I was somewhat familiar with the b-boy component of hip hop, but the documentary, "The Freshest Kids", gave me a thorough socio-historical background and filled in the lot of the gaps in my knowledge. From watching the film, it's clear that breaking was an integral element in the origins of hip hop. It was and still is exciting, dynamic, and raw. Despite it's importance in hip-hop history, it doesn't get the dues or attention that it deserves. Like one of the commentators said in the film, "it's the body manifestation of hip-hop".
With that being said, I have reservations about b-boys being brought back into the limelight because of the evolution of rap music. Rap has been transformed by its commercialization. It doesn't have the same feel as it did at it's inception. One could argue that today's popular, commercial rap isn't as authentic as old-school or underground rap. Also, rappers who produce popular music aren't in complete control of their art. Although a part of me wants the world to know about the b-boys, I fear that if they become too popular, they will not only loose some of their authenticity, but they will loose control of their art form to financial powerhouses that may want to dictate their creativity. Maybe Rosie proposed a good compromise when she suggested that instead of bringing b-boys to the mainstream, people who have an interest in learning about it can use resources like the internet to educate themselves.
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