Elementz launches at The Rhythm Factory 16 – 18 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1EW on Thursday 26th April 2012

A new quarterly event representing the classic 4 elements of hip hop all under one roof to full effect.

There’s already been a massive amount of talk on the street about this, given the rare nature of the night celebrating the whole spectrum of hip hop culture – the arts of Emceeing, Deejaying, Graffiti and Bboy / BGirl battles.

Its a huge line up of established artists and new talent. Each event is in association with Urbanelite PR, Bltz Promotions UK and The Hip Hop Chronicle, one of the UK’s leading online media platforms, who will film exclusive footage of the night for later broadcast

Room 1

DJ Sets from Sarah Love (resident), 279 (Choice FM), Mr Thing (Scratch Perverts / DMC Champion) & Snips (Livin Proof)

Live Performances by Caxton Press, Genesis Elijah, Naba Napalm, Ether L Banks, hosted by Mystro

Room 2

Bboy / BGirl battle (with cash prize of £100), live graffiti, open mic session hosted by DJ Snuff (End of the Weak) & Johny Garcia. The throwdowns are open to everyone who comes along on the night.

8pm – 3am. £8 on the door / £7 in advance via TicketWeb. Nearest Tube Aldgate East. This is an 18 & over event. Dress code is casual but no tracksuits.

More information at www.elementzuk.wordpress.com or at www.facebook.com/elementzuk but we’ll let Numbers & Mys Diggi speak on it

URBANELITE PROMOTIONS
T : @urbanelitepr

Ray Fong (center) with Anthony Torres (left) and Nikki Yamat (right) at one of the street dance events hosted by Keep It Live Productions (keepitliveproductions.com).

One of our most supportive production team members is Ray Fong.  He has a unique background in that he’s a social worker for Los Angeles County and has used his mentoring and people skills to volunteer with the local dance community.  Ray also helped at several dance events hosted by Keep It Live Productions.  I (Calvin) joined him for a brief discussion on his experiences with the dance community and how his interest in the arts and dance have merged with his support for our film “Furious Beauty” (furiousbeautymovie.com).

Question: How did you get involved with this film?

Ray: “I met the film’s director Calvin Leung through a series of venues leading to my involvement with ‘Furious Beauty.’  Around 2002-2003, I first met Calvin through a church community called Mosaic in Los Angeles.  We became good friends through our shared interests.  At that time, I was excited to hear that Calvin was into the street dance scene as I had been exposed to it when growing up as a youth in Los Angeles.  We then started connecting with others at Homeland Cultural Center in Long Beach, California. And the rest is history.  From Homeland, I met a whole new generation of dancers.”

Question: With your background in social work, how has that informed your views on the need for supportive community in Los Angeles’ dance scene?

Ray: “I believe that there is an innante need in all of us for community.  As a social worker, I have seen how communities coming together can help meet the needs of individuals or families struggling with problems.  It allows people to link to each other for common interests, to share their struggles, and to come out stronger together.  Likewise, the dance community is a unit and a team.  Dancers who look to find support, whether emotional or for other networking purposes, can find more connections to grow and to have a “second family.”  I’ve seen dancers come together and promote a social cause for their local neighborhoods or to give back to children in need or with behavioral/emotional trauma.  For example, there are dance crews that will perform for foster kids at the Orangewood Children’s Home.  Dance can be a healing tool that drives these children to recognize a potential they thought they never had.”

Question: What have you been learning about dancers and their lives in today’s rapidly changing society?  How is this different from any past personal experiences with the dance community?

Ray: “While growing up in LA, dancers whom I’d met were isolated in their geographical regions to some extent.  They may have heard of each other through dance events or through home videos that other friends passed around.  Back in the 1980s, there were some negative stereotypes of dancers in the street dance scene.  Some people may have associated hip hop and breakers to gang activity.  I’ve had first hand experience particularly with bboys in the Asian-American community and hip hop scene back then.

