Words by Jason Walker AKA Jabberwalkey

Human gymnastics took a different form in the golden year of 1977. Cardboard acrobatics were displayed by every color of hood disciple, and back then criticism was dished out like a NY hot dog. The streets were filled with ghetto-blasters making the Bronx one big audio auditorium. Performers AKA B-Boys flexed their funkiest moves for the new breed of dancing, while virgin hip-hop songs were becoming classics.

Inventing the windmill by accident was piece of treasure this body expressionist will never forget.  The rock steady crew has since remained our flava maintainers who dissolve instantly with music. The world famous RS anniversary party will be celebrated this year in July marking 28 years of history building. At the ATF (American turntable federation) finals in San Francisco Mr. Crazy legs hosted the event while Doug e Fresh did a performance also. I want to thank DJ lethal for making this interview possible and for letting a new journalist in frisco check out some of their bad ass turntablists.

Sixshot.com: Like anything b-boyism have evolved to new plateau�s lets talk about some of new the physicality�s such as moves, forms, and how it affects the art?
Crazy legs: Ouw wow there are some many changes a lot of evolutionists have taken place but uh at the risk of the actual dance itself sometimes u know some people have got so caught up in the acrobati cs they never learned how to dance, see you cant dance in the air but you can do moves in the air, the dance step�s on the floor are what make it a dance! So on one level it evolution, but on another level it�s regressing.

Sixshot.com: Have the requirements as far as getting in the rock steady crew changed that much in past 20 years?
Crazy legs: Right now it�s more about getting to know each other first, before you can get in. Well the thing about it is, is if somebody wants to get in rocksteady they would have to step to several members of rocksteady and they would have to be key members, and say this is who I am this is where my head is, this is my goal and I want to in rs because this, this, and that I know this is what RS is about, and this is what I want to be about, and then after that point on it�s all about the effort they make to link up and do things that has to do chemistry, eventually if they get in then they have there annotation battle and that�s it. Sometimes if were not sure we�ll have them battle before we put them in. but that�s it.

Sixshot.com: So you�ve been a key figure in your community for multiply issues such as politics and etc. What piece of advice would you give to others who want to infuse their art form with what�s going on in there culture?
Crazy legs: I think education plays a big roll in it, going out there and getting educated on issues that affect your hood so to say, But by getting properly educated you can contribute to those things and know how to address them in the first place. I think of a lot of B-boys and b-girls out there need to not make breaking necessary there life, but utilize it as a form of expression within the big picture I mean enjoy your dancing but know that education and going out and getting your hustle on is big part of being successful actual it�s the biggest part.

Sixshot.com: What are some things Rock steady did politically in 2004?
Crazy legs: We were involved with the Russell Simons campaign, also in 2003 which is when people really start to think we did some stuff with the mayor of new York, we have always been involved with things like donating money to congressman, or supporting a brother who is doing well or councilmen whatever if there doing good for the community. We actually gave Fernando a platform at the rock steady anniversary while he was campaign so there he was accessible to 3,000 people. I think for even this time around 2004, you know I�ve always had certain love hate relationships with certain people in the industry, but I put a lot of that aside for the bigger picture, and said you know lets make this happen lets work together on this, I�ve been supportive on movements and such for the community as a hole so that�s what�s it all about.

Sixshot.com: A lot of people don�t make it as long as you have as a street activist/ b-boy so what are some steps you�ve taken to make it this far and this long?
Crazy legs: I think the fact that I got into it for sincere love, not a hobby and I really used it as a form of expression, I�ve never viewed something I do as played out, or something like � Ouw I did that when I was younger � but it�s something that really brings life to my spirit and with that alone it inspired me to pass on the art form and create opportunities at different venues for up and coming b-boys and b-girls to display there skills the way I had the opportunity to do it like the Zulu nation jams back in the day. I feel like it would be a shame to short change the people if we did not pass on the oppurntyiys we had just to ketch wreck so that�s my job as a b-boy.

