  World
B-Boy Championships,
Saturday and Sunday 07/08
February 2004 @ Wembley Arena
article
0077 added
23.03.04 words K-Per
technical:
QED
Sunday Review, 4 on 4
competition, by Kper
Up tonight were Clipse, De La Soul and Killa Kela with LL Cool J the
host once again.
Tonight it was crew against crew, with the first two elimination rounds
as a 3-minute battle format, with 1 minute and a half for each crew to
do their best and impress the judges. For those accustomed to B-Boy
battles this format did appear as slightly strange, as it takes away the
battle element something that is essential to a B-Boy competition. This
format placed the emphasis more on technical and acrobatic displays,
choreography and visual elements, which is not a bad thing, but did lead
to some confusion for the participating crews, something which isn’t
really what you want when you have an event that is so time sensitive
and relies on smooth running. The fact that some of the crews still
appeared not to understand this format even in the second round did make
for some less then remarkable moments and confusions between crews and
referee. On the good side, this format was only for the first two
rounds, as from the quarterfinals onwards the battles followed a
traditional format, with 5 minutes for the crews to outdo each other.
 After announcing the format, LL introduced the first two crews and the
first round got underway. The quality of B-Boying on display was truly
impressive, with some definite high points and some very impressive team
routines, moves and choreography. The most impressive battle of the
round must go to the meeting between UK veterans 2nd to None and
France’s Phase T. 2nd to None came through with some real skills, long
head spins and really classic, energetic moves, while Phase T had the
youngest contender in the competition, at 11 years old! They came out
with some strong moves and impressive handstands and the little B-Boy
did his thing with as much talent and fervour as the older competitors,
getting a thunder of applause from the crowd and with that both crews
made it to the next round. A lot of the crews coming through this round
impressed greatly with a vast display of skills, styles and choreography
that were truly refreshing to see, with only a few crews disappointing
in comparison to the others. Amongst those that really shone in the
first round and made it through were the Japanese and Korean teams, the
French who represented with 3 crews, one of which, the Wanted Crew had
taken the 2 on 2 title the previous day and who really brought some heat
and impressive skills in their first battle. The US and UK also
represented with all 3 US teams and 3 out of the initial 5 UK crews
getting through, alongside two Swiss, a Spanish, a Dane and a Canadian
crew.
The Clipse came on stage between the first two rounds for their
showcase. They were good, but nowhere near as impressive as the acts
that were to follow. They did drop some new material from their upcoming
album and also did a few of their Neptunes’ classics including Cot Damn!
And then LL was back on stage announcing the teams that were through to
the second round.
Already the game was stepped up for this round, with more attitude and
energy from all the contenders. There were more incredible displays of
acrobatic skills, choreography, inventive dancing routines and funny
poses, as well as a dash of brash behaviour and boasting, the perfect
ingredients of any decent battle.
Expressions Crew from Korea took out the first Swiss team, showing some
really interesting team play and becoming strong favourites with the
crowd. The US teams, Massive Monkees, Styles Elements and Super Crew all
went through as well, with the Super Crew defeating the UK’s Abstracts
Crew in a very close battle, with the crowd showing their support for
the home team. Abstracts had some good, strong moves and impressive team
routines but were left out much to the public’s dismay. It wasn’t a good
round for the British teams as they were all taken out one by one, with
2nd to None defeated by the Danish from Natural Effects in another tight
battle. Lastly Foundationz Crew lost out to the favourites, The Wanted
Crew, who made it look so easy with fast and energetic team action and a
heavy dose of attitude and boasting. The Canadian Drunken Monks were
taken out by the French Pockemon Crew, whilst Spain’s Addictos took out
Phase T in this round’s best battle. Phase T came out with a very
gimmicky routine and some strong moves, which wasn’t enough against the
Spanish’s fast and furious styles.
 Before the quarterfinals started we got treated to another amazing live
set by De La Soul. If you ever seen De La live you know that no matter
if they have 20 minutes or 3 hours on stage they still will rock the
place out. And they did just that, with a nice little set including new
and old favourites, like ‘Oooh!’, ‘Me, Myself and I’ and their new Sean
Paul collabo ‘Schoomp!’ As Trugoy and Pos roamed the stage getting the
crowd hyped, Maseo was cutting it up on the ones and twos. As a bonus
the Jungle Brothers came out during the rendition of Buddy for a little
bit of that Native Tongues vibe. They ended up coming back for another 5
minutes, doing a funk set and getting the crowd to sing along with them.
As always their showcase was great and really got the whole place moving
from side to side, and had everyone singing to their favourite classics.
