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Some insight on the life of a Massive Monkee

Letters from the Fish

The video shoots had my face burned by the end of the first day! Having everyone around for four days, kickin it and getting work done made it more of a celebration. This is where we are at now. I got a letter from my supporting actor the Fish he's back out there breeding in the rivers and creeks of the Northwest. Fresh Water Styles Crew is gonna be hitting the battle circuit soon. Watch out you don't get smoked. I saw the edited videos when my whole family happened to be over at my house, so we watched them together. I was dyin, we laughed the whole time. In things like this that we do in the future I want it to be even more exaggerated and crazy. I have been using the coosh and I actually gave all my other headphones to my brothers. This is the only one I rock. They sound really good but I always wish headphones could get louder. I would probably make myself deaf if I designed the product. The thing I really like is the potential is has to be a fresh headset for the kids with styles, patterns and colors getting flipped.

Ps. Send more coosh I got a big family :)

09/11/08

tags: Massive Monkees, B-Boy, Family, Juseboogy, coosh, Video Shoot

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Bustin' Bottles

My favorite thing about working with the coosh team is that they value our input. Creatively we have a lot to say, and when a sponsor is really interested in letting us put our stamp on it then it's a great situation. The viral videos came out good, I was really nervous when I saw a script and I had to break bottles over the Scientists heads. Some had already been used as props in some scenes, so they kept telling me you have to make sure to hit them hard enough. I wanted to make sure they broke so I hit the Scientists extra hard, and I could see that when I watched the videos. I have really sensitive ears and never wear earbud headphones; I like the big oversized ones. But the coosh I was wearing it all day and didn't have a problem at all. So I use them for training but I still have my big headphones for when I'm at the house.

09/11/08

tags: Massive Monkees, Ana Banana Freeze, B-Girl, coosh

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coosh Approved

The last scene with the armbar routine was my favorite part. We did real breakin, an original Massive Monkees routine we pioneered but it was funny with the ongoing spins by Lazy. I was dyin with that one. All the others were sorta funny, but when they get old... Man. Plus that script was my idea so I like it better. I use the coosh on every plane trip I take whether I'm battling or headed to the beach life in Hawaii. Traveling is not too active but it stayed on when I got up to go to the bathroom. I haven't been running or jumping with it but we already saw it could do that. The bass could be better, we need some low end because I keep it bumpin. That's my style. I can't help it I love music even if it deafens me.

09/10/08

tags: Massive Monkees, B-Boy, Granite Rok, coosh

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Cramming for the Test

We come from a generation where a lot of bboys didn't last, and people know about us no matter what because of that. We were in touch with that on the first day. And our battle was a tribute to how things were done in that era, the flow was different and people noticed that. We hit the hotel and tried to perfect and polish the routines until late that night for Day 2. I thought it should be committed to memory before we left Seattle, so that already was part of our struggle right there. We should have just been relaxing at that point. We felt rushed. It takes weeks to let the steps settle into your brain. It's like cramming for a test. We thought we knew it but drew a blank against Supernaturalz/Flex Flav, our routines were on the tip of our tongue and we couldn't get them out.

Supernaturalz/Flex Flav duplicated our style and formula so we were battling a mirror image as far as routines, and commando style. There was no pace first of all. We couldn't hear the music when the battle started because a curtain split the funk music room for poppin/lockin and their side was so loud. We couldn't hear the beat on stage because the speakers were on the other side. The judges thought it was a toss-up with crews not wanting to go out first. It's always an advantage to respond rather than going out first. There is a time limit on each battle, and we were a minute and 30 seconds behind already standing around. Nobody understood we couldn't hear the music. Then the battle had no rhythm. We are being pressured by the host, the crowd, the DJs and then finally they turn the music up. Our mistakes were beginner mistakes. Little screw ups that add up. They didn't out dance us, as much as we beat ourselves. Those hit the hardest, we tripped over our own feet.

Tim the Pit was saying how he beat Phantom to some other bboy on Day 1, and that guy went to Phantom and told him. Phantom came back to ask Tim if he said that and Tim didn't deny it. It was word against word. So if that's the case lets do it right now. If there is space and opportunity that's where it happens in breakin. Tim accepted the challenge. Phantom came back with his crew on Day 2 and an exchange started, security interrupted because we were blocking an exit. Fire codes, city ordnances and what not. It's like a street fight to where they plotted on calling Tim out to belittle him like Phantom was belittled. It went from 1-on-1, to 2-on-1 to crew on crew. The frustration from the loss was major, so we did it like the 70s and 80s before there were Freestyle Sessions. It was a substitution for gang warfare, and rather than fight we brought back the old essence. No organized tournament, all raw, un-cut street rules. Other than the battle between two 6-year old bboys, that was the most talked about thing that happened that weekend.

09/08/08

tags: Freestyle Session, Massive Monkees, B-Boy, Battles, Twixx, Coping With Loss

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It's on Us

Day 1 we hang out, were veterans. 10 plus years of this so we know what time it is. We were on point with our own personal support; the crowd can't be relied on for that. We had a vibe with each other, and no fear at all. After the first battle I felt we were gonna destroy everybody. But Juse's ankle tweaked out the first day, and I had to go to everyone to get the other guys to make up for the adversity by just being stronger. We are such a close-knit family, it's seen as an honor to help Juse. We smoked the first round with Supernaturalz/Flex Flav... I messed up on one routine, the Jackson. We were too close to the other crew, and I had to dodge the guy throwing a hand gesture into my face. They threw off the timing. I can't front I was pissed, but its on us. I have to have better spacing. We busted our ass but it wasn't meant to be. It's easy to point fingers and assign blame, but that's bull in my opinion.

We were mad and wanted to go. Then Tim and Floor Phantom started the street battle. I know we have respect for his crew Zulu Kings and they do for us, it was a skilled exchange. But there was a lot of shit talking. It's was mature though. We decided to let skills speak after a while. No one got smoked. Everyone was on. We all were feeling it. Both crews had just lost; it took a lot of frustration out. It didn't stop us being mad about the loss at the end of the day.

I came home and I got caught up thinking about the situation. There is always something to learn, I just have to find it. The marathon was over and I had this ticket to Hawaii, man, this is good relaxation. Now I can go surfing, Hawaii is my second home.