Evolution of a dance machine
BASIL 85…O.G.
HOLY ROLLER welcomes Andrew Liverpool, AKA Basil, from legendary 80’s dance crew LOOK TWICE and star of classic UK hiphop film ELECTRO ROCK.
Basil will be posting a regular blog sharing his hiphop knowledge, experiences, dance skills, and vision for hiphop 2010 and beyond. Lookout for special film featuring Basil as part of There was a time… collaboration with Holy Roller’s very own Shottsman. The following is an introduction into Basil’s world …enjoy!
Every Hip Hop movie has a classic scene. Even a turkey like BODY ROCK has its classic scene (which was when the credits were going up over the NEW YORK CITY BREAKERS doing their thing in a park).
STYLE WARS had the uprock battle between the FLOORMASTERS and the ROCKSTEADY CREW.
WILDSTYLE had the scene at the Amphitheater with RAMELLEZEE rapping, holding a shotgun while CRAZY LEGS was doing swipes into that insane turtle with his head sliding along the floor.
BEAT STREET had the battle between ROCKSTEADY CREW and the NEW YORK CITY BREAKERS at the Roxy.
BREAKDANCE had BOOGALOO SHRIMP dancing with the broom.
Then you have ELECTRO ROCK with that battle between London and the rest of England. The standout point of that battle was a little London kid battling a guy from Nottingham ’s ROCK CITY CREW. The guy from ROCK CITY was getting humiliated and he knew it, there was nothing left for him to do but push the London kid, who just continued to humiliate the ROCK CITY guy until he just had to leave the cipher.
A classic scene. One I will never forget. I was 14 years old when I was being pushed in that scene.
That one battle was the springboard for me to move into the echelons of British Hip Hop. I got to meet, and hang out with, people who were my idols. Battles became few and far between, shows became constant and weekly and I got invited to do videos. I even got the opportunity to dance in the MANTRONIX video for their tune BASSLINE.
My popping was evolving into my very own style. My love had grown for this style of dance and my ear for music became more astute. I became more aware of the necessity to bite, not to take from others and pass off as my own, but to change what I had bitten and tailor make it to my style so that the origins were not that easily recognisable.
You see, before NORMSKI (ROCKSTEADY CREW), JEFFREY DANIELS (SHALAMAR) and even MICHAEL JACKSON, for me , there was JOHN LIVERPOOL. My very own brother. When it came to coolness, style, charisma and funk in dancing, he had it in truck loads. The 70’s was his era and my prep point. I chose to use his style within my popping because, at the time in London, that was something I felt was lacking.I began to feel so in tune with my body and musical notes (My Father taught me how to read music at a young age), that at one point I was practicing to a metronome. This was Hip Hop from a root level, everything being stripped right down to its rawest form. Hip Hop music has been described as a scavenger music, borrowing from the likes of jazz, rock, soul, classical, etc, but dance is also from this genre (Hip Hop dancing) and, for me, whatever music that holds a boogaloo form of expression, is Hip Hop enough for me to express myself in a B-Boy fashion. I was in my element. This genre of music and style brought all types of flavours and opportunities to me and I was grateful.
Evolution in Hip Hop dance is being taken to higher levels. The ones that stands out in my mind is a group called B.S.V (Bed Stuy Veterans) whose memebers include GHOST and BETTY SPAGHETTI.They do a dance called BRUK UP, which is just popping to bashment tunes, but brilliant all the same.
How things have changed….or not.
Wassup my name is Basil
Checkout youtube links and let me know whats on your mind.
Written by Basil
2:45 THE FAMOUS PUSH
I have to say as an old skool head, I enjoyed every video - The Electro Rock one brought back some serious memories.
Well Done
Steve Austin - Uprock.
Baptistes Crew - Covent Garden
Oh my God …. this blog takes me back to the days of Derek B and the Cookie Crew. But actually it kind of does’nt because the style of dancing, the boogaloo elements especially, totally stand up to scrutiny. Age has not diminished the power of the electric boogaloo.
This blog is totally inspirational; the anatomy of a dancer and his influences and passion. I find Basil’s commitment to his craft very uplifting. His dance has been a shining light in his and other’s lives, bringing the styles of the East Coast through to the urban youth of London.
I particularly liked the image of Basil running home from school to practice his new style dances to his Dad’s old metronome, that shows real commitment to beats. It also shows the roots of old Afro-Diasparo rhythms were there in his dance. I bet his Dad loved his jazz and his father’s musical knowledge and ability to read and play music clearly passed through the gene pool but came out in a mutated, genius mix of waving, tutting, high-rolling and mega pops.
Basil is so jazzy his moves are fluid, slick and totally worked to the electric jazz of the 80’s. I watch him and I feel Herb Alpert coming through. Basil …. Let it all Blow — let it all flow and thanks for keep the word alive on the beauty that is original Hip-Hop dance . !!!!
YES BASIL……..LOVE-IT…..U WAS THE BEST BAK THEN MATE…….DARNELL WAS OK AS WELL 4 A WHITE GUY BAK IN THEM DAYS
GWAAAAAN BASIL…….IS THAT CLIVE TAYLOR IN THERE AS WELL??…….NUFF OLD SCHOOL FACE’S IN THOSE ELECTRO ROCK VIDEO’S
Yeh love the scene where u twist up that gut frm Rock City…….didn’t even know them nottingham boys could move like that
Respect every time B!
P
big up me’ old china. Interesting and informative…..keep it moving!!
I remember so well those old days back at school, so exciting, all the boys breakin & poppin, all the girls watchin & admiring
Who’d have thought I’d be with you now, so happy you have come in to my life again, love with all my heart B.
So proud of you too, you were one of the best and still are in my opinion, can’t wait for the next blog and to see you back on stage again!!
xxx
i remember those days my old friend.damn u was bad ass bac then any body came up against u they loose.me personally they should dedicate that uk era to u.trully amazing.good stuff.
Excellent! I’m so looking forward to seeing more!
Ah, mate–great blog!!! Good seeing you awhile back, and good to see somebody out here letting the new cats know what happened waaaaaay back when!
To one of the only man I used to worry about on the dance floor, I salute you!
1LOVE,
danny F!!!!
Memories bruv ! but wot true people dont know Basil was a superstar dancer rushed by chics at age 4 . Shi. now I wanna see some footage of Sidewalk and Zulu Rockers good gosh !!!!!!
I remember seeing my little brother doin’ his poppin.
I was sooooo proud of him and still am.
Now , that was the whole idea behind Electro Rock–a way to film a battle between Londons finest…Sidewalk and The ZULUS!!!! Shit, they didn’t know we was all bredrins…and still hang tuff!
What I find funny, and a bit sad, is that B hit it on the head–back then it really was London vs the rest of the bloody country! We’d go ‘oop narth’ and the mans dem would HAAAATE us…and then get crushed…and then the girls would LOOOOVE us…but thats a tale for another forum….