Lucky 7's NBL All-Star Battle 06/19/10

The Amen Zone in downtown Phoenix was home to a breakdancing battle last weekend.

Emcee Johnny Castro and the NBL (Nat'l Breakin' League) put together this event. Set to be included that night was an awards ceremony for those in the AZ breakdancing scene that were recognized at the 2009-2010 NBL Nationals held at The Amen Zone earlier this year. Also set to happen was an AZ All-Star Battle which included some of the best breakdancers in the state as well as a one-on-one competition whose winner was awarded a cash prize of $100.

The name Amen Zone alone goes deeper than what most people realize. "Amen" is an acronym for "A Motivation Energized Natural." Breakdancing is exactly that.

Breakdancing doesn't get the recognition and respect it deserves. It's not just guys sprawling out on the floor and kicking their legs up. It's a combination of dancing, balance, coordination, speed, strength, and soul. It's also a community--you break, you're family.

More goes into breakdancing than just the dancers themselves. Support from the breakin' community is important, it helps everything run smoothly at battles.

The DJ, for example, is very important. Who can "bless him with the beat" like Emcee Johnny Castro says without a DJ? Cell phones with music playing doesn't give the same feel as a DJ who's choosing the songs, amping the crowds, providing the whole mood for the battles. DJ's are like museums of art for their music collections. They display music in their galleries. DJ Creone does that.

"I like playing music that people can dance to, not just hump to," Creone said. Being a DJ since '97, he started out just collecting records. With inspirations like art, going to church, and music in general, Creone has been helping out the breakdancing scene by bringing his love of music to battles. He was the man chosen to be DJ for 2010's AZ State NBL Championships and 2010's National NBL Championships---a great role to play in two major battle championships back to back.

"It takes athleticism [to breakdance]," he said. It also takes a wide interest in different types of music to keep the NBL wanting him to play at battles.

Breakdancing is not only just about the individual, unique style of dance, but also the style of each bboy or bgirl's clothing. Skate clothes, breakdancing inspired clothes ("Bboyin' Ain't Easy"), sweats, jeans, Nike shoes--all are included in the various styles that are rocked at battles. Clothes help represent--they show the personality of the crew or bboy/bgirl who's competing.

Ruben Gonzales, maker of 11th Monk3y Clothing, knows how important representing yourself is. A native Arizonan and former bboy of 19 years, Gonzales grew up in the breakdancing scene.

"I felt supported by my community and had the opportunity to tour around the country and dance, and the experience has made me supportive of the breakdancing scene ever since," Gonzales said. "My basic goal for my clothing company is to give back to that same community that supported me."

Combining his Hispanic heritage and his style designs, Gonzales has been making clothing for almost two years now (July 4, 20008). His business card reads, "We are a company that is influenced by the urban-underground Hip Hop scene with a twist! We take in everyday experiences, music, life, and knowledge to bring you creative apparel designs!" He also gives the bboys and bgirls the opportunity to suggest ideas to him. That way, he helps them represent themselves through their clothing and also lives his dream at the same time. To check out more information on his clothing line, go to www.myspace.com/11th_monk3y. To chat with him via email, write to mailto:11thmonk3y@gmail.com.


Lucky 7's was similar to many other NBL promoted battles. There were three judges of the event: Bboy Herald, Lorin (bboy Dopa from the Outsiderz Krew), and Bboy Panic.

The beginning of the one-on-one battles began with a list of 16 competitors from AZ breakdancing crews. Eight battles made up the first round of the competition. They were broken down like this:

Bboy Sensai vs. Bboy Andrew
Bboy Eclipse vs. Bboy Adrien
Bboy Kid Soul vs. Bboy Ming
Bboy Case One vs. Bboy Sanyay
Bboy A.I. vs. Bboy Numb
Bboy Kloud 9 vs. Bboy Rhenez
Bboy Neo vs. Bboy Funk

Each bboy had two turns in their first round battle. During the first round of battles, two of them were decided by tiebreakers, which gave all four bboys one turn to wow the judges. From the first round of battles, these eight bboys advanced: Bboy A.I., Bboy Funk, Bboy Adrien, Bboy Alma, Bboy Kid Soul, Bboy Case One, Bboy Kloud 9, and Bboy Andrew.

The second round of the competition consisted of four battles. The battles were broken down like this:

Bboy Andrew vs. Bboy Adrien
Bboy Alma vs. Bboy Kid Soul
Bboy Case One vs. Bboy A.I.
Bboy Funk vs. Bboy Kloud 9

Two of these battles were decided by tiebreakers as well (Bboy Case One vs. Bboy A.I. and Bboy Andrew vs. Bboy Adrien). These were the winners of the second round: Bboy Case One, Bboy Kloud 9, Bboy Kid Soul, and Bboy Adrien.

Round three consisted of these battles:

Bboy Case One vs. Bboy Kid Soul
Bboy Kloud 9 vs. Bboy Adrien

While the judges were deciding the winners of the third round of battles, a breakin' cipher broke out.

Emcee Johnny Castro introduced Bboy Hurricane, a bboy who was supposed to compete but didn't get a chance to. Hurricane did his routine and all of a sudden, Bboy Gizmo jumped out into the circle and started the cipher.

Here's how the bboys were divided in the cipher:

Left side: Right side:
-Bboy Herald -Bboy Sense
-Bboy Panic -Bboy Alma
-Bboy Gizmo - Bboy Mighty Mouse

The crowd got loud and everyone stood up in the circle and craned their heads to see everything that was happening. It definitely pumped up the energy at the event and got a nod of appraisal and appreciation from Chris Coupelin, who introduced and gave out the awards from the 2009-2010 NBL Season to their recipients. The awards were given as follows:

Scene Ambassador Award: (people who do whatever they can to keep the scene pumping)
1) Ruben Gonzales, 11th Monk3y Clothing
2) Break Street Promotions Team
3) DJ Creone

Most Hard Award: (despite skill level, they go hard every time at battles)
-Bboy Mighty Mouse--"This is my destiny"

Top Rock Award:
-Bboy Kid Soul

Footwork Award: 2-Time Winner
-Bboy Keskay (Outsiderz Crew)

Freeze Award:
-Kunta (Mellow Drama/Curfew Drama Crew)

Rookie of the Year:
-Bboy Hex (Human After All Crew)

Power Kick Award:
-Bboy Sundance (Mellow Drama/Curfew Drama Crew)

MVB (Most Valuable Bboy):
-Bboy Sundance

After the awards were given out, the AZ East vs. West All-Star Battle begun. The crews were divided up like this:

East Crew:
Bboy Dopa
Bboy Godson
Bboy Keskay
Bboy Alma
Bboy Dash
Bboy Aaron
Bboy Andrew



West Crew:
Bboy Case One
Bboy Kid Soul
Bboy Neo
Bboy Numb
Bboy Shadow
Bboy Marcus
Bboy Funk
*Rhenez jumped in to do his thing.

And the winner is......................................?...West Side!!!


The final battle, the fourth round---think Mortal Combat...

Bboy Case One vs.Bboy Kid Soul

The winner walked home with $100. Case One walked away with that prize. C.R.E.A.M!!


Can I get an AMEN-ZONE? Peep this.... Check the website, http://www.amenzone.net/ for updates and more information on the next battle. Keep your ears peeled and eyes open, more information on the next battle will be posted as soon as it is known.


The AZ breakin scene needs more BGIRLS at battles.

Every 'ting be iRE. Out.