Nowadays, I think the street dance community have made great efforts to promote positivity and to give back to their local neighborhoods.  These actions have helped to transcend previous negative stereotypes of hip hop culture.  With the advent of media tools such as YouTube and other social networks, today’s dancers can share their lives through online media to portray their personal stories, their struggles, and their victories.  I think these media tools and the promotion of positive events for the street dance community have galvanized a new younger generation of dancers.  I’m very supportive of these efforts.”

Note: Thank you, Ray, for sharing your thoughts and experiences from your professional background and for showing us another perspective on the dance community.  To hear more news about our film “Furious Beauty” and to get connected to our community, please check out and like our Facebook page below:

facebook.com/furiousbeautymovie

Or you can follow us on our Twitter channel:

twitter.com/furious_beauty

You can also look us up on Instagram under “furiousbeauty.”  Have a good Tuesday!

Yak Films always giving you the best highlights of any event! Floor Wars had some of the best battles we have seen in a long time. Enjoy!

Gunjak – Lionz Of Zion crew VS. Knuckles – Repstyles crew

DJ Fleg – Lionz Of Zion VS. Box Won – Philadelphia

The line up for the first Elementz Hip Hop Event at The Rhythm Factory in London on 26th April 2012 includes 2 of UK Hip Hop’s most respected names in the game – Choice FM’s DJ 279 and West London MC Mystro

By chance, Mystro was in with Numbers on his Saturday night show last week helping to promote his new EP “What Type of Drug is Mystrogen” which you can download for free from www.mysdiggi.com

DJ 279, who you can hear every Saturday night from 10pm on CHOICE FM (96.9 / 107.1FM) and online HERE will be blessing us with the usual huge set of real hiphop bangers on the night in Room 1, alongside DJ Mr Thing, DJ Snips and DJ Sarah Love. Also performing in Room 1 are Caxton Press, Genesis Elijah, Naba Napalm, Ether L Banks, hosted by Mys Diggi

In Room 2, there will be an open mic session, live graff & a bboy / bgirl battle with the winner receiving a £100 cash prize, hosted by End of the Weak’s DJ Snuff alongside DJ Johny Garcia

Its an absolutely massive night. If youre in the area, into hip hop & had plans to do something else that night, change them! This is a quarterly event, so you’ll have to wait a minute for this kind of goodness to come around again!!

Elementz : presenting the best in UK hip hop and representing the 4 elements of hip hop to full effect.

We’ll let Numbers and Mys Diggi tell you for themselves

Thursday 26th April 2012 8pm – 3am

The Rhythm Factory, 16 – 18 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1EW
Nearest Tube Aldgate East – Buses 25 – 205 – 254 – N106 – N253

Admission £8.00 on the door. Tickets available in advance for £7.00 HERE

18 and over event – dress code is casual but no tracksuits

For all further information check www.elementzuk.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/elementzuk or connect with us via twitter @ElementzUK

Search the site’s pages for all information about the various artists performing and further information about the night

ELEMENTZ TEAM

Holy cow!!

I swear to god, this is one of the only tracks that you get hyped to EVERY TIME you listen to it!! Right now, I’m typing this and I’m already feeling hyped!!

Everything about this song is nasty!! The bass, the drums, the horns. Seriously, it’s a killer!! I was going to leave this for tomorrow’s 50th edition but thought to hell with it!! The Apples have done a good job at covering Killing (originally by Rage Against the Machine).

Wanna see how someone dances to this song??

Nuff said, enjoy your day!! PEACE!

It’s Thursday, so that means its time to Throw It Back to some videos you may have never seen before or may have forgotten! We know you all out there hustling and grinding all week and Friday is almost here! So enjoy some Throwback videos that may get you through the day! Happy Thursday!

