DJ Kool Herc’s party that night of August 11th, 1973, at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, featured a new style of dance. Herc called these dancers b-boys (break-boys) and b-girls (break-girls) as they were breaking (dancing to the breaks), which Herc says was a street slang for “acting energetically” or “causing a disturbance”.
DJ Kool Herc created a new technique that allowed him to play songs longer so b-boys and b-girls (break dancers) wouldn’t have to stop dancing so often. DJ Kool Herc would encourage the crowd to dance by chanting rhymes such as “Rock on, my mellow!” “B-boys, b-girls, are you ready? keep on rock steady” “This is the joint! Herc beat on the point” “To the beat, y’all!” “You don’t stop!” all on the dance floor.
A1 B-boy Sasa was an African American street dancer credited as the first number one B-boy dancer of Hip-Hop at DJ Kool Herc parties in 1973. Eventually, DJ Kool Herc had to move the party outside from 1520 Sedgwick Ave. to Cedar Park.
Purchase our 100 Hip-Hop Facts (1973-2000) Book
Read: Hip Hop was born on August 11th, 1973
Read: DJ Kool Herc coined the terms “B-Boys” and “B-Girls”
Read: DJ Kool Herc and Coke La Rock went to High School together