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Some insight on the life of a Massive Monkee

coosh Approved

The last scene with the armbar routine was my favorite part. We did real breakin, an original Massive Monkees routine we pioneered but it was funny with the ongoing spins by Lazy. I was dyin with that one. All the others were sorta funny, but when they get old... Man. Plus that script was my idea so I like it better. I use the coosh on every plane trip I take whether I'm battling or headed to the beach life in Hawaii. Traveling is not too active but it stayed on when I got up to go to the bathroom. I haven't been running or jumping with it but we already saw it could do that. The bass could be better, we need some low end because I keep it bumpin. That's my style. I can't help it I love music even if it deafens me.

09/10/08

tags: Massive Monkees, B-Boy, Granite Rok, coosh

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Cramming for the Test

We come from a generation where a lot of bboys didn't last, and people know about us no matter what because of that. We were in touch with that on the first day. And our battle was a tribute to how things were done in that era, the flow was different and people noticed that. We hit the hotel and tried to perfect and polish the routines until late that night for Day 2. I thought it should be committed to memory before we left Seattle, so that already was part of our struggle right there. We should have just been relaxing at that point. We felt rushed. It takes weeks to let the steps settle into your brain. It's like cramming for a test. We thought we knew it but drew a blank against Supernaturalz/Flex Flav, our routines were on the tip of our tongue and we couldn't get them out.

Supernaturalz/Flex Flav duplicated our style and formula so we were battling a mirror image as far as routines, and commando style. There was no pace first of all. We couldn't hear the music when the battle started because a curtain split the funk music room for poppin/lockin and their side was so loud. We couldn't hear the beat on stage because the speakers were on the other side. The judges thought it was a toss-up with crews not wanting to go out first. It's always an advantage to respond rather than going out first. There is a time limit on each battle, and we were a minute and 30 seconds behind already standing around. Nobody understood we couldn't hear the music. Then the battle had no rhythm. We are being pressured by the host, the crowd, the DJs and then finally they turn the music up. Our mistakes were beginner mistakes. Little screw ups that add up. They didn't out dance us, as much as we beat ourselves. Those hit the hardest, we tripped over our own feet.

Tim the Pit was saying how he beat Phantom to some other bboy on Day 1, and that guy went to Phantom and told him. Phantom came back to ask Tim if he said that and Tim didn't deny it. It was word against word. So if that's the case lets do it right now. If there is space and opportunity that's where it happens in breakin. Tim accepted the challenge. Phantom came back with his crew on Day 2 and an exchange started, security interrupted because we were blocking an exit. Fire codes, city ordnances and what not. It's like a street fight to where they plotted on calling Tim out to belittle him like Phantom was belittled. It went from 1-on-1, to 2-on-1 to crew on crew. The frustration from the loss was major, so we did it like the 70s and 80s before there were Freestyle Sessions. It was a substitution for gang warfare, and rather than fight we brought back the old essence. No organized tournament, all raw, un-cut street rules. Other than the battle between two 6-year old bboys, that was the most talked about thing that happened that weekend.

09/08/08

tags: Freestyle Session, Massive Monkees, B-Boy, Battles, Twixx, Coping With Loss

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It's on Us

Day 1 we hang out, were veterans. 10 plus years of this so we know what time it is. We were on point with our own personal support; the crowd can't be relied on for that. We had a vibe with each other, and no fear at all. After the first battle I felt we were gonna destroy everybody. But Juse's ankle tweaked out the first day, and I had to go to everyone to get the other guys to make up for the adversity by just being stronger. We are such a close-knit family, it's seen as an honor to help Juse. We smoked the first round with Supernaturalz/Flex Flav... I messed up on one routine, the Jackson. We were too close to the other crew, and I had to dodge the guy throwing a hand gesture into my face. They threw off the timing. I can't front I was pissed, but its on us. I have to have better spacing. We busted our ass but it wasn't meant to be. It's easy to point fingers and assign blame, but that's bull in my opinion.

