B-Boys Break
By
Long Lastin’
If you’re like me and you grew up in the early days of
Hip-Hop in the UK, you probably became fascinated by Breakin’ which is the
athletic street dance that is one of the true elements of the Hip-Hop culture.
Breakin’ is as popular today as it’s always been even though you don’t see as
much on the streets as you once might have done.
Breakin’ grew out of the early Hip-Hop block parties where
the likes of Kool Herc would just play the break of a song and those who moved
to really dance to this became known as Break Boys and Break Girls which was
shortened to B-Boys and B-Girls. As Hip Hop became the focus of media attention,
they quickly coined the term Breakdancing to describe what they were seeing.
The term took hold and the breakdance phenomena was born, with it quickly
switching from music videos, like Buffalo Gals, to the big screen in movies
like Beat Street and the Breakdance series. But, for many within Hip-Hop it
only is, was and ever could be one thing and that’s Breakin’.
The style of music associated with Breakin’ was always high
octane that fueled your energy and got you pumped up and ready to throw down.
As I said it was that original style of playing the instrumental break,
backward and forward between two turntables that started it all but, soon
tracks were being put out inspired by or created simply for Breakin’ with
tracks like: Break Dancin’-Electric Boogie by West Street Mob, Breaker’s
Revenge by Arthur Baker and Breakin…There’s No Stopping Us by Ollie and Jerry.
More recently the likes of Zeb Roc Ski and Def Cut have produced some classic
tracks including On The Run by Zeb Roc Ski featuring legendary UK Emcee Blade.
So, if you are looking for that authentic Breakin’ sound, is
there any better way to get it that by an album produced by a straight up B-Boy
who oozes Breakin’ and Hip-Hop from every pore. Well, that’s what you are about
to hear as B-Boys Break comes from UK Producer and Breaker Long
Lastin’.
I’m not gonna leave you waitin’ a moment longer, are you
ready…?
Straight outta the gate this one is high energy and hits you
with Rock Steady, something every Breaker had to be, and the vibe
instantly took me back to the mid eighties and watching crews like the Rock
Steady Crew, New York City Breakers and later the UK’s Second To None. There
are so many elements here from drums, claps, and cow bells to Freddie Keys on
the Hammond organ. I dare you to try and sit still. Like all Hip-Hop music the
inspirations behind what makes a great track to Break to are many and diverse.
The inspiration behind Man I Am Ready is the JB’s and that funky vibe
and the dance that went along with it back in the late 60’s and early 70’s
really shines as what would serve as the building blocks of Hip-Hop and
Breakin’. There is just that instant feeling of wanting to get up and then get
down. Just enjoying yourself and letting the music take control. Breakers are
often part of a crew, even if they break individually and to see who the best
is, you had to battle, and Ladies & Gentleman puts you right into
that experience. There is a slightly harder edge to the beat, as you would
expect, to get the crowd and the Breakers fired up. Battles would see the
breakers pull out all their moves from Top Rock to Foot Work, Down Rock to
Power Moves, The Freeze and so much more…
Taking you back to the early days of breakin’ is Break It
Down, the double bass heavy beat is mixed with horns, guitar vibes and cuts
that take you back to those early days and the foundation of breakin’, you can
close you eyes and drift away to this one as the beat controls your body. More
bass, more drums and more cuts drag you to the dance floor where there is no excuse
not to Get Down. On the dance floor it’s all about the moves, the
footwork, the flares, windmills and the head spins. It’s about getting out
there being the best you can be and expressing it through you own style. Time
step up for the title track of the album where B-Boys Break has that
heavy beat, claps, electronic notes and cuts galore. For me it really took me
to the essence of breakin’ and dancing the break and truly being moved by the
music and turning that into its own true artform.
The true enjoyment for anyone is in honing you craft and for
the breaker that is practicing those moves, developing new variations, and then
taking it to the dance floor or that piece of lino on the street and being able
to Buss It for all to see and the bass driven beat just fits that
buss-a-move vibe perfectly. UK B-Boy legend, Dolby D, introduces the next track
and his words ring so true as the drums, bongos and guitar hit. When you step
up to battle, you need to practice but, even more than that its all about how
you conduct yourself and the confidence you have in your capability to
Battle Anybody and serve the competition. As we step into Yea‘Y’all
with some funky guitar and piano driven vibes, it’s all about your individual
character. As Hip-Hop has elements, so does the breaker and its that which sets
them apart from other members of the crew. It’s all about you and type of moves
and style that make up you and your place in the crew.
