coosh

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.