Tats Cru' - 30 year retrospective!!!

If you missed the Tats Cru' opening reception at DNA (Dance New Amsterdam) on Friday, February 5 in New York then you can still catch the show till March. It's free, 9am-10pm so go see it!

Don't get it twisted Graffiti is such a part of New York's fabric that the "Three Decades of Tats Cru" exhibition was funded, in part, by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation!

"In the mid ’80s three teenagers [Brim, Bio and Nicer] began their artistic careers by creating subway graffiti. What began as an adolescent hobby and recognition tactic has evolved into a powerful, expressively iconic style that has brought TATS CRU to the forefront of the advertising mural industry. For over two decades TATS CRU has spearheaded the battle to change people’s perception of graffiti as an art through their respected work. In addition to the recognition they receive throughout the world as leaders in mural advertising and art, proof of TATS CRU’s success and the acceptance of graffiti as an art form can be found in their murals that adorn the walls of hospitals, museums, schools, businesses, and New York City institutions."



The DNA dance arts center has been around since 1984 and relocated from NoHo into 25,000 square feet of facilities in the Lower Manhattan district of New Amsterdam after 9/11. And as part of Black History Month, DNA hosted some of the pioneers of hip hop's breaking and graffiti worlds.

Skoolin' The retrospective was accompanied by a "Late Nite@DNA: Roots of Hip Hop" performance on February 5th. hosted and curated by Robin Dunn, coach, choreographer, and dance teacher. And for everyone who wanted to participate there was a pre-show panel discussion on the topic of “Roots of Hip Hop and the Pop Culture Massacre” with Crazy Legs, Popmaster Fabel, Buddha Stretch, Jonathan Lee, and Violet Galagarza.

DNA also put on two "Roots of Hip Hop Workshops" on February 5th and 6th covering popping, breaking and hip hop history led by Jazzy J, Popmaster Fabel, Crazy Legs and Buddha Stretch.

Bios
Jazzy J was the creator of “L.A. City Rockers” and danced with the “Original Lockers” and the original “Electric Boogaloos” and helped Janet Jackson look good on her videos and stage shows!



Stretch is part of the Elite Force choreography outfit and way back in 1989 was the first hip hop dancer to teach in a mainstream dance studio. He also worked on music videos for Michael Jackson, Will Smith and Mariah Carey (she can dance?)



Crazy Legs started b-boying when he was 8 years old and joined the Rock Steady Crew at age 12!



Jorge “Pop Master Fabel” Pabon is a historian of and activist within hip hop culture and is an adjunct professor at NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. Back in the day he featured in the film "Beat Street."