It’s on the floor where the breaker is most at home. It
could be lino laid out on the street, the club dancefloor or the floor of a
huge stadium but, when the those pounding drums, cuts and electronic notes hit
and you Get On The Floor, the music fuels your mind body and soul and
nothing else matters. Time it’s now to Listen to the cuts, claps, and
synth of this electro driven vibe. This one really put me in mind of the way
breakers can rock that body poppin’ and robotic style movement, perfectly
replicating and merging those smooth or jerky movements just like their body is
controlled by motors with a specific purpose. Moving into the final track of
the album, we are asked How Could You Spot A B-Boy? The musical backdrop
is again on that electro vibe with bells and synth vibes. It really reminded me
of the days when you knew who the B-Boys were, dressed in tracksuits, often
matching ones, and rocking trainers such as Adidas Gazelle or Puma Suede with
fat laces. Sometimes they would have their caps on backward or sideways while
others rocked ski goggles or even white gloves but, always one would be
carrying a large boombox with the volume up. I mean, yeah, that’s where it
takes me but, truly would you know a B-Boy or B-Girl if they were stood next to
you?
I have to say that
this was 12 tracks and 45mins of pure breakin’ gold. I have had this in the
car, on headphones and just booming out the speakers and this is just perfect
anywhere for any Hip-Hop lover but, for breakers, this has got to answer their
prayers cos if you had this in your box, it’s gonna have you dancing to the
beat as long as you want…
I mean, the sound, the cuts and the classic samples are not
only a B-Boys wet dream but, they have an element of that Cut n Paste vibe too
that will have the Hip-Hop lovers out there rockin’ their bodies till the cows
come home. Being more instrumental this album does not have a particular
message to each track because they are built for the breakers to dance to. But
the lack of a spoken message is replaced by a purely musical one. Each speaks
to you differently or maybe the same? The breaker will hear and feel the vibe
of the music and know how to use each move to its best advantage as the vibes
fuel their adrenaline. For those who are not B-Boys or B-Girls the musical vibe
still talks to you eliciting memories of movies or seeing some breakers at a
club, on the street or large event, it may even speak to you in other ways.
What it does for all of us collectively is to bring a huge wave of positive
emotional responses not just in your mind but, also in your body as you just
wanna get up and move, I do advise you don’t do that in the car though…
For me it reminded me of the 1987 Def Jam Tour I went to in
Brighton. On the bill was Public Enemy, Eric B and Rakim and LL Cool J and
during that night there was a moment when a section of the floor cleared, and
the breakers stunned the crowd with their display. It also reminded me of how
this was also a non-violent way in which disputes were settled, simply by
dancing, something both sides could appreciate in a positive manner.
The reason this album works so well is due to the fact that
Long Lastin’ is a B-Boy himself. He knows and feels the music and so is able to
put that into creating a vibe that perfectly encapsulates the feelings and
energy of that sound that is so instantly recognisable as the Breakin’ sound
and it is that perfect sound that has already given B-Boys Break some
huge positive feedback from some huge figures here in the UK. What more could
you ask for, when you have put your heat and soul into crafting something that
so perfectly mirrors that vibe, than to have those you respect for their own
standing in the Hip-Hop/Breakin’ world to give such feedback, it must certainly
allow you know have done what you started out to do, if nothing else.
I’d like to give a quick mention to the live instruments on
this album, something I feel always adds depth and feeling and props goes out
to on the Hammond Organ FREDDY KEYS and on Bass & Guitar BOBBY BLUES.
The last thing to say is that the album is polished off in
style by the awesome cover art by Bristol graff artists TURROE and SHADE ONE who have produced what could be one of the dopest covers ever…
I’d like to see this style of Hip-Hop music given far more
exposure than it currently is and B-Boys Break, being such an honest
expression of a deep-rooted love of the breakin’ scene takes one more step to
that happening. Long Lastin’ is a supremely talented producer and so I humbly
suggest that if you have not heard this yet, you do so now and let your body
rock…
B-Boys Break is out now, and I’d like to give some huge
props to Long Lastin’ for sending this over to me.
I’m knackered from all that,
See Ya,
Steve
LINKS
Get you copy of B-Boys Break Here:
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