New York City Breakers
New York City Breakers is a breakdancing crew and hip hop group that was established in the Bronx borough of New York City. They were originally known as the "Floormaster Crew"[1]
History
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The New York City Breakers are a breaking crew from the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, originally known as the Floormasters they appeared in an independent film called Dreams in 1981. The "New York City Breakers" rivaled crews like the Dynamic Rockers and Rock Steady Crew. Michael Holman, an up coming film maker who produced and directed the film “Catch a Beat” 1981, was promoting Hip-Hop parties at a night club called "Negril" in Manhattan, he was getting board of watching the same breaking crew dance and wanted to host a live Breaking Battle. In 1982 The Floormaster Crew accepted an invitation to battle the Rock Steady Crew. Micheal Holman saw the Floormaster crew combined footwork, style and power, something very few crews did, if any. Michael Holman signed on to be their manager. Holman then took some of the B-Boys from the Floormaster crew Action, Kid Nice, Glide Master and Powerful Pexster then recruited B-Boy Lil Lep from the 7 Deadly Sins, and with the help of writer "Phase II" renamed the group the "New York City Breakers".
Unfortunately the other B-Boys from the Floormaster crew were not asked to be apart of the "New York City Breakers". The original five members were: Action, Kid Nice, Glide Master, Powerful Pexster and Lil Lep. Holman then added Flip Rock, Mr. Wave, Icey Ice and Lil Alex. The "New York City Breakers" appeared in the movie Sixteen Candles, however the Director cut the dance scenes from the finale version, but you can see them in the class rooms scene. with adidas suits Beat Street featured (NYCB) battling the Rock Steady Crew and this scene has become known for all up-coming Breakers, the battle scene inspired many of today's B-Boys and has stimulated dancers to learn the art of Rockin/Breakin'. "New York City Breakers" were also featured in the movie Body Rock and even appeared on the first ever hip-hop TV show called "Graffiti Rock" created by Michael Holman. They also appeared on "Soul Train", The 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour, Ripley's "Believe It or Not", P.M. Magazine, CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, That's Incredible, The Merv Griffin Show, The Bob Hope Show, and they became the first ever Hip-Hop group to performed in Washington D.C for the President of the United States Ronald Reagan. It was nationally broadcasted and is considered the first day America and the world accepted Hip-Hop as a culture. After GLIDE MASTER died, the "New York City Breakers" quit performing.
They came back in the 90's performing at So What Happens Now the off Broadway show about Buck 4 from the Rock Steady Crew. In 1994 they united with Action, Kid Nice, B-Boy London, Fastbreak, Kid Freeze and Powerful Pex for the Hot 97's "Old School Throwdown Jam III" and then again on Squirt TV on MTV in 1996. In 1999 B-Boy London reunited the original members of the "New York City Breakers" with the newer members at the "Back to Mecca" Hip-Hop conference. The "Back to Mecca" Hip-Hop conference was designed to bring back and honor the true pioneers of Hip-Hop. Those that attend and participated at the B2M Hip-Hop conference were the creator of Locking Don "Campbellock" Campbell, B-Boys crews: The "New York City Breakers", Rock Steady Crew, Dynamic Rockers, Dynasty Rockers, Incredible Breakers, and Floor Lordz. B-Boys Frosty Freeze, Mr. Freeze, Fastbreak, Trac II, B-Boy Storm, Headspin Janet, Asia1, Poppers: Mr. Wiggles, Pop Master Fabel, Boogaloo Sam, Popping Pete, writers: Phase II, Flint707, Coco144, Bom5, MC's Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Caz, Special K, Crash Crew, Lil Rodney C, DJ's: Grand Master Flash, Grand Wizard Theodore, etc...
The "New York City Breakers" with Action, Kid Nice, Powerful Pexster, Lil Lep, Flip Rock, B-Boy London and Speedy Dee the generation of New York City Breakers from the early 80's when on to perform world wide and up until 2001. The NYCB's can be seen in the Documentary film "The Freshest Kids", a documentary with fact's still being worked out. B-Boy London went on to host Pseudo's live internet program called "88 Hip-Hop", then hosted the daily one-hour live hip-hop show from Metro Channels called "Studio Y" with Monie Love. He now works with MSG and with the not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization "AAA All-Stars", Action and Kid Nice are professional body builders. Icey Ice is working on breaking classes and lectures, Fastbreak educates the youth on breaking through workshops and lectures, Powerful Pex teaches the original B-Boys/powermoves/Rocking style though workshops and Mr. Wave still dances, Lil Lep still dances, Lil Alex still dances and Flip Rock performs for schools through out the Metro area. Speedy Dee teaches breaking though workshops and lectures.
Original Five (N.Y.C.B.)
- Chino "Action" Lopez
- Noel "Kid Nice" Mangual
- Matthew "Glide Master" Caban
- Tony "Powerful Pexster" Lopez
- Ray "Lil Lep" Ramos
Additional Members
- Bobby "Flip Rock" Potts
- Tony "Mr. Wave" Draughon
- Corey "Icey Ice" Montalvo
- Alex "Lil Alex" Roman
- London "B-Boy London" Reyes
- Mitchell "Speedy Dee" Martinez
- Jeff "Lil Fastbreak" Goldstein
List of members
- Joey "Snap" Reyes
- Dennis "Kid Romance" Deleon
- Richard "Fastbreak" Williams
- Tony "Kid Freeze" Moreno
- Henry"Troll"Delgado
- Alfredo"Quiky"Nunez
List of moves New York City Breakers invented
New York City Breakers have made up these explosive moves that were taking bboying to the next level. The moves are still done today. They were the first to be credited for these moves and breakers all around the world use them. B-boying
- Glide Master mastered the fist glide at all angles, side legs extended, much more.
- Action: back flip to swipe, coin drops.
- Lil Alex: Air Float or UFO, continuous Air-tracks, swipe to flare and much more.
- Flip Roc: front flip combinations (running front flip), much more.
- B-Boy London: superman windmill, hopping windmill, liberty windmill.
- LiL Lep: front head slide, one leg swipes, Drill head spin, most ever done.
- Powerful Pexster: Power move and (Powercombo's) Suicide the Float and Flare, Headmills, Air twist, (knee chair spins a/k/a diamonds), Spin (breakdance move) and much more.
- Icy Ice: Halo's Ninja, head glide, baby windmills, air footwork perfected (Air Moves) and much more.
- Kid Freeze: (Continuous head spin) air moves, Hollow back and much more.
- Fast Break: credited for combinations(spontaneous combinations),(original style from the 70's) and much more, mentor to the Floor Masters.