Rock Steady Crew is an American breaking and hip hop group which has become a franchise for multiple groups in other locations. The group's 1983 international hit song "(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew" (from the group's first studio album Ready for Battle) peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart, and reached the top 10 in many European countries. Members of Rock Steady Crew featured in the films Flashdance and Beat Street, which ignited international interest in the b-boy subculture.
History The 1977 original crew was called "Untouchable Four B.Boys". There were 4 members: Joe-Joe, Easy-Mike, Jimmy-Dee, and P.Body 170th.
The larger group known as Rock Steady Crew was initially formed in The Bronx, New York City in 1977 by b-boys Jimmy Dee and Jimmy Lee. The Manhattan branch was created by Crazy Legs and B-Boy Fresh in 1979. The New York Times called the Rock Steady Crew "the foremost breakdancing group in the world today."
Notable members
DJP Crazy Legs DJ Cucumber Slice DJ Qbert Fever One Madchild Mr. Wiggles Q-Unique Rahzel Tony Touch Russell Peters East-3 SkillRoy Doze Green Buck 4 (Rip) Kuriaki (Rip) Ian Eastwood
Former members Micro Mix (a.k.a. Craig Hunter) Frosty Freeze Mix Master Mike Ken Swift Rhettmatic Daisy Castro (a.k.a. Baby Love) – lead vocals on "(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew"
Early Music Dealings In the early part of the 1980s Rock Steady Crew's talent manager was Kool Lady Blue, also known as Ruza Blue, founder of Club Negril & Roxy NYC.
If you claim to be hip-hop, you better pay attention! Please read the interview with Kool Lady Blue. Kool Lady Blue is my first manager, and she is also the first person to establish a hip-hop residency in the downtown scene. The names and places are legendary. The story of how this all came about should be mandatory reading for anyone who would like to learn about how hip-hop culture made it to the downtown scene and throughout the rest of the world..please share your thoughts on what you learn on this post. #hiphop #rocksteadycrew #davidbowie #hiphophistory #knowledge
— Crazy Legs, current President, OG founder of the Manhattan branch of Rock Steady Crew August 08, 2024
Discography Albums Ready for Battle (Virgin Records, 1984) 30 Years to the Day (Truelements Music, 2007)
Singles Year SongUK Certifications 1983 "(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew" 6 BPI: Silver 1984 "Uprock" 64 "She's Fresh" — 2000 "Used to Wish I Could Break with Rock Steady" — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Appearances in feature films Wild Style (1982) Style Wars (1983) Flashdance (1983) Beat Street (1984) Moonwalker (1988) Streets Is Watching (1998)
Awards and accolades
In 1992, Gregory Hines was the 1st to stand & clap at the mention of Rock Steady Crew's "So, What Happens Now?" the musical, soon the audience at the Kennedy Center Honors joined him. President George Bush, Gregory Peck and the Nicholas Brothers were all in attendance.
Rock Steady Crew were the first B-boys to perform at Carnegie Hall on Jan 19, 2001.
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in 2003, proclaimed July 26 to be "Rock Steady Crew Day" in New York City during Rock Steady Crew's 26th Anniversary Celebration at Pier 54.
Crazy Legs signed a deal with Fila Sportswear in 2004, the first B-boy to get a sneaker company to honor their crew; Rock Steady Crew got its own sneaker – the "Rock Steady Crew 77".
Also in 2004 Mr. Freeze accepted the Rock Steady Crew's Key to the City of Las Vegas on February 21, and it was proclaimed that day to be "Rock Steady Crew Day" in Las Vegas. It happens annually.
Rock Steady Crew was an honoree at the 2004 VH1 Hip Hop Honors Event.
In 2008 The Borough president of The Bronx presented Rock Steady Crew with a Citation of Merit.
Books
References
Sources The Freshest Kids: A History of the B-Boy (DVD), Image Entertainment, 2002. Hip-Hop (Korean Comic) (Manhwa), IQ Jump Comics, 1998–2004.
External links