NKOTB 4

So yesterday was my homie Nes' event: New Kids on the Block 4.
Basic premise of the event: 16 upcoming/unknown crews are selected and battle it out for the title of the New Kids on the Block...pretty simple eh?
This is the 4th event thrown in a row..it's grown a lot since the first one at Jayvee four years ago.
I woke up around 9 am and went to work. The night before I went to sleep at about 4 am because of a last minute late night session that went from 12 am to 3 am...I was fuuuuckin' tired but up I got and went to work.
I decided to leave work early so that way I would be ready on time to head over to the jam. So I drove back home around 11ish and by the time I got home...I was still really tired so I took a quick nap.
Woke up around 12:30ish and ate a small lunch(4 taquitos) and got dropped off at the venue which is like 10 minutes away from my house.
Met up with Nes and a few others. Helped set up a little bit but mainly tried to warm up and stretch even though the jam hadn't even started yet haha.
More people came as time went by and the place became pretty packed.
I was again entering the New Kid crew battles even though earlier I told myself I wouldn't but a few of my friends convinced me to do so since they needed more people and we were in the same crew so I agreed. We entered as our combined crew name: Bukakke Kings, reppin' that shit son! Haha but yeah it's mainly members coming from Zombie Hunterz and TAC - LA/France, been fam since the beginning.
Now before the jam, it was really difficult for us to get together and practice as one crew. Each of us had our own reasons: work, school, etc. So we did the best we could trying to come up with routines and what not..some members actually learned the routines the day of the event sooo as you could tell I was feeling kind of iffy about our performances that night.
Nes posted the battle lineup online before the event so everyone could see who they were battling...I honestly don't know why buuut whatever. We were up first against Chosen Few...and I really don't know if I should go any deeper into this subject.
All I gotta say is...biters...and even if it was a joke or something...the shit wasn't funny and it definitely wasn't cool.

Watch it for yourself.
I think this is big example why battle lineups shouldn't be posted ahead of time.
So anyway we beat Chosen Few and by we I mean my crew, I didn't even bother to go in because my crew handled that shit and went on the next round battling Arigatou Crew.
This was actually a fun battle. Each crew had good exchanges and this battle had a positive vibe unlike our first battle. Nobody pushed us for one thing nor bit any of our routines so yeah it was coo. Much RESPECT to Arigatou. *bows*
So we made it semi-finals against Squishydocious and again this was fun battle as well. I was happy I hit my shit and didn't crash haha. I felt I was on point that night and I was glad because before I felt like I wasn't ready.
In the end we lost but to be honest I don't really care because we had fun and all of us did really well. If there was an award for best/funniest/ORIGINAL AND NOT BITING routines I think we would take it lol. Squishy actually took the whole event so props to them.
All in all it was a pretty good jam, wasn't too slow and the vibe was fresh. It was dope seeing people I hadn't seen in a while.
The exhibition battles were good too. I'm glad to see 9 O'Clock alive and well, I actually hadn't heard anything from them since they won New Kids 2 but I'm glad they're still sick with it and pulled through during their exhibition battle. I was rooting for them the whole way through.
Miracles vs. Smurf..fuckin' nasty. Although the battle went by pretty fast, seeing these two guys go at it has been something I've been longing for, for a while. Good energy from both cats.

See for yourself.
Anyway after the jam helped clean up and move stuff. Then went on to go eat with some friends and finally went home. What an exhausting day..it really was. Didn't sleep till 5 am...pretty ridiculous huh?
I think the only complaint I have about the jam is the "New Kid" crews..a lot of the crews were recycled from the past events..it's hard to call it New Kids on the Block when many of the crews had established and known b-boys on their team.
I would honestly put New Kids on hiatus just to let real new kid crews emerge and then take their shot because every year it seems like the same people are battling each other. It's either they change the name or combine crews and yes even we are guilty of this but are we known/established b-boys? No. I've never traveled to France..I haven't even won a jam yet haha. So I think we were in the right but things like recruiting LAB/Pho Bangers into the team is...for lack of a better word...cheating.
I've got the utmost respect for LAB, Pho Bangers and every other crew out there except Chosen Few...sorry to say but New Kids is an event for...New Kids...quite simply put. But whatever, it's not my event and it is quite hard to regulate who's on who's team but that's just my input.
I also think this is going to be my last time battling in the New Kid crew battles because I've been battling in them since the first New Kids so I think I've done my deed haha. Even though I've never won New Kids, I think it's time to move on and let the real new kids move in.
Anyhoo another pro at the jam is that we got interviewed for some guy's documentary he needs to use for his portfolio. It was pretty dope to give my input on B-boyin' and what it means to me...even if it sounds cliche but saying those words actually did remind me why I danced..not to win but to have fun and do my best.

Outside getting interviewed

Jon rockin' the red pants!

Mee Shell! Coming all the way from France!!!

Gary wearing the red pants!


Us in the VIP room...getting hyped.


More hype..


We started breaking things.


But we kept our composure


That's right. The legend himself graced us with his presence.


Bukakke Kings know how to have a good time!


Deadbird




BANG


Boom! Thread all the way through! FREEZE!


People's airchair


I thought this was a dope pic too


This pic is one of my favorites thanks to Thon. A crew of individuals.

For more pics go here: http://kazjualte.com/partyphotos/newkids4/

Anyway pics and footage will be posted soon..you can bet on it...
Hmmm anything else to add....Furious Soldiers should have won the 2 on 2's..no tie breaker needed but then again what do I know.

Emily Ma rocks.

-EDIT-

Quarter Finals - Arigatou Crew vs. Bukakke Kings


Semi Finals - Squishydocious vs. Bukakke Kings (Our first routine is missing)

Enjoy!