The Urban Feed

Krump, Clown, Break it On Down
WORDS: Robyn Gemelle
The Urban Feed
TUF’s Robyn gets to do more than krump with Raw Tribe.

Dancing has always been one of the key elements of hip hop and urban culture since the early 70’s. From break dancing to pop lockin’, dancing has always taken the lead right next to MC’ing in hip hop culture. Hip hop dancing can be seen in music videos from chart topping artists ranging from Keri Hilson to Diddy and even Britney Spears but it wasn’t until 2004 when the world was introduced to a new style of hip hop dance: krumping.

The 2004 David LaChapelle documentary, RIZE, told the story of a group of inner city youth in Los Angeles, California who expressed themselves in an aggressive form of dance that helped keep them off the streets and create family bonds that a lot of these kids didn’t have in their homes. This powerful film and even more powerful art form of dance took over the hip hop world. Krumping was featured in many videos of artists such as Missy Elliot, Chris Brown, Madonna and Ciara. But as the ever ending changes of this fast paced industry changes and trends fade, Krumping could possibly be just another trend just as the “Harlem Shake” and the “1, 2 Step” once were. Could krump dancing be just another fad that’s here today and gone tomorrow with the emergence of the new “jerkin” movement?

Danny Rannles Jr., 20, is determined to keep the dancing that he loves alive and still current. With the revamped style now known as Buck dancing, he is out to prove that his art is not just a trend that is going to pass with the season but something that will remain current in not only the Los Angeles culture but in the world of hip hop dance. Inspired by such artists as Michael Jackson and Usher and coached by his father, Rannles began his dancing career seven years ago and hasn’t stopped since. Dancing with a group called the Lunatics, Rannles earned his first dance name, Lil Diezel. Although he took pride in this, he grew tired of being under other dancers and was ready to become a leader. Donning the new dance name, Big Reck, he gathered some other dancers going down the same path and the formed the group Raw Tribe. “The Raw in Raw Tribe is an acronym for Real Ampness Worldwide and the Amp means All Mighty Prayer because Krumping and buck dancing came from Praise dancing in the church.” Rannles wanted to create a group where all the members were equal leaders who would be positive influences on kids in the community. “The purpose of the group is to not just dance but to keep kids out of trouble and get them into doing something positive instead of doing bad things.” With twenty seven current members in Palmdale, California, a group in Washington state, and a group starting in Ohio, Rannles plans to make Raw Tribe a big deal.

Although Krumping has been around for a while, people still can’t help but think that it is still violent and is another way for youth to fall into gang activity. Rannles responds “I think it’s pitiful and ridiculous because it’s nowhere near true because if that was the case we would all have guns and there will be violence and there’s not even violence because you’re not even allowed to touch each other. We’re just expressing ourselves.” When asked if he felt that krump dancing will survive in mainstream America Rannles responded: “Krump has evolved into something else. You see krump dancers in everything and you might not even know that’s a krump dancer but it really is and people are doing krump moves and they don’t even know it.” He plans to make sure that krump stays alive.

Besides being a talented dancer and a very motivated young man, Rannles also has another talent that he would like to release to the world. He is also an aspiring rapper. Going by the name of Young Snap, Rannles began rapping two years ago because of his love of music. Balancing two different personas, Big Reck the dancer and Young Snap the rap artist, doesn’t appear to be a challenge for the very determined young man. “When I’m dancing I’m focused on dancing and when I’m rapping I’m thinking about rapping so I can balance both. I want to do both. Rannles sees himself as a very successful dancer and musical artist and bringing his group, Raw Tribe to the top. Krumping is not dead; not if Danny Rannles has anything to do with it.

You can find more of Rannles music by visiting here. In the mean time check out the Raw Tribe Meeting below…

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