They might be considered old school by many of today’s youth but these
guys still rock a crowd harder then any 50, Ja or Nelly ever could.
And onto the quarterfinals and a change to the format, reverting to what
is a traditional, 5 minutes B-Boy battle, with a referee advocating. The
change of format was great as it injected a lot of life and energy back
into the event, taking it away from a more visual standpoint and back to
the good old days of attitude, finger waiving, head shaking “I’m taking
you down” business.
The Super Crew took out the Natural Effects crew first with some very
impressive solos, which left the Danes behind, as the Americans
monopolised the floor. They were followed by another American team,
Massive Monkees who took out Addictos. Addictos were one man down after
a few minutes, and still fought to the end but to no avail against some
very confident Americans who had moves to back their attitude. The
Pockemon Crew lost out to another US team, Styles Elements, meaning that
we were guaranteed one US team in the finals. The battle offered more
great displays of skills and agility. Styles Elements finished with the
night’s sickest head spin sending the crowd mad! Their battle was by far
the most entertaining of the round, until the following last battle
between The Wanted Crew and the Expressions Crew.
Wanted were still the favourites and if anyone were going to give them a
challenge it was the Koreans, who had been impressive all evening in
what was their first competition in the UK. I managed to miss most of
the battle due to some security issues, but what I saw of it was by far
the most intense and on point battle of the night, with both crews
letting loose and going at it. The French took the battle, but in a
twist of fate, both crews were recalled after the intermission for a
rematch, as the judges said that they were unable to decide who had been
more worthy. And so both teams were back on for 3 minutes, much to the
discontent of the French supporters in front of me, who weren’t too
happy about it. In another twist the Koreans took out the French, even
though Wanted came out with some very impressive skills and power moves,
that would have won most battles, the Koreans had energy aplenty and a
lot of agility and flexibility, which they put to good use to defeat the
French.
 In between all this exciting drama, we were treated to another great
musical showcase courtesy of the UK’s very own multi-vocalist, mister
Killa Kela, with MC Trip in tow. As with De La, anyone who has witnessed
Kela’s live shows knows that he is a man who prides himself in doing
what he does well, and who constantly brings new routines and elements
to his shows. Tonight was no exception with some tried and tested
routines such as his version of Britney’s ‘Addicted to Sex’, his intro
routine where Trip asks him to break down kick, snares and hi-hats
before letting Kela reconstruct them in his own inimitable way. He also
came out with some new bits such as a short sample of his new track, the
‘Jawbreaker’, a routine based on the Milkshake song, and some truly
impressive basslines and guitar licks amongst a pile of tried and tested
beats, with Trip joining in for some on the spot rhyming. If you haven’t
yet go and witness the amazing talent of this young man who really gives
a whole new dimension to the word Beatboxing, or multi-vocalism as he
likes to call it.
The semis were a near enough all-American affair with the Koreans now
the firm favourites to take it to the finals after their battle with the
French title holders. But it wasn’t to be as the Koreans lost out to
Massive Monkees in their battle despite holding up quite well. It seems
as though their previous battle took the best out of them and they could
not do much against the US team who came out with some exciting moves
and loads of tag action, leaving the Koreans with little time on the
floor. In the other all US semi, the Super Crew took out Style Elements
in an even battle that saw some really intricate moves, nice hand-stands
and team action. Style Elements got the last move but that wasn’t
enough.
Which led us to an all-American final, between Super Crew and Massive
Monkees. Again this battle was fairly even, as each team seemed to get
the up the other would come back at them, and the balance would shift
constantly. Every time a good move or combination was done the other
team would reply in kind and as the clock reached the end, it was by all
accounts a very close affair. So close in fact that the judges had to
ask each team to choose a member for a one minute one-on-one battle to
decide the winners. Massive Monkees ended up taking the battle, with
some superior moves in the minute given to them. It was slightly
disappointing that the final ended this way, much like a penalty
shoot-out in football, but nonetheless the whole night had given us
plenty of thrills and some of the most amazing B-Boying I have seen in a
long time.
Will the event continue like this next year? We can only hope so with
prize money such as this it will surely encourage B-Boys the world over
to come back for another piece of the pie. Just Fabulous did do the
breakers justice as well as help to give more attention to a side of
hip-hop culture that for too long has been the victim of clichés and
spurs of momentary attention on the part of the media. I say bring it
on!
-
K-Per
Sunday Galleries, 4 on 4
competition, by Ella
Cooper
1, 2,
3, 4,
5, 6
Saturday Review, 2 on 2
competition, by Instrumental
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