While much of the old school hip-hop culture has lost its glamour, a few LSU students are still calling themselves b-boys.
These students are members of the Hip-Hop Coalition, a campus organization that serves as a forum for hip-hop expression, including deejaying, emceeing, graffiti, and b-boying.
A b-boy is essentially a break-dancer, how Hashim Dawan, a kinesiology junior sees himself.
“I consider myself a b-boy because I love to practice. You are a b-boy when it becomes more than just the surface moves, those that just please the crowds,” Dawan said.
Dawan, and the Hip-Hop Coalition’s President, Philip Zachariah, a biology junior, started the club about a year ago. After a series of telephone calls, the club grew from two guys break dancing, to a committee of 12 to 15 b-boys.
While the organization focuses on dance practice and helping each other progress with their break-dancing, education is also a big part of their mission.
Many of the members are familiar with the hip-hop culture, terms and ideas, and they make it a key part of meetings to share not only the physical aspects of hip-hop, but its history as well.
Marc Verret, a regular at the meetings, enjoys coming not only for practice, but to also meet other b-boys.
“It’s good to practice with other people and not by yourself,” Verret said. “There’s not a lot of break-dancers in Baton Rouge.”
Because Baton Rouge lacks a strong hip-hop scene, Dawan hopes the coalition will put on huge events in Baton Rouge to draw out those who have skill, experience, or curiosity in break dancing.
“There’s some in Texas, and definitely in California, but none here,” Dawan said.
The Hip-Hop Coalition meets Friday nights in the Union from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. They are currently planning a campus-wide promotion, which includes a Web page Zachariah is currently developing.
“Our biggest problem is communication,” Zachariah said. “The Web site is to help bridge the gap in communication and give info on what the club is about and keep up to date with events in Baton Rouge.”
The Hip-Hop Coalition hopes to grow stronger as a club in its second year, particularly in member retention. Everyone is encouraged to come to a meeting or hip-hop event and find out more about the group or learn about different aspects of hip-hop culture.
“We can’t always promise a good turnout,” Dawan said. “But we can promise them a good show.”