Okay, so I wanna talk about this guy, Richard Colon, also known as Crazy Legs. This dude is a legend in the b-boy world, a real OG. I first came across his name when I was digging into the history of hip-hop and breakdancing. I mean, this guy was there from the start, right in the thick of it.
So, I started by looking up everything I could find online about him. Turns out, he was born in 1966 and grew up in the Inwood area of Manhattan. He got into breaking through his brother, I guess it was the thing back then. And man, did he get good! He became one of the main guys in the Rock Steady Crew, which is like, the most famous breakdancing crew ever.
I watched some old videos of him, and wow, the way he moved was just insane. His style was so raw and energetic. He had these signature moves, like he could spin on his head forever! It was clear that he didn’t just dance; he lived it. Breaking was his life.
What really got me was that he helped bring breaking to other parts of the world. Like, he went to London and Paris in 1983 and showed them what b-boying was all about. Imagine that, this dude from New York, spreading the culture across the ocean.
- Watched a ton of videos: I spent hours just watching old footage of Crazy Legs and the Rock Steady Crew. Their battles were epic!
- Read a bunch of articles: I went through all sorts of articles and interviews. It was cool to see how he talked about the early days of hip-hop.
- Tried to learn some moves: Okay, this was a disaster. I tried to copy some of his moves, but let’s just say I’m not as flexible as I thought. I pulled a muscle trying to do a basic top rock. It’s way harder than it looks!
But it wasn’t just about the moves. Crazy Legs was also involved in the community. He organized these annual Rock Steady Anniversary events to honor those who passed away and to keep the culture alive. It’s like he knew how important it was to remember where they came from.
I also found out he won a Bessie Award for choreography and a Hip Hop Pioneer Award. Dude’s got the awards to prove his impact. I guess you can’t deny that he is one of the most important figures in the breakdancing world.
Crazy Legs is More Than Just Dance
He started from the bottom and made it to the top. But it wasn’t just about him. He helped build something bigger, a whole culture. He showed everyone that breaking wasn’t just some fad; it was an art form, a way of life. And even today, he is still involved, still pushing the culture forward. That’s what I call a true legend. He inspired so many people, including me, to appreciate the art of breaking. And let me tell you, even though I can’t dance like him, I definitely have a whole new respect for b-boys and b-girls. They are athletes, artists, and cultural icons all rolled into one.
