaces to you x :)