By Nick Heckman
Madison Magazine
Special To Channel 3000

Toprock. Drop. Six-step. Freeze.

To most of us, these words mean nothing. To b-boys and b-girls in Madison, these are a few of the energizing moves that flow together to create jaw-dropping breakdance performances.

Indeed, breakdancing still exists, though it may be off the radar for most Madisonians. Without searching for recognition, the breakers in Madison have dedicated themselves to their craft, and they work hard to pass on their skill and positive energy to the Madison community.

Breakdancing, also known as breaking or b-boying/b-girling, is considered one of the main elements of hip-hop, and to discuss one is to discuss the other. In this way, the optimism of Madison’s breakers is indicative of a greater positive trend supplied by Madison hip-hop.

Hip-hop originated in the 1970s on the streets of the South Bronx in New York City. In a time when school art and music programs were being dismantled, hip-hop became an important outlet for inner city youth. This sense of hope and affirmative expression is passed along today through the MCs, the DJs, and the b-boys and b-girls of the hip-hop movement.

In Madison, hip-hop has had a hard time gaining prominence. In the 1980s, groups such as the GeneRations and Home Boys Only brought the first wave of breakdance to town. Since then, the popularity of breakdance and hip-hop has moved in waves as skilled artists have entered and exited the scene. Still, there has never been the kind of support for breakdance here as there has been elsewhere.

"Madison's hip-hop/breakdance scene is small compared to other hip-hop scenes in the Midwest," said Jonathan Truong, president of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Breakdance Club (UWMBC).

One reason for this may be that there simply are not enough teachers in Madison. Jarius King is also a member of UWMBC and head coordinator of Madison’s annual Breakin' the Law competition.

"There's only a handful of high level b-boys in Madison, and they're already spread thin trying to work with the community and teach the kids." King said.

In true chicken versus egg fashion, Madison is struggling to raise its hip hop consciousness while at the same time promoting its future growth. Still, there is a silver lining, as current mentors that are here work tirelessly to promote hip-hop and its positive attributes.

Streets of Gold, UW's Youth Speaks Wisconsin and Elements of Change are three such groups that work in Madison communities to promote positive youth messages through hip-hop, spoken word poetry, breakdance and other urban art forms. Some of the goals of these groups are to create safer school environments, improve the graduation rates for students of color in Wisconsin and generally empower youth to recognize and engage in positive social dialogue.

"Since there's no strong hip-hop scene here in Madison, the only thing these kids have access to is MTV, BET and commercial hip-hop. They haven't really experienced the hip-hop community," King said.

LaCouir Yancey, performance arts coordinator at Elements of Change, agreed.

"Hip-hop here has been limited by the lack of an urban art culture," he said. "Because of this, the negative connotations associated with commercial hip-hop -- the violence and egos -- are all that reach Madison."

According to Yancey, breakdancing serves a unique purpose in the hip-hop community: getting active.

"The physical release of breakdancing has always been important because it offers a way to release that high energy that is created by MCs and DJs. For this reason, I want to see the continuation of breakdancing in Madison more than anything."

His efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed by his peers.

"LaCouir and [Elements of Change president Roberto Riviera] are always working hard. They spread themselves thin to do as much as they can because there's not that many other people in Madison who can teach this stuff," King said.

Beyond the fact that it is a positive youth resource, why else should Madison support hip-hop? One reason is artistic appreciation.

The local b-boys, b-girls, DJs, MCs, and spoken word poets are all extremely talented and their performances are great opportunities to catch some high caliber hip-hop at venues across town. Madisonhiphop.com is a good resource for frequently updated news and events.

Soul Sessions is one such monthly event that's an amalgam of urban art, break dance and hip-hop. Sponsored by Elements of Change, this event lets the public see what's happening in Madison hip-hop.

"If someone wants to check out a hip-hop event where there will be turntablism, graffiti art, MCing, and b-boyin'/b-girlin' then just go to [Soul Sessions] on the second Friday of every month," Truong said.

Another opportunity to see a wide range of talent from across the country and around the world is at Breakin' the Law in April. B-boys and b-girls from New York to China have attended in past years.

"Each year the show has gotten bigger and better," King said. "This year will be the same."

Just like the music that inspired it, breaking has evolved since its birth. It has moved through phases of nylon tracksuits and boom box battles in the New York boroughs to an international presence. Today, it's possible to witness breakers in Korea, Japan, Germany, the Czech Republic and many other countries. In fact, this winter King, Truong and fellow UWMBC b-boy Erich Nemcek plan on traveling to Hong Kong to compete and to further hone their skills.

As for Yancey, he envisions Madison's continued growth as a center for socially conscious hip-hop.

"I want to see Madison become a place with MCs whose lyrics mean something, DJs who have a love for the music and breakers who love what they’re doing," he said.

His dream might not be far off. The fall of 2007 marks the opening of the First Wave Spoken Word and Urban Arts Learning Community in at UW-Madison. This multicultural residence, pioneered by Youth Speaks Wisconsin, will seek to bring young artists, performers and leaders from around the country to live and study together on one floor in Witte Hall. First Wave, the only community of its kind on a college campus, will seek to develop and support the artists' skills as well as engage the Madison area with a combination of art and activism.

If hip-hop in Madison has moved in waves in the last few decades, it would appear that it's currently on the rise. As this culture continues to spread in Madison and across the globe, supporting the resident teachers and the new generation of enthusiasts will prove a benefit for both youth and the community. And while Madison's hip-hop scene may be small at present, the positive attitude of our local artists has the potential for a large impact.

Breakin' the Law 4 will be held on Saturday, April 14 at the Memorial Union's Great Hall. Soul Sessions meets on the second Friday of every month at the Electric Earth Café, 546 W. Washington Ave.