A little help please:terminology

brandon.f · **A little help please:terminology -** 10-10-2005, 11:23 AM

Hi - I attended the 10th UK b-boy crew championships last night and am hoping a reader or two can elucidate for me on some points: i) What is 'knocking' (spelling?) - a guy told me that it is 'a sort of gay version of breaking' although I find that hard to believe.
ii) What is all this having one trouser leg (only) rolled up? It looks highly ridiculous, so I presume it has some important meaning.
iii) I am told that an influential DJ in the breaking world has recently passed on - who? and why is it important enough to be mentioned with such reverence as it was?
iv)what does an open fingered, wrist bending, hand wave from an opposing b-boy mean when it follows an opponents moves - praise or insult?

Thanks a lot!

soviet · 10-10-2005, 11:46 AM

ooh elucidate, cool word.

knocking- no idea, maybe an English thing or term?

trouser leg- I read alienness (rsc, probably a good source) say it used to have something to do with people on bikes so they wouldn't get grease on their pants, but since it isn't NYC or something hell if I know, plus not as many people bike as a means of transportation outside of major cities right?

DJ Leacy is the other answer to your question, and lastly it's probably praise.

Anubis2002 · 10-10-2005, 05:14 PM

knocking...if its english, ask stiffy

the trouser leg, not sure why bboys do it, but it use to be a drug selling thing a while ago....doubt why bboys do it. could be they dont want their pants in their way lol, people do wierd shit

dj leacy would be the one....n because he was prob the worlds foremost breakbeat guy, he brought so many songs into the fold that people wouldnt even have thought of. he was a monstrous supporter and one of the best guys u could ever know if what i hear is correct. his passing was a BIG hit on the hiphop community, thats why people show so much love. he embodied what hiphop is...

n yes, its a praise

hawk_196 · 10-10-2005, 05:34 PM

i always thought that the pant leg had something to do with gangs/crews/etc. but I'm not sure. Then I thought it had to do with functionality (i.e. it might get in the way) but I can't think of a move that would be affected by a pant leg.

Chucky · 10-10-2005, 05:41 PM

knocking probably means locking... a funkstyle... all your other questions were stupid.

Anubis2002 · 10-10-2005, 05:44 PM

No questions are stupid if you really want the answer

At one point YOU didnt know the answers either, maybe u found them out a different way, maybe u didnt have to ask, but at one point you needed answers to questions other people would consider stupid. You arent born all knowing and some people dont have acess to the answers any other way

STIFF_UK · 10-10-2005, 08:47 PM

Never heard of knocking. If he meant locking and said it's ANY kind of version of bboying he's clueless. To say it's a gay version is idiotic.

I believe the trouser leg originally meant the person was carrying a knife.
Now it's purely a fashion thing.

DJ Lacey was one of the finest DJs on the face of the planet. He died in sad circumstances leaving behind his family and a scene mourning the loss of one of it's own. He was and in some ways still is the soundtrack of the UK bboy scene.
He was the only UK based DJ to regularly be asked to play bboy events around the world.
Respected, loved and sorely missed by anyone who was close to him.
I never had the pleasure other than a few quick words over the decks, but still miss him. Scene doesn't seem right without him.
Legend.
Rest in Peace James.

The hand gesture usually means the person doind it liked whatever the person dancing just did.

Some was already answered I know but was in a rush to get the post out so I can get off the comp.

brandon.f · 10-10-2005, 09:51 PM

Thanks for the answers guys - generally helpful. I've had a private response from someone telling me the trouser leg thang is indeed a gang related. Apparently in the eighties and nineties it was used to signify to other (rival or friendly) gang members which part of LA you were from: Folks or People I guess.
I've seen it used widely by misguided kids as a fashion statement throughout suburbs in London. I suspect, and hope, that actually they have no idea what it refers to and that they are merely copying it from a Missy Elliott video. Way to go MCers - let's all embrace gang culture and the colourful activities associated with it. Anyone for a bit of mindless violence?

BboyRash · 10-10-2005, 11:38 PM

XD oh yeah, jus tlike the one reports saying that kids who play video games and watch violent movies will suddenly turn violent and shoot people in the streets mercilessly..

Anyways, the best answer that I know of for the pant leg thing is the fashion statement thing. People just do that sometimes, others its actually somewhat gang related. Besides that, Idk =P

istolicee · 10-11-2005, 12:28 AM

what i was taught was that the pant leg thing is a sign of respect, like you should respect that person. and yeah it had to do with gangs but i dunno the details.

Commander Keen · 10-11-2005, 01:53 AM

I read on a police information website that rolling the left or right pant legs were/are used to distinguish between people nation and folk nation sets! But I don't have any experience with that. okay!

Anubis2002 · 10-11-2005, 02:59 AM

agh, love when it doesnt post for me...

if its people n folk its not really commonly used AS a gang symbol since its just utilizing the left for one, right for the other n its common now adays among other non gang people

it use to denote drugs for sale as well

hawk_196 · 10-11-2005, 09:48 PM

from wikipedia:

It is also common for members of People Nation gang members to wear caps tilted to the left, earrings in the left ear, or bandanas hanging from the left pocket or tied around the left leg. This is in contrast to Folk Nation gangs, which wear similar clothing on the right side of their body.

I'm guessing people nation gangsters roll up the left leg and folk nation gangsters roll up the right.