STYLE WARS OUTTAKES – ROCK STEADY CREW

ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS ON SOUL TRAIN

THE LOCKERS ON SOUL TRAIN

THE SUNS OF JAMES FEAT. ELITE FORCE CREW

MARJORY SMARTH ON SURVIVING CANCER AND HEALING THROUGH DANCE

]]> http://elementzuk.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/hip-hop-event-elementz-launches-london-26th-april-2012-media-coverage/ Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:53:21 +0000 elementzuk http://elementzuk.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/hip-hop-event-elementz-launches-london-26th-april-2012-media-coverage/

New club night Elementz launches at The Rhythm Factory, 16 – 18 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1EW on Thursday 26th April 2012 from 8pm – 3am

The event will celebrate the classic 4 elements of hip hop, MC’s, DJ Turntablism, Bboys / BGirls and Graffiti to full effect. In the true traditions of hip hop culture, we are showcasing a mix of established names from the scene with new upcoming talent

The full line up on our first night is as follows:

ROOM 1

DJ SETS FROM
DJ Sarah Love (resident), DJ 279 (Choice FM), DJ Mr Thing (Scratch Perverts) DJ Snips (Livin Proof)

LIVE PERFORMANCES BY
Caxton Press, Genesis Elijah, Naba Napalm, Ether L Banks

HOSTED BY
Mystro

ROOM 2

Live graffiti provided by FDC, Open Mic Session, bboy / bgirl battle with £100 cash prize hosted by DJ Snuff (End of the Weak / Speaker’s Corner) and DJ Johny Garcia

The night will be filmed exclusively by The Hip Hop Chronicle covering all aspects of the night for later broadcast

We appreciate the extensive coverage and support we’ve already had from the media from both the UK and United States for this event, including The 9 Elements, The Hip Hop Diaries, 808 Crate, Broken Culture, Data Transmission, Guestlist, Hip Hop Life and Times, Hip Hop Kings, Hip Hop Mafia, Kix Magazine, Music She Wrote, Urban Vault and many more. Thanks also to all the artists and djs themselves who have been helping spread word around for what should be an absolutely massive night

These events will only take place every 3 months, so if you’re in London or the surrounding area and you’re into hip hop, you don’t want to miss this.

Also thanks to Oakland’s legendary Souls of Mischief who gave us a drop for the night as part of the video promotion for the launch night

Admission is £8.00 on the door throughout the night. This is an 18 and over event and the venue’s dress code policy is casual, just no tracksuits folks !

You can also buy tickets in advance via TICKET WEB for £7.00 HERE

Nearest tube is Aldgate East, Buses 25 205 254 N106 N253

For more information call The Rhythm Factory on 0207 375 3774, email info.elementzuk@gmail.com, check the Facebook page www.facebook.com/elementzuk For those with twitter, connect with @ElementzUK or of course check in with the regular site www.elementzuk.wordpress.com and check the various pages which feature the different performing artists and djs.

100% Hip Hop

Elementz Team

Flyer:

The first ever Elementz night launches at The Rhythm Factory, 16 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1EW on Thursday 26th April from 8pm – 3am

A new quarterly event celebrating the true essence of hip hop with the classic 4 elements – MCs, Turntablism, Bboys & BGirls and Graff represented to full effect.

Room 2 is hosted by DJ Snuff, renowned for the End of the Weak and Speaker’s Corner events and producer with Caxton Press, assisted by DJ Johny Garcia.

Here there will be on open mic session, live graff and the bboy / bgirl battle which will offer a £100 cash prize to the winner on the night

Included in those taking part will be Vanilla Killa, Jam Fu and sMash

Admission on the night is £8, although some tickets are available in advance via TicketWeb for £7

Any bboys, bgirls, street dancers in the area who are aged 18 and over are welcome to come down and compete. Dress code is casual, though the venue has a “no tracksuits policy”, otherwise, wide open. The entire event will also be covered exclusively by the UK’s leading online platform The Hip Hop Chronicle for future broadcast.

