B-boy Born: “You gotta support all the element of Hip Hop”

B-boy Born (Rivers Crew/United Soul) is one of those Korean b-boys, whose footwork and musicality are quite hard to ignore. It can be easily noticed his devotion and passion to the rawest form of breaking. Definitely, it is worth checking Born’s wise words in this interview for Chronix Pro.

First of all, thank you for this interview. It’s a pleasure for us to have your opinion in our project. Tell us, please, how did you start breaking? How was it in the beginning and did you expect to achieve so much in your life with breaking?

Peace! Thanks for having me in this project. I started bboying in 1999 in Seoul, Korea. Then, I saw people dancing at the park around my neighborhood. some of them were from Rivers and some of them were just random street dancers. First time I saw windmill on the street (no cardboard) – that was super dope to me and I was like “yes i want to be a B-boy!” . I talked to my parents straight like that haha… but I was already into hip hop music and culture since I was a kid, so it was very natural to be a B-boy. And I got down with my first crew called “NJP” in 2000.

Tell us the story behind the Rivers Crew, please? How was it established? Did you have any beef with another crew back in the days in Korea? Give us your story about MZK and how did you enter the crew? 

Rivers was already well-known before I got down with the crew and I heard a lot about them when I was younger. They were like my neighborhood hero type sh**. I’m not sure who used to have beef with us but we’ve been battling with a lot of crews. There were battles all around the world almost every weekend, especially in the period of 2004-2010. I got down with MZK in 2007 at FSS Los Angeles, but I had already met Ness at IBE Holland 2005. We battled and he came to me, gave me mad shout out and showed love and respect. It was funny thing that he thought I came from the Bronx, too, haha… I guess it was because of my style.

After that I built up with Ness for a few years and then battled the whole MZK crew in a cypher at FSS LA 2007. That was a great time, sharing good vibes with all the MZK members. After that C4, RedFoot, IVY and I officially started MZK Korea and the Zulu Nation Korea chapter – Born, Redfoot, C4, Benny Ben, MC IVY, Photographer Chanyc, Dj Dust.

We all know that Korea was famous for the tricks and powers in the beginning of 2000’s till around 2006-07. Probably one of the best out there. But then the scene changed, it became more stylish, working on foundation and attitude. Why did it chang like that? What do you think about that? 

Korean B-boys were definitely blow-ups all around the world with their power moves in early 2000’s. But at my first crew NJP, we were focused more on foundation, music, fashion, stuff that we knew about Original Bboying style from the early 90’s Rock Steady Crew and Battle Squad. Then, there were other crews that helped a lot spreading the foundation of Bboying in Korea – “Skill On The Groove” and “The Action”. Those crews changed the game in Korea about the foundation of Bboying. I remember that year 2003, Korea B-boys vs Skill Brat Kings (cypher battle) at FSS Tokyo, it was like a turning point for most about the way they had understood the true B-boy styles and flava. Then, after that trip I got down with Rivers in 2004. Since then, we have been really digging’ through all the hip hop elements, not only Breaking. In addition, then I started Floor Gangz with Bangroc and Tino. I’m sure these were great changes in Korea back in the days.

Nowadays we see a lot of young guns from different crews in Korea. But rarely we see old school heads at the judge panels and just as guests. Maybe there are, but not often, or we don’t see them. Tell us, please, a couple of names from the early 90’s – mid 90’s the generation before yours? Where are they now, are they still in the game? Do old and young generation have a connection?

NY Crew, Expression, Rivers, NJP, Outsider, BL, Skill on The Groove, The Action, People Crew. Some of them stopped, some of them are still rocking and going to jams for judging or entering a battle. I believe once a B-boy, always stays a B-boy and as to me, we need more bridge between OGS and the young generation for the more unity. 

We cannot miss to ask for your opinion about the Olympics. It’s obvious that the scene is changing, but do you agree with that path? Also it would be great to find out your opinion about the current judge systems, especially Trivium. 

I think it’s cool to spread breaking around people who have never been interested in breaking before. But at the same time, I hope people will learn more about this culture and get the right knowledge on what it is about. If you use any systems for a breaking battle, you need to understand every skill and have to be fair for everyone and every style. Equality is of great importance!

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You are currently living in USA. What is the main difference between your home country and the States regarding the b-boying and the culture? You are living close to the places where hip hop had started. How does it impact you and your dance in general? 

Yeah, basically the Hip Hop art form started here in NYC and it’s really natural to me to see every aspect of different cultures. It’s like the roots of a tree, so it makes me think about the basics all the time. So, I want to keep pushing for this pure culture to stay alive. I just hope people won’t forget about the essence of hip hop culture and the art within the culture. When you look deeply and closely you will see that all of the elements are connected – you gotta support all the element of Hip Hop.

You have been active in the scene for a long time and witnessed a lot. What are the top 3 things that you don’t agree with the b-boys and the scene in general today? Give us your opinion about so called “bite”. Does it exists nowadays or these are just empty words?

1. Music with too much higher bpm at the jam
2. Internet warriors 
3. Politics 

And I want to talk about this word bite – that means to me that maybe you can bite someone’s move to express yourself but you can’t bite someone’s flavour and their mood… straight up!

It’s about 50 years since our culture was born. It’s been a long road, it won’t be anymore like it was before. That’s no doubt. All elements of the culture are not going forward together anymore. They become so strong and independent that they don’t need to be attached to each other anymore. We think and feel that the last statement of Hip-Hop culture that truly have the power and still is alive is Support Your Locals. Give us, please, your thoughts about the situation today in the culture?

I believe it will come full circle for sure, you know it. And here in NYC hip hop is still alive and well! Especially when you go to summer park jams in the Bronx, legendary OG dj’s still play fresh music, still get down, still get up and rock!

I see a lot of people come here and learn more about the culture and then bring it back to their country to make it fresh! It’s a really awesome thing tho! I guess living this art form to make your own lifestyle is very cool to me. Yes, of course, support your local and make a strong community, organize right… you know what I’m talking about!   

The last question. We are always searching for new faces and artists that big audience nowadays don’t see, but they deserve to be known. They can be graffiti artist, mc, dj or a dope b-boy that really need more appreciation. Share some artists that deserve to be known, please?

I want to introduce my brother 3ESS Tattoo artist, graffiti writer, b-boy. He is from Chile and he used to live in Brooklyn NYC for a long time. He is a great artist and one of my greatest inspiration.

Shout out to my crew Rivers. Ready To Rock, MZK, FLGZ, TFS, HW, LSP, XD, PK, MW, CSB, Seoul, NYC, one love!

You can follow Born on Instagram here.

Core Team is thankful to Born for this interview and support to our idea of spreading valuable knowledge.

Image credits: www.bboy-born.com