Media Sonic

     It is well known that breakdancing as well as rap music are two of the most important aspects of the African American culture. But did you know that they were both these art forms were born out of the same discontent? That’s right, breakdancing too was born out of the bottled up unhappiness of the African Americans. Like rap again, the roots of breakdancing can be largely traced back to the Bronx in New York. Breakdancing also became an important part of rap music itself. Thus we can see that both rap and breakdancing have grown hand-in-hand.

     Breakdancing history begins around the late 1960s, but it wasn’t till the 1970s and 80s that it gained widespread popularity. At the time, breakdancing used to be a part of a rap song, during the ‘breakdown’. The DJs would perform the breakdown at some point during the song, where the breakdancers used to come in and do their act.

     Breakdancing moves find their origins from different sources, most common among them being the kung-fu martial arts style. Hard to believe, isn’t it? But like I said, the African Americans of the time needed a less violent vent for the brimming discontent and saw breakdancing as a way to go about it. The ways out that the B-boys sought were these breakdancing battles, which featured a severely physical dance exhibitions. read more »