We were mad and wanted to go. Then Tim and Floor Phantom started the street battle. I know we have respect for his crew Zulu Kings and they do for us, it was a skilled exchange. But there was a lot of shit talking. It's was mature though. We decided to let skills speak after a while. No one got smoked. Everyone was on. We all were feeling it. Both crews had just lost; it took a lot of frustration out. It didn't stop us being mad about the loss at the end of the day.

I came home and I got caught up thinking about the situation. There is always something to learn, I just have to find it. The marathon was over and I had this ticket to Hawaii, man, this is good relaxation. Now I can go surfing, Hawaii is my second home.

09/06/08

tags: Freestyle Session, Massive Monkees, B-Boy, Battles, Jeromeskee, Coping With Loss

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Taste of Our Own Medicine

It seemed smaller than usual. I'm used to lines out to the street at Freestyle Session. We set-up in a corner of the venue. We forgot to register when we got there so we were the to last battle. I was in the funk room most of the time, staying fresh with locking, my legs feel good when I keep them moving. In the first battle, on the first day, of course I got all mad at this other guy because he used my move. I went a step too fast on all my runs. Five minutes after the battle, I was like what the heck is that in my ankle? If you've ever had a pinched nerve you know it starts small. And I'm like no, this isn't happening right now. I couldn't be the kind of person I wanted to be after that. It immobilized me, and made me hesitant.

When we lost I couldn't do it. I saw the moments meant for me when I could take the ball back for our Crew, the parts of the music that no one else wants. We could have won without using routines. Wasting that minute and half killed us too, because those long routines they used against us was a taste of our medicine. It just ate up all the clock. I was sitting around afterwards displaced in time. Trying not to be upset. Then we are leaving; I'm already having my bracelet cut off when the Zulu Kings battle starts. I was gonna post up. Then they tried to punk Jo Rawk. I wasn't gonna dance, and then I tried hitting stuff where my ankle just flopped around. When I tried to do elbow baby swipes I ruined it right there. The good thing is I found out I could dance on it. But I knew I would hurt myself because I didn't have that lift, that spring. It flattened out my style. I don't think I tore anything. I've had way worse ankle injuries doing graffiti... one time, jumping over fences, I landed funny and had cankles bigger than my calves. I never saw a doctor, and I was breakin on it. It helps my style to dance with an injury.

09/05/08

tags: Freestyle Session, Massive Monkees, B-Boy, Battles, Juseboogy, Dance, Coping With Loss

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coosh Got Me Out My Day Job

Note: Anna did not attend freestyle session; she took the time to reflect on life as a mom:

I SLOWLY started dancing again a few months after my daughter was born. I was surprised at how much my body remembered the first time I danced again. I felt so relieved. Finding the time to dance was much more difficult. Practice sessions were few and far between. I would do shows every now and then, but it's not the same when you're doing the same thing over and over again. It was just okay, but it wasn't my time yet. From the beginning I spent (and continue to spend) most of my time with my daughter.

She is 2-years old now. She runs around and dances and mimics almost anything we say around her. She is SOOOO fun! She still wears me out, but does a good deal of entertaining herself nowadays. Enough so that at practice she is happy to play with toys for two or three hours in the corner while I really figure out my stuff. Or at home, I can work on some Massive Monkees business without putting her in front of the TV. Life is pretty cool. Being a mom and a b-girl is becoming more and more balanced. I am so grateful for the coosh sponsorship since it's enabled me to focus on both.

I took this summer off of work since money wasn't such a big issue. I got to hang out with Alaina (Terry, Alaina's Dad and one of Massive Monkees founding members, was on the Vans Warped Tour) and did more dancing stuff.

I plan on dancing and doing dance-related projects full-time now (aside from being a full-time mom.) I never did that, even before I got pregnant - I was always working a full-time at a job and danced around that. It's strange because since I have a child, it seems I should stick with sure things and just do the 9 to 5 (especially during this oncoming recession.) But I think right now is a great time for me to dance. There are so many opportunities and possibilities, especially with the crew. Not just making money, but creating and being part of big things.

I think now is my time.