Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chica_fille]

Hey people,

I am possibly moving over to Seoul (currently sorting out some work) and was wondering if any of you lot are into breakin (breakdancin).

I have only been breakin for about 4/5 months so still very much crap at it but I will be going to some lessons with BBoy Physicx and hopefully hook up with other bboys/bbgirls in the area for some practise sessions.

Let me know if anyone is up for that when I am over there

Cheers,

Jenny

[brakattack]

I've been bboying for about a year now and I plan on taking classes in Seoul when I get to Korea. I currently bboy for about 5-6 days a week with the locals where I live so I'll be bboying as much as I can in Korea. At this point it is looking like I will be placed in Anyang so I will be going to Seoul a lot.

If anyone in the Seoul area is into bboying and knows anything about the local scene please hit me up. The lessons thing is great and all but I'm also looking to find a good group of people to session with.

[brickabrack]

Not to get too technical, but I'm not sure I've ever
heard it been referred to as 'bboying'.

I understand there is a group in Daegu that meets on a regular.
I forget where I read that, but one of those magazines mentioned it.

[Joe Boxer]

[Ck10n3]

Oh Bernard and his witty comments!

[brakattack]

I don't mean to sound snobby or anything but just to set the record straight: If you've never heard it referred to as "bboying," then you are probably not a bboy. Perhaps there is more variation on the term in Korea but what is universal worldwide is that it shouldn't be referred to as "breakdancing." Most bboys won't take offense to this but there are good reasons why they don't use the term "breakdancing." Just "breaking" is acceptable but bboying is the real name. I won't get into the details but feel free to do some research on the history of the dance if you are interested in bboying or hip hop at all because there is a very rich and globalized culture that surrounds bboying.

Again, no intention of sounding arrogant here but there are unfortunately a lot of misconceptions about bboying out that have been propagated by the media.

In any case, I have learned of other cities with bboy scenes if anyone is interested. I will second the Daegu suggestion and also add Busan and perhaps Ulsan to the list. Obviously the scene is huge in Seoul with Gamblerz, TIP, Jinjo, Rivers, Drifterz, Maximum and so many more dope crews.

[noraebang]

Ask Sun Hyunwoo from talktomeinkorean.com

[djsmnc]

Speaking of breakdancing

[brickabrack]

�I don't mean to sound snobby or anything�

Well then don�t. But, everybody knows you can�t spell �bboy� without snobby. By the way, while you're bboying, I wouldn�t let your fellow bboyers hear you use the word �snobby�.

�If you've never heard it referred to as "bboying," then you are probably not a bboy.�

Rarely have heard that. More common is breaking.
I�ve known many a bboy in my short life. I�ve been broken (you said that term was acceptable, right?) for years on and off. I�m a pretty good dancer. Today, I don�t claim to be a bboy. Never really did. I also salsa, tango and lindy hop if you�re familiar with those styles. I can also bust a mean charleston. But more than dancing, I�ve practiced the art of DJing (with real records) for quite some years. You can GOOGLE �vinyl records� if my speak is still foreign to you. Also called �wax�, �black crack� and more. I don�t think a DJ will get offended if you call them �discs�.

�what is universal worldwide is that it shouldn't be referred to as "breakdancing." Most bboys won't take offense to this but there are good reasons why they don't use the term "breakdancing." Just "breaking" is acceptable but bboying is the real name.�

I�m glad I won�t offend anybody. Ah, I appreciate the schooling, little homey. Would you tell me what those good reasons are?

�I won't get into the details but feel free to do some research on the history of the dance if you are interested in bboying or hip hop at all because there is a very rich and globalized culture that surrounds bboying.�

Thank you for sparing me. I am quite interested in hip hop. Are you a super human hip hop head? Because, I am. And, I can safely say that I�ve been in the �game� for close to 2 decades. I�m not going to tell you I know Kool Herc or Crazy Legs, but I�ve met my fair share of artists you might do a head spin over. Do bboys still do that? It kind of looks like a human screw if you haven�t seen it before.

�Again, no intention of sounding arrogant here but there are unfortunately a lot of misconceptions about bboying out that have been propagated by the media.�

Whew! Good looking out, man. I should toss my Chingy, Vanilla Ice and Usher memorabilia (posters, wrist bands and t-shirts) before I�m called out by listening to the media R&Rs by the real heads. Keep it real. Keep it underground, yo. Nah I�m saying?

I�m not going to pretend I know anything about the bboy scene in SK, because I am only mildly interested. I recommended you check out Daegu because I read it somewhere. I�m not on the streets looking for a circle or anything. If there were a bboy comp. and I was free (oh, I�ve thrown some of those events before too)��I�d most definitely check it out. As I�ve mentioned, I�m a hip hop head. More importantly, I�m a sucker for a dope �break�. You know those 4-12 sec or so samples that are common on most hip hop productions? I wonder where break dancing terminology came from. I�m not even going to front on you about your experience�. because I�m sure you�ve learned A LOT in your 1 year of breaking.

�Obviously the scene is huge in Seoul with Gamblerz, TIP, Jinjo, Rivers, Drifterz, Maximum and so many more dope crews.�

Obviously.

