Afrika Bambaataa, a young warlord from the Black Spade gang, emerged as a peacemaker. In 1971, however, the South Bronx gangs came together to sign a truce. “At the outset of the 1970s, with the city of New York deep in financial crisis, the Bronx was the scene of violent conflict between rival gangs. © 2007–2008 © ISelf Collection, London, Photo: Mirjam DevriendtĮarly Breaking culture in the South Bronxīreaking evolved as part of the hip-hop movement that came from African American and Latino youths. Breakdance: History, identity & community In researching breaking I will utilize Digital ethnography , as well as my own participatory observations as a b-boy, to further examine what components of breaking spread it to the global stage. Thus, to maintain political correctness, I will continue to adress the phenomena as "breaking." Other then being a unique acrobatic dance, breaking is a direct manifestation of the fundamental principles of hip-hop. The name "breakdance" was later given to the artform by onlookers, giving the name a commercial aspect. In this article I will be addressing a more underground but equally global element of hip-hop culture, its most physical element called breaking or b-boying. Often when we think of hip-hop in a global arena we tend to only think of one or two of its nine recognized elements, namely commercial rap and/or street fashion, which is often associated with misogyny and violence. In this article I will investigate the reasons behind breaking’s successful adoption on a global scale. Culturally speaking, there has been a growing interest in hip-hop as a global phenomena, but oddly little mention of "Breakdance." It is not uncommon for music genres to get global exposure, but having a whole culture accepted globally is rare.
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