Sixshot.com: Being a judge at many b-boy competitions, what are three things that would stand out in your mind during a battle?
Crazy legs:  As a judge first I would if it�s a head on competition/ battle I would like first to make sure the people can actually dance, then I would look for fluidity during there transitions and movements, and I would look for the execution in the big moves such as blow ups, and then if works out where the battle is turning out to a tie after those 3 things, (he laughs at his own answer for this one) well if it was that difficult to decide , I would see who�s the best dressed b-boy and give it to that person. Cause he would be the one who put in a little extra for the culture of b-boyism.

Sixshot.com: Out of a lot endorsements, cause I�m sure there were plenty people knocking on your door why redbull and how did you weigh out those decisions?
Crazy legs: With redbull it was something I was already into before I was approached by redbull. And the relationship with redbull is one that makes sense because the thing about redbull is a company that doesn�t ask the people that they work with to compromise there integrity number 1 and they get with you because they respect you for how you are in terms of being a grass roots person and really representing hard for what you do and I think when redbull gets involved they don�t impose there branding all over you if you don�t want it, it�s they opposite they�ll make stuff exclusively for there artists and that�s cool I like knowing not every one will be rocking this gear. With redbull it�s like there the best corporation I�ve dealt with in my life they actually give a shit (he says this with great emotion) they don�t just sign you and kind like disregard you afterwards, they make sure they got your back, and when they send you some where or your representing for them every thing is on point. Theirs no bullshit with them.

Sixshot.com: First there was no term for Hip-Hop now theirs rap, gangsta, dirty south, with all these subcultures igniting from the same wick, what�s your definition of Hip-Hop?
Crazy legs: My definition of hip-hop is a culture that features your five basic elements as it primary pillars being Emceeing, Djing, B-boying, Writing, and knowledge and then after that you have all your little sub titles under each category but basically there all forms of expression that came out of the essence of what the civil rights movements was and that time there where no social activities going on so people needed to express themselves and the natural revolution was creativity and the urge to be competitive within the community.

Sixshot.com: Ok I was reading a old interview and you gave this Broadway company the big dildo award and I prefer to call it � the u suck award� So has there been any cases recently that you would like to give the big dildo award to?
Crazy legs: Ouw yea of course, let me see who gets the big dildo award man there�s a lot of them. I would have to say MC lyte gets the big dildo award. (Of course I ask why is that?) Because she went on national television and told a bunch of b-boys that they look like a poor mans circus, it�s messed up cause b-boying is one of the art forms and she�s supposed to be like one of they icons of hip-hop especially when it comes to females in rap, you would think she had the intelligence of they affect that had on another element within hip-hop that�s one of they foundations for this whole game.

Sixshot.com:You�ve been a establisher for this culture and that�s kind of a bittersweet thing when in terms of monetarism but you�ve keep your humbleness this whole time so what�s the most important lesson you�ve learned from being a establisher?
Crazy legs:  Tuff times don�t last, but tuff people do! It�s not mine but I live by that metaphor (u can tell this brings a sinister grin even over the phone) and here�s mine � Don�t mistake my confidence for arrogance� so those are some of the codes I live by.

Sixshot.com: What are some avenues that rock steady while be going down in 2005?
Crazy legs:  Right now were negotiating with scion Toyota cause scion is really getting into the mix right now and there looking to be active with rock steady and putting some events together in the Us and I think I really want to focus on the us right now and keep things moving over here, there�s a lot of things going on over seas , but theirs nothing like taking care of your back yard so where going to work on that. I�m looking forward to see what goes on with scion and putting some great battles together.

Sixshot.com: That�s a wrap is there anything you�d like to say to the B-boys of today and tomorrow?
Crazy legs:  To the whole new generation of rock steady keep holding it down, and while passing the baton in my golden days of b-boying I�m planning on being in the front lines with them at the same time, and standing up with them, and being there as this transition period comes into play.