Just a guess??

AlphaTrion · 10-11-2005, 10:42 PM

The pants leg thing was once used by gangsters but it was used by other people as well...not just gang members. And today it can be seen everywhere. I know plenty of people with earrings in their left ear...but that doesn't mean they're gangsters.

Most b-boys do it today for the same reason they were their pockets out or wear light colored shoes or flashy socks...it's main purpose to draw attention to the hips and feet duing footwork.

Pommy from sorc · 10-12-2005, 01:21 AM

Bikers DO do it (still) because the chain catches your pant leg haha but yea it has the other connotations too

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brandon.f Registered User Respect: 1 Posts: 2 Join Date: Oct 2005	A little help please:terminology - 10-10-2005, 11:23 AM Hi - I attended the 10th UK b-boy crew championships last night and am hoping a reader or two can elucidate for me on some points: i) What is 'knocking' (spelling?) - a guy told me that it is 'a sort of gay version of breaking' although I find that hard to believe. ii) What is all this having one trouser leg (only) rolled up? It looks highly ridiculous, so I presume it has some important meaning. iii) I am told that an influential DJ in the breaking world has recently passed on - who? and why is it important enough to be mentioned with such reverence as it was? iv)what does an open fingered, wrist bending, hand wave from an opposing b-boy mean when it follows an opponents moves - praise or insult? Thanks a lot!


soviet Registered User Respect: 1.5 Posts: 1,009 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: nowhere	10-10-2005, 11:46 AM ooh elucidate, cool word. knocking- no idea, maybe an English thing or term? trouser leg- I read alienness (rsc, probably a good source) say it used to have something to do with people on bikes so they wouldn't get grease on their pants, but since it isn't NYC or something hell if I know, plus not as many people bike as a means of transportation outside of major cities right? DJ Leacy is the other answer to your question, and lastly it's probably praise.


hawk_196 Registered User Respect: 1 Posts: 120 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Atlanta	10-10-2005, 05:34 PM i always thought that the pant leg had something to do with gangs/crews/etc. but I'm not sure. Then I thought it had to do with functionality (i.e. it might get in the way) but I can't think of a move that would be affected by a pant leg.
	"Using numerology, to count the people I sent to Heaven Produces more digits than 22 divided by 7" -Immortal Technique


Chucky Moderator Respect: 11 Posts: 2,108 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Winnipeg	10-10-2005, 05:41 PM knocking probably means locking... a funkstyle... all your other questions were stupid.


STIFF_UK Jesus Loves You Respect: 7 Posts: 2,861 Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Manchester UK	10-10-2005, 08:47 PM Never heard of knocking. If he meant locking and said it's ANY kind of version of bboying he's clueless. To say it's a gay version is idiotic. I believe the trouser leg originally meant the person was carrying a knife. Now it's purely a fashion thing. DJ Lacey was one of the finest DJs on the face of the planet. He died in sad circumstances leaving behind his family and a scene mourning the loss of one of it's own. He was and in some ways still is the soundtrack of the UK bboy scene. He was the only UK based DJ to regularly be asked to play bboy events around the world. Respected, loved and sorely missed by anyone who was close to him. I never had the pleasure other than a few quick words over the decks, but still miss him. Scene doesn't seem right without him. Legend. Rest in Peace James. The hand gesture usually means the person doind it liked whatever the person dancing just did. Some was already answered I know but was in a rush to get the post out so I can get off the comp.
	A bboy without style, is like a broken pencil. There's just no point.


brandon.f Registered User Respect: 1 Posts: 2 Join Date: Oct 2005	10-10-2005, 09:51 PM Thanks for the answers guys - generally helpful. I've had a private response from someone telling me the trouser leg thang is indeed a gang related. Apparently in the eighties and nineties it was used to signify to other (rival or friendly) gang members which part of LA you were from: Folks or People I guess. I've seen it used widely by misguided kids as a fashion statement throughout suburbs in London. I suspect, and hope, that actually they have no idea what it refers to and that they are merely copying it from a Missy Elliott video. Way to go MCers - let's all embrace gang culture and the colourful activities associated with it. Anyone for a bit of mindless violence?


istolicee verb's wifey Respect: 5.5 Posts: 1,025 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: w/my 3 boys	10-11-2005, 12:28 AM what i was taught was that the pant leg thing is a sign of respect, like you should respect that person. and yeah it had to do with gangs but i dunno the details.
	PEACE!! =o) ...cee Come check out My Blog hip hop head, mommy x2, business owner, scrapbooker


Commander Keen Hippie Respect: 1.5 Posts: 613 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Diego, CA	10-11-2005, 01:53 AM I read on a police information website that rolling the left or right pant legs were/are used to distinguish between people nation and folk nation sets! But I don't have any experience with that. okay!


AlphaTrion Moderator Respect: 11 Posts: 1,451 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Fairburn, GA	10-11-2005, 10:42 PM The pants leg thing was once used by gangsters but it was used by other people as well...not just gang members. And today it can be seen everywhere. I know plenty of people with earrings in their left ear...but that doesn't mean they're gangsters. Most b-boys do it today for the same reason they were their pockets out or wear light colored shoes or flashy socks...it's main purpose to draw attention to the hips and feet duing footwork.
	Risen From the Ashes (Atlanta, GA)/Deadly Alliance AlphaTrion's Base My Myspace music page Facebook Twitter