If you can�t find any �lessons� in your area, I know that online courses are very popular nowadays. Isn�t that how cross-cultures and the like have been rapidly spreading over the last decade or so? Good luck with your breakin� I know you�re going to discover a whole new world! Peace.

Here�s something you can introduce to your next session:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PLW0NsVtxw

[sheriffadam]

this thread is so confusing!

I got lost between bricakattack and brackabrack, but it looks like brickabrack ends up arguing with himself over the term bboy? wtf?

[djsmnc]

[brakattack]

To everyone reading this thread, please disregard brickabrack's post. The message of hip hop culture is one of peace and togetherness and that is all you need to know. Terminology isn't something you should get too hung up on as I mentioned in my earlier post but it is important to understanding the difference between the fake corporate hip hop image that has become popular today and the real face of hip hop which promotes a culture of positivity.

Also, in response to djsmnc, I agree that there are far too many trivial items discussed on these forums. But I disagree that bboying and hip hop culture is trivial. Hip hop culture is spreading a positive message throughout many at-risk communities today and has become an increasingly strong force for globalization as it spreads across the world. The fact that the South Korean government actually funds international bboy and hip hop events should tell you something about how globalized and influential hip hop is becoming.


To Brickabrack,

I really shouldn't care enough to respond to your post but since I am willing to stand up for the positive image of hip hop that promotes acceptance I will quickly respond to your post that has unintentionally degraded its name.

Where did the term "bboying" come from? Well, the popular belief is that back in the late 70s in NYC the dancers who danced to the "breaks" in the music were referred to as "break boys." This term is believed to have evolved into the shortened term "bboys" (also bgirls to be politically correct) that we know today. So, you can see why the dance can be referred to as both "bboying" and "breaking." There are other reasons why bboys don't prefer to be called breakdancers. It would take too long to go into detail about it but it relates to the media explosion that happened to breaking in the 1980s.

I will stop right here because this isn't my job and I will say it again: The evidence is out there so go do your research. Thank you for completely misinterpreting my post as snobby and arrogant when it was intended to correct a popular misconception in a respectful, inoffensive manner.

I really hope that most of the ESL Teachers I meet in Korea aren't such jerks like this guy. I'm going to have enough to worry about when I get there.

[Steve_Rogers2008]

If we could only get Vanilla Ice to have a wrap-off with Eminem here, this would be the greatest thread ever!

[dumpring]

Ayeeee this thread kills! Could do with a session myself.

[brickabrack]

Smiles at all the comments.


B tack

This message board is full of trivial and political BS. I�ll be the first to admit that. People like to be smartasses, let out stress, some people like to argue for the sake of being know-it-alls. This little pissing contest, as it seems�..has turned into one of them.

Didn�t you come onto this board asking for info? I tried to provide a place that would meet your needs. It seems you already had it all figured out. I look to this board for a lot of valuable info from many of the vets here. It has been very helpful.

I can understand how I came off as a jerk. Apology�.and to those who think bricky is a big bad jerk. I�m gonna guess that most people couldn�t care less. It�s a big, bad world out there. Don�t let smarmy (but well deserved) comments turn your world upside down.

As for someone that has been messing with their bboy side for a year, I had to slap your balls. For that, I won�t apologize. I don�t think you should give people the impression that you�re the authority on why it�s not called �breaking� and that it should be called otherwise. Or, that I�m degrading hip hop and not knowing what I�m talking about.

Since this is an ESL board:

I am a bboy. A �break� boy. I am going to go break to the beat. Go break dance. I�m into breaking.

�Bboy (noun) in a bboy (adj) stance� going to break(verb). NOT: going to go bboy. Do your friends say they are going bboying?

This is really not that important, but I�m sure you get the gist.

�The message of hip hop culture is one of peace and togetherness and that is all you need to know.�

I agree with you. I know you want to shove it to the man, and let people know that the gov, media and fake ass rappers are polluting the scene with bullsh*t. This is true, but do you think these people were born last night? If someone wants to believe that Justin so-and-so is a real bboy; let them. Or �The Ill Be Forgotten Clan� is real hip hop; let them. Their loss, no?

�has become an increasingly strong force for globalization as it spreads across the world. The fact that the South Korean government actually funds international bboy and hip hop events should tell you something about how globalized and influential hip hop is becoming.�

So, how do you think �things underground� get taken for a ride and commercialized by the media and record execs, or for that matter the SK gov.?
Who better to copy something and turn it into a silly sideshow than SK?

To call me out, twice: for degrading the name of hip hop????? C�mon. I�m not going to attack you. Remember, we�re upholding a positive image.

�The evidence is out there so go do your research.�
B tack, I promise that I will not be a jerky jerk to you anymore. If you so desire, I can also provide you with decades of experience/skill/hard work in the hip hop (via PM or in person) scene that would have you doing power moves in no time. Ya dig? My experience comes from doing/being�.not researching on the globalized net.

I swear on my hip hop head, to all the Dave�s viewers, that I will not be gracing this thread again.