[JeffroDisiac]

Okay ya'll, so it's BBoy Mumble here (known as JeffroDisiac on the forums). I have noticed some speculation among the members of this site, concerning what a "Bboy (BBoy, bboy, B-boy)" is. I have decided to attempt to answer this question.

First a look at what Hip Hop is, through the words of It's father.

Originally Posted by DJ Kool Herc "To me, hip-hop says, Come as you are. We are a family. It ain't about security. it ain't about bling-bling. it ain't about how much your gun can shoot. it it ain't about $200 sneakers. it is not about me being better than you or you being better than me. its about you and me, conecting one to one. thats why it has universal appeal. it has given young people a way to understand their world, whether they are from the suburbs or the city or wherever."

Let us resort to WikiPedia, shall we?

A B-boy or B-girl is a person devoted to hip hop culture, more specifically, bboying/breakdancing. The term originates with the first hip hop DJ, DJ Kool Herc, who, noticing the reaction of some dancers to his playing the part of the record with a drum break, named them beat-boys or B-boys. It quickly came to include any follower of hip hop, identifiable by clothing habits, listening tastes or lifestyle, but has returned in latter years to the more specific usage in connection with dance.

A Bboy/or BGirl, depending on ones gender) is someone who practices the the dance (art) of Bboying. Bboying is a dance that started in the "Boogie Down" Bronx, and has become known as "Breakdance" in modern mainstream society. Bboying is a dance that consists of a few main parts: Toprock, (Drops) Footwork, Freezes, and Power Moves. A Bboy is someone who practices this dance, along with following the Hip Hop lifestyle (to any extent, big or small) in it's true form. Bboys recognize each other, and tend to respect one another.

The term "Bboy" itself can be broken into many types. Some (including DJ Kool Herc, and Afkria Bambaattaa) say it is Break boy for the sake of when and how BBoys would dance. They would Break ("go off") to the break of a record (when the record would "sum up" all the beat with a percussion based instrumental referred to by the Father of Hip Hop as the "Merry go round"). Other say things like Bronx Boy (for the sake of BBoying's origin), Bad Boy (we are quite bad ass), and Boogie Boy. The term is quite debatable and the true term is not set in stone.

A Bboy can take on an Alias, [i.e. | BBoy + Alias = BBoy Alias]. BBoys are different from breakdancers (see quotes), Breakdancers tend to be "some fool doing the six step, coffee grinder, and the worm" while a BBoy is someone who has a dynamic style, that is unique to him/her. Bboys also tend to have a more dynamic footwork, in the ways of: Beat riding (hitting beats with steps/freezes), musical interpretation and emotional venting. BBoys can dance to let out/express their feelings, and tend to do so, as the saying goes "Break to express, not to impress."

To further discover what a BBoy is, I highly recommend the documentary of The Freshest Kids

Some quotes regarding what a BBoy/Bgirl is.

Originally Posted by Steve Miller bboy stands for break boy and is the only true dance of hip hop. The name was given first by DJ Kool Herc to his dancers at one of his famous parties. Break can stand for a few things. It can stand for when the DJ played a song and extended the break for people to dance, and it can also stand for people trying to reach a breaking point in their dancing and trying to reach new limits. The media began to call it "break dancing" but that is not the correct name. Bboying started with top rocking and dancing at parties, then was taken to the floor by people like the Nigga Twins. Now over time it as progressed and become more acrobatic and has added new style. Bboying is an element of hip hop and is its own dance, but a lot of moves came from a variety of places including tap, jazz, gymnastics, capoeira, and yoga, and keeps on growing.

Originally Posted by maze - Break Boy , the true name for what the media called "breakdancing". You men and women that got off to the break of a song JoJo, Spy, Jimmy Dee, were Bboys from the original Rock Steady Crew.

Originally Posted by Afrika Bambaattaa Then you got what you call the BBoys and Bgirls, or the Break boys, and break girls...