Nearest tube is Aldgate East – check the flyers below for details of the full line up for both rooms, transport links, times and entry details

You can also check into the Facebook page www.facebook.com/elementzuk or if you need more information email info.elementzuk@gmail.com or send a message over Twitter to @ElementzUK

100% Hip Hop

Photo by Monica Bryant Photography

Volume 1 Issue 4

So tonight marks the night of the season 7 premiere of MTV’s hit show that brought hip hop dance to the forefront of America’s eyes, America’s Best Dance Crew.  Notice the question mark in the title is replaced with a period because I shouldn’t really have to say more, it was a rhetorical question.  Anyhow, if you know anything about Asians, you know dance is just a part of us (or at least most of us right?).  If that wasn’t the case, there wouldn’t be a stereotype saying that all Asians can dance right?

Now personally, I’m especially amped up because dance is my life.  I live for hip hop dancing, and love doing it on my own or with my close friends.  So yes, if you are wondering, I’ll probably be ABDC or So You Think You Can Dance within a matter of years…But on a serious note, I actually have better odds than the average individual I suppose.

If you take a look at the past 6 seasons of ABDC, you notice there is one particular piece of each crew that just seems natural or even vital.  You guess it, there is at least one Asian in each season winning crew dating back to season 1 champions the Jabbawockeez all the way to season 6 champions I Am Me.

Season One Winners - The Jabbawockeez

A couple crews have one Asian, but most actually have multiple.  I mean there are winning crews that are completely made up of Asians!  Even the all female crew that won had an Asian.  So if you want a winning formula, or just want to be on the show sometime, make sure you keep that in mind.

Now season 7 looks like it is going to be as insane as usual.  The top crews kicking off the start of the season look to be as ill as they come.  There are multiple crews with experience in different U.S. & Canadian hip hop dance championship competitions.  There is even world ranked crews coming into season 7, including a teenage crew made up of mostly girls and one boy.  I’m especially psyched to see performances from  Collizion Crew, The Elektrolytes, Mixed Elements, & definitely Most Wanted Crew.  Looks like ABDC will be as riveting and mind blowing as usual!

Check out the highlight video I shot for UDO Street Dance Canada. Props to everyone who competed, some crews I’ve seen and known from last year’s World of Dance Toronto competed but more impressed by the kids who repped their own styles and crews! Hoping to get more projects like this.

Nice meeting the judges (FlyLadyDi, Turbo from UK, Boneless, etc), the hosts (Big Norm & Lenny Len) and to Ms. Jade Clark!

A song that I’ve been hearing a lot more of recently, this one is definitely not your regular funk song.

This is more of an easy riding song for B-Boys, and it’s a nice listen too! The muted horns fit in really well with the bass and the drums; i have to say I’m really impressed with that. Might not be a beat you’d play at your everyday party but is still one to consider!

So, here’s “Restless” by “I Gres”.

Plan for today: Study, film, be funky! 1 love.

RedBull cypher 2012

B.U.T.R. – Built Upon the Rock

Saturday, April 28th

1pm – 6pm @ TheSLATE

2001 NW 19th Ave #104, Portland, OR 97209

Featuring:
-2 vs 2 B-boy/B-girl battle
-1 vs 1 Invite Only Footwork battle
-DJ Mighty Moves on the 1s and 2s

Winners of the 2 vs 2 battle will receive airfare and hotel accommodations to compete at the Just For Laughs International B-boy Battle in Montreal, Canada in July

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQZq1jmIfok&feature=fvst

$7 cover w/ RSVP on Facebook | $10 without

http://www.facebook.com/events/184256708356380/

PEACE!

I’ve always loved Lucid as a dancer, and he’s definitely gotten better since the last time I saw him.

This is just a short video he did documenting his intentions for the R16 solo qualifiers, and he definitely deserves his shine!!

Check him out!

Interview done at the 5 year anniversary of Soultrotter Productions (March 2011). Also check out his website: www.soultrotter.com

He will be giving a workshop on April the 28th (2012) in Amsterdam. For more info about the workshop and the bboy scene in Amsterdam go to: www.thecypher.nl