artsculture

Taz Q

A few months ago I attended the Gutter to Gallery graffiti art show at Slow Gallery in downtown Melbourne. Casey DeCotis was spinning hip hop tracks and a group of B-Boys cleared a space in the middle of the building and began to break. The energy in the building went through the roof. Nobody could take their eyes off these spinning, flipping, twisting, twirling B-Boys whose talent shocked and awed the spectators. I had no idea that skilled B-Boys were operating in Brevard County. I knew then and there I wanted to be a part of it. When Kevon and I met with the management at Off the Traxx to plan the event that will take place this Thursday, we threw some ideas around. Kevon thought fashion show, I thought B-Boy battle. Better yet, why not both at the same time?

I got Emilio Davila’s (aka "Rukus") phone number, and told him I wanted to train and needed his help planning a battle. He invited me to practice at what was until now a rather secret location, The Harbor City Gymnasium. Practice was intense. Akira started the warm up, which included walking from one end of the gym to the other on your hands, 200 sit ups, 50 jumping jacks, stretching, and other exercises to prepare the body to be pushed to its limit. It quickly became obvious that these guys were not playing around. This was serious training. I sat down with Rukus and Quentin Jefferson (aka “Taz Q") to talk about Hip Hop culture, its spread throughout Florida and why they became B-Boys.

J: How did you guys get into breaking in the first place?

Rukus: My friend Big Head John got me into it. It was a summer in 98 or 99, we had the key to a gym with a wooden floor. He busted out head spins on the floor and I was like, oh my god, I’m going to learn that. My first move was a corny ass leg swipe but I’ve evolved a lot since then. It’s always evolving and that’s what keeps it interesting. There are always new and more difficult moves to invent and master. Breaking was a good outlet for me at the time. I was younger and my parents were separating and it kept me from doing some of the stupid things I could have done to vent. A lot of friends got involved and we kept each other practicing, kept pushing each other. When I break I feel like I’m Neo from the Matrix. When I get off work I don’t come home and sit on the couch to watch my favorite show. I don’t have a favorite show, I break. Breaking lets me escape from the everyday normal life and do something bigger. Something that ordinary people just don’t do.

Taz Q: I got started when one of my friends was teaching a break class. He told me to come check it out. I was already a dancer before but I was looking for a different type of dance. I wanted something that would challenge me and allow me to express myself more. I fell in love with breaking at the first class. I felt like I was doing my own art piece. I could use any style and incorporate it into that dance. Its also something that other people really enjoy when they see it. I like when I’m breaking and people start to clap or smile and I know they are seeing my art. When the crowd or other B-Boys see that, they appreciate it because they are seeing art created before their eyes and their energy is a part of it.

J: Where were you living when you first started and when did you move to Melbourne?

Rukus: In Orlando. UCF had a good Hip Hop night. There would be practices in people’s apartments or on the racket ball court. That was a great place to practice. I moved to Melbourne about seven years ago.

Taz Q: I was living in Palm Bay. I’ve been here for a while, since I was like 14. I’m 27 now, you do the math. There weren’t many B-Boys here back in the day but its been growing.  

J:What do you think is unique about the Florida style compared to the rest of the world?

Taz Q: The aggressiveness.

Rukus: Yeah in Florida the style is raw, in your face. Breakers from Japan or Europe seem to have less character and mostly focus on the moves. It’s an attitude here and it’s a big part of who we are and how we represent our state and ourselves.

Taz Q: That’s why they call it Florida Flava, cause we have so much character and style in our dance and it’s unique to Florida. Our state has been getting a lot more attention lately. Huge jams with breakers from all over the world are happening here. We’re making a lot of noise and people are starting to notice.

J: What are some of the best B-Boy jams you’ve gone to in Florida?

Rukus: For me it was a UCF jam back in the day. Four Angels did it and there were B-Boys and B-Girls from Asia, Europe, South America, and the States. Breaking is its own language. It breaks down a lot of barriers between people. When dancers from other countries meet at these jams, breaking is the common language. You can communicate with it and create bonds with people that you couldn’t talk to otherwise. At UCF I got to see Ground Zero vs. Skill Methods crew. Watching B-Boy Cloud, who was the second runner up in Redbull BC One 2009 was incredible. Watching him break back then before I knew he would reach that status was really cool. He’s a Floridian that’s now world famous for break dancing and seeing him then and now makes me realize that we could do that to. If he can why not me you know? It just depends on how much you practice and how passionate you are. You really have to be devoted. It’s not easy.

Taz Q: Outbreak 5 really made a big impression on me and motivated me. I’d just started going to jams and the size and scope of it really blew me away. Breaking is not very common you know. You don’t see it everyday and you usually just have a few good friends you break with regularly and to see it like that was really cool. It made me realize I was part of something big and really special.

J: What do you see for Florida break dancing in the future and why do you think we’ve been getting so much attention lately?

Rukus: I think the jams are getting better. It’s not just the west coast or New York that are the only ones who can throw bad ass jams. Florida is saying we can do it too and we’re gonna make you travel to us. We got people from Japan, Korea, Israel, Russia, Italy, Europe, coming to Florida to compete. We got all different flavors coming to our jams now from all over the world and people from other countries weren’t stuck up about being here. They were humble and open to the experience. Really down to earth.

Taz Q: Yeah that was crazy for me seeing people from all over the world breaking in the same place right here in Florida. I almost didn’t expect that we’d have that much pull. I was proud to be a Floridian and have everybody here on our turf. 

J: What are your expectations for Robot Love?

Taz Q: I’m hoping it will open peoples eyes to all aspects of Hip Hop, The art, the music, the dancing, let them know its not dead, its alive and breathing. We are like a seed here, Orlando’s the tree right now but we’re growing fast. I’m hoping a lot of people jump on board and join us for the ride. I’d love to go out to clubs around here and see other B-Boys and not just the regulars.

Rukus: I know its gonna be the dopest event that’s happened to this city. I just hope people aren’t afraid of what we have to bring to the table cause its gonna be mind blowing. The caliber of B-Boys coming to this is something that Brevard has never seen. Be ready for it.

Special thanks to John Sluder for taking all the amazing pictures of the B-Boys practicing at the Robot Love space. Visit our photo gallery to see more. Be sure to come watch Rukus, Taz Q, and other B-Boys from all over Florida compete in the B-Boy battle this Thursday at Off the Traxx in downtown Melbourne. 3$ at the door and 5$ to enter the battle. The event starts at 9:00PM. Be there.