Your style is defined by your story
By Justin Fried
In Part 2 of this four-part series, we are introduced to more characters and personalities that make the world of breaking so special, and the challenges they face.
- Part I: Welcome To The World of Break Dancing
- Part II: Your Style Is Defined By Your Story
- Part III: Let’s Go To The Moon and Back
- Part IV: It’s Not What People See, It’s What They Don’t
A sense of community is important in the breaking world, and that sentiment is especially true for the b-girls in the scene.
Breaking draws countless parallels to the world of hip hop. In reality, it’s impossible to tell the story of one without the other. But much like the hip-hop world, breaking has long been a male-dominated realm.
Take it from CrissyB, one of the 16 b-girls competing in the cypher. Real name Crystal Arana, CrissyB grew up in the golden age of hip hop. She was first exposed to the scene by her cousins who were b-boys at the time. It wasn’t uncommon to find her sneaking into Los Angeles clubs and participating in local cyphers. The breaking scene was a little different back then. There weren’t as many opportunities for young b-girls which often manifested itself into unprompted rivalry. She felt bullied by the other b-girls on the scene who saw her as a threat, and as a result, she often stuck with her b-boy friends. B-girl competitions were few and far between, so she found herself competing in b-boy battles instead. All the while, she didn’t let the power imbalance affect her mindset.
“I never let that mentality of it being a male-dominated scene f–k with me,” she said. CrissyB saw herself as “one of the guys” and was determined to get herself out of the mindset of it being “a boys’ club.”
Fortunately, the growing b-girl scene combined with an emphasis on inclusion has changed the breaking community for the better. Over the last seven or so years, CrissyB has been able to meet a number of “amazing” up-and-coming b-girls who approach the art form with a different mindset.
“
W
e’re all b-girls. We all share similar adversities, sometimes outside of the dance world. Sometimes similar traumas too. Healing is more effective when we’re united.”
– Logistix
“We aren’t competition to each other. We uplift each other. We train together.” She told me about a recent battle she had with one of her b-girl friends. Her opponent won and the first thing she did was go over and congratulate her. The only person she was upset with was herself. Today, CrissyB is a new mom working to balance her passion for breaking with her 9-to-5 career as an apparel developer as well as her home life. She strives to be that source of guidance for new b-girls in the community.
“When new girls come on the scene, I want to be that welcoming face,” she says. “The face that isn’t going to look at her as a threat. Let’s keep that energy reserved for battles. Outside of them, let’s be cool.”
Still, she doesn’t feel quite right calling herself a leader or an inspiration. She just wants to be the best she can be, and if someone is inspired by her, then she’s honored to be that person. “I hope that I can be the best representation of what we’re doing.”
CrissyB does note that there are still inequalities to be faced in the breaking community. She felt ostracized by her fellow breakers after she had her first child. People looked at her differently. They treated her like a mother and not the kick-ass b-girl that she is. Some even asked her if she still planned to continue breaking. Of course, the thought of quitting never crossed her mind. This is her passion. She loves this.
The idea of having separate competitions for men and women is a hot-topic conversation in the breaking world. After all, this isn’t just peak athletic achievement; It’s performance art.
CrissyB sometimes finds it weird that there aren’t more co-ed events, but she understands the importance of creating a safe space for women. There’s also one other reason. “Sometimes it’s just fun to compete against other badass women,” she told me. That too.
Logistix believes there’s a difference in the energies that b-boys and b-girls exude.
“Because of the imbalance in masculine and feminine energy, it can be uncomfortable for women,” she said alluding to the disproportionate number of men in the community. “Sometimes we feel like we have to compensate when in actuality, we should just be ourselves.”
The parallels between breaking and hip hop are no more evident than with how each scene has changed over the last 5-10 years. We’ve seen female rappers like Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B become mainstream music sensations in an industry that has long been dominated by the opposite gender. As opportunities arise for women in hip hop, the same is true for women in breaking. Red Bull BC One hosted their first b-girl world final in 2017.
Four years later, Logistix became the world champion at the finals in Poland. She was the lone American participant — a testament to how global this art form has become. Logistix is happy to pave the way for the next generation of b-girls, but she also laments the fact that more attention isn’t paid to b-girl history. “There’s not a lot of emphasis on b-girl history. When it comes to lineage, I constantly feel like a part of me is missing. But at the same time, I know I’m helping create that lineage.”
At the end of the day, b-girls need to have each other’s backs. This sense of comradery was especially evident during the cypher itself. The b-boy battles looked more like an aggressive clash of styles and personalities. You were able to feel the masculine energy radiating from the performers. One b-boy even slid up to his opponent and simulated punching and striking him. The b-girls, however, emphasized exactly what makes this community so special. They actively cheered on their fellow b-girls, congratulated their opponents even in defeat, and nearly every battle ended with some sort of embrace. Hugs, warm words of encouragement, you name it. B-girls are shaping the future of breaking with every cypher and every battle. And they’re doing so by uniting through their shared experiences.
