Crazy Legs
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Crazy Legs is one of the most
highly acclaimed B-boys ever to - step onto a slab, of cardboard.
He, along with Mr. Wiggles, Ken Swift, Fabel, Buck 4, Frosty
Freeze, Take One, Jo Jo and the rest of the Rock Steady Crew, are
the premier B-boy crew (they prefer the term 'B-boy" to
''breakdancing'')
-representing the Bronx and true hip-hop culture. Formed in
1977, the original RSC membership included top dancers from other
crews; Legs had to battle then - RSC leader Jimmy D to secure a
spot in the squad. As hip-hop grew, members of the unit battled
crews from other parts of the city, sharpening their skills after
dark in the park on 98th Street and Amsterdam in
uptown Manhattan, which came to be known as Rock Steady Park. The
legend of Crazy Legs grew by his memorable appearances in the
movies "Flashdance," "Wild Style," Beat
Street" and the hip-hop documentary "Style Wars."
In 1992, Legs, RSC and Rhythm Technicians wowed the crowd with
several choreographed routines at New York's famous Lincoln
Center. An active member of The Zulu Nation, Legs continues to
tour with his crew and Ghettoriginal Productions Dance Company
around the globe, bringing their B-boy abilities to new audiences
and refusing to let any aspect of hip-hop culture die.
AFRIKA ISLAM
(Born June
19, c. 1962, New York City)
Afrika Islam, known as one of the pioneers of
hip-hop, has participated in the culture as one of the Zulu
nations first b-boys (breakdancers) and hip-hop radio DJs. He was
the first DJ to work immediately under Afrika Bambaataa, and was
responsible for doing the preliminaries at Zulu nation parties in
the1970s, which is how he earned the title "Son of
Afrika Bambaataa." Islam also co-wrote rhymes for the Soul
Sonic Force and had his own group, called the Funk Machine, which
included Grandmaster Caz and Donald D as members. For two years
he hosted the Zulu Beats radio show on new Jerseys WHBI
(later changed to WNWK-FM, New York) radio.
Islam is known as a virtuoso DJ, who is able to spin as many as
four turntables at one time. He has been hired as a scratcher for
pieces like Madame-X's "Marry Me," Mr. T's I'm Somebody
LP, and Rick Rubin's 12-inch single production of the Queen
remix "We Will Rock you" and "We Are the
Champions." He worked as a DJ/host for the Rock Steady Crew
b-boys from 1981 to 1985, and he later toured around the world
with the group. Islam is also recognized for his production work
with rapper Ice-T, producing four gold albums for the artist, as
well as the movie soundtracks for the films Colors, Dick
Tracy, and New Jack Hustler, all with Ice-T, with the
latter two going gold and platinum, respectively.
As a producer and remixer, Islam has worked on the Eurythmics's
"Why" single, new Order's "Tabu," and Michael
Jackson's "Bad" for his 1992 "Dangerous"
world tour in 1992. He handled Van Silk and Melle Mel's
WNBC-TV New York City antidrug commercial and Silk's "The
Basepipe" single, and he's also done commercials for
Greyhound Bus.
As a DJ at the Roxy, Islam first presented these break-beat
records: "Substitution" and "Indiscreet,
"ESG's "UFO," "Impeach the President" by
the Honey Drippers, and songs by the group Liquid Liquid.
He also introduced non-break-beat records like
"Holiday" by Madonna, Run-D.M.C.'s "It's Like
That," "Rock It" by Herbie Hancock, and
"Buffalo Gals" by Malcolm McLaren.
Islam was one of the Zulu King dancers in the early 1970s, with
Charlie Rock, Amed, Jazzy Jay, Grandmixer D.ST, and Pow Wow. He
soon got into writing rhymes, then later, deejaying. By 1977, Islam
was involved in the following DJ and MC battles: Islam, Busy Bee
Starski and Raheim against Breakout and Baron and the Funky Four
(on November 4, 1977); Islam against Grandmixer
D.ST (1978); Islam against Grand Wizard Theodore (1978); and
Islam and Jazzy Jay against Grand Wizard Theodore and Grandmaster
Flash ('78).
Around 1979 Islam began playing Jamaican clubs and
deejaying at the Brooklyn College radio station. Not long after,
he met Earl Chin and Gil Bailey at WHBI radio, where he was soon
given a slot. Islam met the group the Supreme Team and soon
brought them on the air with him, calling the show Zulu Beats.
Due to creative differences, the union was terminated after
six to seven months, with the Supreme Team having their own slot,
and Islam taking the Zulu Beats show to Tuesdays and
Wednesdays. Later, Mr. Magic would come to the station, taking
Fridays.
Islam played the "Wheels of Steel" night at the Roxy in
the early 1980s and he is also responsible for spurring the
underground hip-hop club scene in Los Angeles at Matt
Dike's Powertools Club. Islam has also played every
important club around the world, from London's the Wag to Tokyo's
Seibu and Hallelujah, to name a few.
After his stint as a DJ for the Roxy and the Rock Steady Crew in
the early 1980s, Islam relocated to Los Angeles, following
his work on the 1984 movie Breakin' ll. Islam appeared in
that film, as well as Repossessed, Pump Up the Volume, and
Less Than Zero. From 1989 to 1991 Islam worked with
ABC-TV's Saturday morning lineup, where he provided cartoon voice
rap for various characters. In 1992 he transported his Zulu
Beats radio show to Japan. Islam is also the owner of the
Universal Zulu nation club the United nations, based in Los
Angeles, with another branch in Japan. He is the president of the
Universal Zulu nation.
Selected produced albums/CDs: Rhyme
Pays by Ice-T (1987 Sire 25602); Power by Ice-T (1988,
Sire 25765); Freedom of Speech by Ice-T (1989, Sire
26028); Original Gangster by Ice-T (1991, Sire 26492).