Can You Keep Up

shit was crazy !! got to Lincoln Center at 2:30 pm to assist in setting up and ensuring everything went smoothly .. which it did until a freak thunderstorm at 3:30 that blew a tent across the Plaza, through the chairs, and took down b-girl Severe. Meanwhile the techs are running mad, trying to cover the sound equipment at the rain poured down hard.

Everyone had a look of disbelief: was this happening? Were we going to get rained out? I stood there kinda mesmerized. "It's okay," I told Martha Cooper. "It's not going to rain for two hours. It'll pass."

Then the calls came: was the event still on? Damn straight. The rain started to let up and I was like, let them sit in puddles—the show must go on!

Eventually the sun came back out. and then it got kinda humid as all the water evaporated back into the air. Then the humidity too passed. The sun was bright but not strong. The air was warm but pretty dry. All of this came together around 5, just as the Plaza began to fill it. A spectacular turnout—two thousand seats filled. Standing room only—and there was barely any room. A ring encircled the Plaza—people were standing 10 deep. We killed it.

Then the jump off. Toni Blackmon came on stage, introduced the judges. Slight change of plans as Violet subbed for Asia, and Honey Rockwell and Doze Green joined her, Rokafella, and Aruna. Five old school legends. Niice.

The teams came out representing Jersey, Philly, London, and the hometown favorites—New York City. Before the battle, Rowdy, from the UK crew Flowzaic, warmed up the crowd with her moves, combining popping and locking with straight up get down.

They drew names from a hat. First up Natural Born Killahz from Jersey vs Styles Comes First from Philly. Styles was selected as the winner. Then Flowzaic battled Fox Force Five, repping New York and this was THE battle of the event. Bounce from FFF vs. Sun Sun from Flowzaic. Nice and Nasty, you know what I mean.

I ws shouting, "YEAAAAAA!! BRING IT!!"

I hope my father, who was sitting next to me, wasn't too bothered. Probably not, cause my mother was on the other side carrying on. He kept cool, and decided Bounce was the best dancer at the battle. I'm torn between her and Sun Sun, who pushed up out of a headstand into a handstand.

Ill bitches do ill things.

After long deliberation the judges picked Fox Force Five for the finals, vs Styles Come First. Then KR3TS came out and blew everyone away with my favorite routines—Soldiers. Decked in orange and lime green—you betta believe Spanish Harlem was representing.

Can You Keep Up
Can You
Can You
Can You Keep Up

For real. I gotta take some of those bootie shaking, hard dancing classes. Sundays and Tuesday, Violet told me. Yea. I gotta get that on my schedule.

Then the finals. Styles Comes First vs Fox Force Five ..

Before they announced the winner Henry Chalfant got on stage to recall the setting for the 1981 event .. They came 100 deep. They all got on stage in a cipher. No one from the audience saw a thing. A fight broke out. A winner was never declared.

JoJo Torres of Rock Steady and Eddie Ed and King Uprock of Dynamic came out to say a few words, to remember the original battle and pay tribute to the future of breakin' ..

And then, a winner of We B*Girlz was declared: Fox Force Five.

New York City took it. With Bounce, Tara, and True Essencia representing for b-girlz in the city and worldwide. Because when it comes down to it this aint about some us vs. them shit. This is about all of us. This is about skills, talent, attitude, and energy. This is about hip hop in it's pure form.

Can You Keep Up