Originally Posted by BBoy K-Mel bboying is totally different from breakdancing; breakdancers have no originality in their style and moves but they will practise so well that they amaze people with their practised rehearsed moves whereas bboys have an original styles and will have dynamic footwork

Originally Posted by NekU A breakdancer is someone knows little about hip hop culture. They practice just like a bboy, but it's planned out choreography. They do it to impress people and make money. A bboy is someone who understands hip hop culture. Saying deovted is an akward word because it would mean you breath hiphop 24/7. Bboys practice, but they do it to get better, not to impress people or to make money. For example : In a cypher, a breakdancer would fail because they have no originality because all their moves are planned out to a specific song. . A bboy would win because he he can just go in and freestyle it

In my Humble Opinion,
JeffroDisiac AKA Bboy Mumble

[Env0]

Bump.
freshest kids is like mandatory information. what was that qoute
"a breakdancer goes out and does a 6step,coffee grinder and a baby freeze, then
a bboy uses their body as a paintbrush and the floor as their canvas make a statement and make a beautiful picture"

[JeffroDisiac]

Originally Posted by Env0 Bump. freshest kids is like mandatory information. what was that qoute "a breakdancer goes out and does a 6step,coffee grinder and a baby freeze, then a bboy uses their body as a paintbrush and the floor as their canvas make a statement and make a beautiful picture"

Yeah. That is a good quote.

Well I am done (I think) editing the post.
Have fun

[bboychamploo]

dope
except I would never use something like wikipedia to source something such as Hip Hop/bboying...

[JeffroDisiac]

Originally Posted by bboychamploo dope except I would never use something like wikipedia to source something such as Hip Hop/bboying...

I wouldn't have posted ANY Bboy quote from Wiki, I thought that one was fit for it though.

[Env0]

hey yo i got a good qoute form DJ Kool Herc

"To me, hip-hop says, Come as you are. We are a family. It ain't about security. it ain't about bling-bling. it ain't about how much your gun can shoot. it it ain't about $200 sneakers. it is not about me being better than you or you being better than me. its about you and me, conecting one to one. thats why it has universal appeal. it has given young people a way to understand their world, whether they are from the suburbs or the city or wherever."

not specific to B-boys. but is saying, ANYONE can be, its just you got to be, to be.

[JeffroDisiac]

Originally Posted by Env0 hey yo i got a good qoute form DJ Kool Herc "To me, hip-hop says, Come as you are. We are a family. It ain't about security. it ain't about bling-bling. it ain't about how much your gun can shoot. it it ain't about $200 sneakers. it is not about me being better than you or you being better than me. its about you and me, conecting one to one. thats why it has universal appeal. it has given young people a way to understand their world, whether they are from the suburbs or the city or wherever." not specific to B-boys. but is saying, ANYONE can be, its just you got to be, to be.

If I (or anyone) were to write an article like "What IS Hip Hop" I would use that one.

[B-boy Jp]

Can someone please sticky this?
There is a new "What is the meaning of bboying" "B-Boying VS Breakdancer" "Power VS Style" thread like once a week. And Jeffro pretty much nailed it.

[JeffroDisiac]

Originally Posted by B-boy Jp Can someone please sticky this? There is a new "What is the meaning of bboying" "B-Boying VS Breakdancer" "Power VS Style" thread like once a week. And Jeffro pretty much nailed it.

Thanks bro, means a lot (especially coming from a site vet).

YEAAH... I was kinda hoping for a sticky.
A lot of research and work (well.. Sorta a lot) don't want it dying.

[Env0]

Originally Posted by JeffroDisiac If I (or anyone) were to write an article like "What IS Hip Hop" I would use that one.

true, it would fit a lil bit more, but hey if we take the quote Quote:
A B-boy or B-girl is a person devoted to hip hop culture, more specifically, bboying/breakdancing. The term originates with the first hip hop DJ, DJ Kool Herc, who, noticing the reaction of some dancers to his playing the part of the record with a drum break, named them beat-boys or B-boys. It quickly came to include any follower of hip hop, identifiable by clothing habits, listening tastes or lifestyle, but has returned in latter years to the more specific usage in connection with dance.

a bboy is a person devoted to hip hop culture. It ties in, there were more, but that one just seemed very strong about it. im reading "Can't Stop Won't Stop" and its opening my eyes to so much

[benjaminlibl]

Good post.

[JeffroDisiac]

Originally Posted by benjaminlibl Good post.

Thankyou brother.
I am glad it is liked so far.

[MaDD]

Seek deeper knowledge.

[JeffroDisiac]

Bump.
More information and editing has taken place.

[Shadowsunrise]

a bboy is short for breaking boy...i think