In 1985, B-Boys were all the rage, but where were the girls? Fast-forward twenty years for the answer: We B*Girlz, a lively look at the hot and happenin’ world of B-Girlz of the twenty-first century as documented by photographer Martha Cooper and writer Nika Kramer. Breaking is back with a new twist as today’s stylish fly girls can battle the best of them. Featuring pioneering B-Girlz like Rokafella from the Bronx, who now dances professionally, and Asia-One from L.A., who organized and promoted the B-Boy Summit for ten years, We B*Girlz—the first handbook for accomplished or aspiring B-Girlz and the boys who admire them—showcases the dynamic style and nonstop energy of B-Girlz in action, in practice, and on stage. Providing inspiring insight into a previously little-known subculture that has swept the world, We B*Girlz includes chapters on Herstory, Girlz n’ Crewz, B-Boys, Floor Warz, We B-Family, We B-Stylin’, B-Girl Careers, and B-Girl resources, including information on websites, gear, events, competitions, and classes. Cooper and Kramer first began documenting the new breed of B-Girlz in a breaking competition in Germany in 2004. Following the dancers to the biggest battles—including Mighty4 in San Francisco, the Spinfactor Finals in Rhode Island, Breaklanta in Atlanta, IBE in the Netherlands, and the International Battle of the Year in Germany—they photographed and interviewed B-Girlz representing everywhere from South Africa to New Zealand, from New York to California, and from Japan to Germany. Culminating in the first annual We B*Girlz competition at veteran B-Boy Ken Swift’s studio in Brooklyn, Cooper and Kramer’s work will introduce a new generation to the art of B-Girling.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Cooper and Kramer first began documenting the new breed of B-Girlz in a breaking competition in Germany in 2004. Following the dancers to the biggest battles—including Mighty4 in San Francisco, the Spinfactor Finals in Rhode Island, Breaklanta in Atlanta, IBE in the Netherlands, and the International Battle of the Year in Germany—they photographed and interviewed B-Girlz representing everywhere from South Africa to New Zealand, from New York to California, and from Japan to Germany. Culminating in the first annual We B*Girlz competition at veteran B-Boy Ken Swift’s studio in Brooklyn, Cooper and Kramer’s work will introduce a new generation to the art of B-Girling.
Martha Cooper is a documentary photographer who has specialized in urban vernacular art and architecture for more than twenty-five years. Cooper worked as a staff photographer for the New York Post from 1977 to 1980, when she left to follow the emerging Hip Hop scene. In 1984, in collaboration with Henry Chalfant, she published Subway Art (Thames & Hudson), the classic book showcasing the best painted trains of the era that has been dubbed “The Bible” by graffiti writers. Cooper’s other books of photographs include Hip Hop Files: Photographs 1979–1984 (From Here To Fame, 2004) and R.I.P.: Memorial Wall Art (Henry Holt, 1994) with text by folklorist Joseph Sciorra. The Director of Photography at City Lore, the New York Center for Urban Folk Culture, she lives in Manhattan.
Nika Kramer, writer and translator, is the text editor of Hip Hop Files: Photographs 1979–1984 (From Here To Fame, 2004). She lives and works in Berlin and New York.
Ana “Rokafella” Garcia is a Spanish Harlem–born Hip Hop dancer and choreographer who has danced with crews such as The Transformers and The Breeze Team before joining the Hip Hop dance company GhettOriginal. Rokafella has appeared in music videos such as Fabolous’ “Youngin’”; is the cofounder of Full Circle Productions, a Hip Hop artist collective; and appeared in Soular Power’d, a Hip Hop theater show she codirected with her husband, B-Boy Kwikstep. Rokafella has done work for artists like Will Smith, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Tito Puente, among others. She lives in New Jersey.
Martha Cooper is a documentary photographer who has specialized in urban vernacular art and architecture for more than twenty-five years. Cooper worked as a staff photographer for the New York Post from 1977 to 1980, when she left to follow the emerging Hip Hop scene. In 1984, in collaboration with Henry Chalfant, she published Subway Art (Thames & Hudson), the classic book showcasing the best painted trains of the era that has been dubbed “The Bible” by graffiti writers. Cooper’s other books of photographs include Hip Hop Files: Photographs 1979–1984 (From Here To Fame, 2004) and R.I.P.: Memorial Wall Art (Henry Holt, 1994) with text by folklorist Joseph Sciorra. The Director of Photography at City Lore, the New York Center for Urban Folk Culture, she lives in Manhattan.
Nika Kramer, writer and translator, is the text editor of Hip Hop Files: Photographs 1979–1984 (From Here To Fame, 2004). She lives and works in Berlin and New York.
Ana “Rokafella” Garcia is a Spanish Harlem–born Hip Hop dancer and choreographer who has danced with crews such as The Transformers and The Breeze Team before joining the Hip Hop dance company GhettOriginal. Rokafella has appeared in music videos such as Fabolous’ “Youngin’”; is the cofounder of Full Circle Productions, a Hip Hop artist collective; and appeared in Soular Power’d, a Hip Hop theater show she codirected with her husband, B-Boy Kwikstep. Rokafella has done work for artists like Will Smith, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Tito Puente, among others. She lives in New Jersey.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
women trying to make it in a male dominated subculture,
By Elevate Difference "Elevate Difference" (worldwide) - See all my reviews
This review is from: We B*Girlz (Paperback)
This book blends photography and interviews to document hip hop and breaking culture from its roots, through the eyes of the women who live it. The term "b-Girl" describes someone into breakdancing and hip-hop culture, and why this book is unique is the fact it focuses on an aspect of the scene (as the name suggests) that is often ignored. Women in hip hop have to try twice as hard as the men to get respect and prove they were not just "someone's girlfriend." Interviews with pioneers like Rokafella, and newcomers like twelve year old Wonder Woman span different generations to document the rise of b-girling today. This book not only contains notable photographs from the mid-80s and today, but also shares stories of women trying to make it in a male dominated subculture.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not for b-girls only,
By Joe Schloss (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: We B*Girlz (Paperback)
Legendary photographer Martha Cooper wins again with this book! The pictures really capture the color and vibrancy of breaking, and the text - basically an oral history of b-girls internationally - is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the art and culture of hip-hop. As she has shown with her other books, Cooper really has an incredible eye for images that represent the whole attitude of her subjects, not just what they look like. You really get a sense of what these people's lives are like, and you can't help but be inspired by them, regardless of whether you are even into hip-hop. The section on b-girl fashion alone should send designers running for their sketch pads...
5.0 out of 5 stars
B-Girls Rock,
This review is from: We B*Girlz (Paperback)
We B*Girlz depicts, in images and first person stories, an important social history of girl power. This book is empowering and inspiring for girls of all ages and styles.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