“We’re all b-girls,” Logistix insists. “We all share similar adversities, sometimes outside of the dance world. Sometimes similar traumas too. Healing is more effective when we’re united.”
The breaking world is one extensive community consisting of a cornucopia of gifted performers with larger-than-life personalities.
They’re all individuals, and as much as breaking emphasizes community, it’s built on the concept of individuality. I had the opportunity to meet a number of incredibly unique and interesting people during my time in Seattle, but perhaps none were as wholesome and memorable as KydSteez.
KydSteez describes himself as “a multifaceted brand based on the hip-hop social movement for positive change.” He’s a self-described b-boy, fashion designer, model, activist, business innovator, leader, and everything in between. But the KydSteez I spoke to was down-to-earth, humble, and kind. He was soft-spoken, articulate, and calculated with his words. KydSteez loves breaking, but that’s only a part of his overall mission. He wants to create change for people who grew up like him. You see, KydSteez grew up with a schizophrenic mother and an alcoholic father in two separate households.
He was raised in a “dysfunctional, low-income” family. Breaking was an escape. Later on in life, KydSteez developed epilepsy. He was in a coma at three different points in his life as a result of seizures. He lost his memory on numerous occasions and was forced to relive the passing of his mother. This is the hand KydSteez was dealt in life. His mission has been to make the best out of a catastrophic situation with the goal of ensuring that others don’t go through the same struggles he did. Breaking is a means to an end. It’s a way to build his brand.
“Your style is defined by your story. The thing about style is that it comes naturally. It’s who you are.”
– b-boy All-Star Phil Wizard
“Hip hop is the most powerful branding platform in human history,” KydSteez insisted. As much as he loves and respects the breaking culture, he wants aspiring b-boys and b-girls to market themselves. He wants them to know their worth. It’s a part of his mission to promote financial literacy in America.
“I am a b-boy because I learned and love the culture, but I’m a K-Y-D because I acknowledged myself within the breaking community, myself as an independent brand and business, and because I wanted to have my own legacy to leave behind to my offspring as an intellectual property,” KydSteez proudly proclaimed. “I can’t make a residual dollar off of the term ‘b-boy,’ but I can make a residual dollar off the term ‘K-Y-D.’”
But what is a K-Y-D?
KydSteez explained that his b-boy name originated as inspiration from a b-boy named “Kid David” who he admired. Over time, he began to think of his nickname as an acronym that loosely stands for “Keep Your Dreams, Style With Ease.” He pointed to his pants as he showed me a logo that he had printed on his clothing. It was one of many iterations of the KydSteez logo that he’s created over the years.
B-boy and b-girl names are all about branding and marketing yourself. They’re about expressing who you are as a person.
“It’s something that describes your style,” CrissyB noted. Her b-girl name was given to her in high school. She used to have blue hair which prompted her friends to call her “Crissy Blue,” inspired by the song ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion’ by Tommy James & The Shondells. That morphed into ‘CrissyB’ over time. Nowadays, she says the ‘B’ can stand for anything. Sometimes she’s ‘CrissyBeast.’ Other times she’s ‘CrissyBrat.’ It all depends on her mood.
KydSteez knows all about using his breaking platform to express himself and showcase his brand. But he isn’t doing this for clout. He wants to inspire change. He likened the breaking world to his experiences as an African American.
“I’m a Black man in America. From the history of what our people have gone through, how many things have been taken away from us in regard to intellectual property. Even if everything was taken from your culture, you can still garnish something from that if you state, articulate, and curate.”
KydSteez is living proof that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Some people might hear his story, take one look at him in his flashy purple and green baggy clothes, and make false assumptions. Instead, he’s gentle, affable, and quite frankly one of the most intelligent people I’ve had the privilege of speaking to. Everyone in the breaking world has a reason. His reason stems from his difficult upbringing and his desire to inspire change.
“I want to give kids a program for free that teaches them how to identify who they are and how to avoid getting extorted,” KydSteez said. The term he likes to use is “extort yourself” instead of letting others extort you. He believes this ideology helps combat income inequality, mental health issues in our society, and even systemic racism. It all starts with being able to brand yourself, capitalize on your identity, and leverage your story.
KydSteez is the epitome of individualism in breaking. He’s a walking, talking brand who’s using his platform to influence social change.
But every b-boy and b-girl has their own brand. They all have their own stories and expressions that make them who they are. That story is defined by your name, your attire, your mannerisms, your facial expressions, and everything you can imagine. In essence, your style.
“Your style is defined by your story,” b-boy All-Star Phil Wizard said. “The thing about style is that it comes naturally. It’s who you are.”
Breaking allows people to express themselves as individuals. They’re able to share their stories with the world. And as KydSteez so eloquently pointed out, “you have an opportunity for free.” Anyone can do it. It’s about making something out of nothing. Just you and a dance floor. No bats or sticks. No balls or pucks.
Just you and your flow.
Part 3 of this four-part series will arrive tomorrow. Be sure to check back then to learn more about the athletes who were at the Red Bull BC One and the cypher’s main event.