Empowering the Forgotten of Bboy and Hiphop Kulture – “Laying it all on the Line”

There is a trend in Bboy and Hiphop kulture where politics, the media, and favoritism all come into play. Battles, big and small, have been unfairly judged or have politics that have interfered with the decision instead of it just being about who danced better. This trend has really affected the youth of the kulture and also those with passion that never get a chance to prove themselves. This has changed the opinions of thousands of people around the world on their outlook on Hiphop and Bboying in general, and it is not a good one. What everyone needs to understand is that these AREN’T just battles! Bboying and Hiphop is LIFE to many and when you mess with the integrity of someone's LIFE and their passion there is backlash for it all!

It is compromising the integrity of the kulture and discouraging further and future generations of people to get involved or stay involved! A judging decision does not only affect the winners and losers anymore, it affects the whole community! This is because everyone in the community bases their faith and hope on the outcome of battles being fair and just. I am not just saying this because I personally think any particular crew or person should be winning, but because a huge number of people I have talked to about this topic that have expressed their concern and anger.
Numerous times I have been at battles and young Bboys standing next to me (after decisions of winners have been announced) have said to me - "I will never dance again". Most of these young guys are very good and show great potential to become great dancers and contributors to Hiphop kulture. They are not even upset most of the time about themselves not winning because they know they need to get better, but because the crew or person they know is great did not win and someone or a crew that isn’t great won instead. After hearing this from soo many guys, I then do not see these Bboys at any battles, big or small, and I am 99% sure that most are not involved in Bboying or Hiphop kulture at all anymore. I know there are many people that feel this way and have probably been soo discouraged they too have given up and we don't even know because we never see them ever again. This doesn't mean these people are weak or don't have passion and love for the kulture, they just know that no matter how hard they try they will never win or get chances to win with horrible politics happening within the kulture! Leave the politics to the President and the people in Washington D.C., don't bring this to a kulture that is live or die to soo many people! If you continually get shut down and even ridiculed for what you love, eventually it wears on your soul and makes you not want to try anymore because what is the point if you can never progress or improve. I encourage EVERYONE to express how they feel and to not let anyone make you feel small or unworthy. This is what is destroying this culture! It is the politics and the bad judging, that happens at almost every event, and the arrogant attitudes! This is a kulture of peace and unity not of politics and arrogance!

There is a difference between really knowing the history and foundation of the dance and kulture, and then being paid or bribed for people to get somewhere within the kulture. Young people have respect for those that judge with honest experience and knowledge. The problem comes in when a judge cannot even tell a single soul exactly why a person or a crew won over the other. If you are truly knowledgeable and have a firm grasp and understanding of the kulture and dance you will be able to answer and explain any question that comes your way! If a judge cannot answer this question and explain to someone why, then this basically says that the judges chose whoever they wanted to not based on their dance performance, but something else. So, why even battle then?!!!!!!! If judges can come correct and really explain their choices, then respect can be gained and it will give young people the good advice and faith they need to get better and be good enough to win someday.
If this trend of political favoritism and hype continues it is basically saying to the youth, you are better off just NOT getting involved because you will always be shot down by the politics of the game. You might as well just say - here is a bag of weed, a gun, and a condom - go back to the streets!!!!!!!! The youth of the world and many others use Hiphop as a way to stay away from those evils of the streets and they want at least a glimpse at success or recognition for their efforts - if they cannot get it in Hiphop, then they turn back to the streets because they know they can at least get recognition there whether it is right or wrong. The youth are very impressionable and it doesn't take much to flip the switch in their heads. Most of these people do not want the fame and glory of success, they just want people to know and respect their love and passion for what they do, just like everyone else!

What this really all comes down to, is EVERYONE needs to be careful of what they say and do because this kulture is never just about YOU, it is about millions of people around the world with passion and love for what they do! Every decision has an impact and some more than others. Respect is earned and not just given, which is what people involved in the bad politics need to realize - you cannot just give someone a title or hype them up, to get respect for that person. Respect just isn't automatically given to someone because politics or the media says so! You have to earn that respect by working hard and showing everyone you deserve their respect whether you are winning or losing! So, before everyone goes on trying to bad mouth about characters of individual people, crews, judges, or whatever, step back and think about how you affect EVERYONE, not just yourself!

Sorry, for anyone who reads this and thinks it is way too long, but everything needed to be said and I give mad props to anyone who speaks their mind and uses all avenues in the world today to get their message out. I learn more and more about this kulture everyday from messages put out especially on MySpace by KRS-ONE, Kurtis Blow, Busy Bee and many other legends and pioneers of this kulture. Why can we all not do the same?!!! Facts will never get lost behind lies and cover-ups no matter how powerful one person or crew thinks they are in the kulture! One day you will be blasted like all evil is! The Higher Power of the Universe (whichever name you have for it and however you believe) will always be the one to decide your fate in life no matter what you think about your actions, they NEVER go unnoticed or unpunished!

This was written for everyone, but if you do not get the message or disagree, well I guess that just sucks for you. In the words of one of the greatest Hiphop groups EVER, the Roots, - "This is for all of my peoples who understanding and truly recognize, same won't get it and for that I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE!" I do not apologize, nor will I ever for what I have said because it is all true and real and if you don't get it, then I am more than willing to explain it to you personally if you truly want to learn more - if you are just mad at it then your loss! Most of the time the truth hurts, because people would rather live in a world of ignorance instead of finding truth in their lives!
The mission of all true Hiphop heads is to protect and preserve this kulture for generations to come and to all those who believe in this and want to help in this cause keep doing your thing! Never let the negative attitudes and ignorance bring you down because no matter how many times you are beat down the day will come when you will rise above it, along with all others doing it correct! Stay up, stay positive, and ban together with those who believe in the TRUE missions of the kulture! Many blessings always!

Love, respect, and peace,
Mindi aka Bubbles
Hiphop Philosopher
Co-Founder of Odori 73 Hiphop Worldwide