I think a lot of people have the wrong idea about what hip-hop culture is all about... so before I go into talking about this photo shoot, I feel like I need to share some facts on the subject. Hip hop is a cultural movement that originated in the working class communities of New York City, United States, in the late 1970s. DJ Afrika Bambaataa first outlined the five pillars of hip-hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking, graffiti writing, and knowledge. Other elements include beatboxing, hip hop fashion, and slang. Regardless if you like the music or not, it has become part of our culture and I think deserves respect. And since respect is something you earn and not buy, this is why I feel honored to have had the opportunity to photograph these two accomplished b-boys. For those of you who don't know what a b-boy is... a b-boy (or break-boy) is a male dancer who practices breaking or b-boying, the hip-hop dance style, commonly known as "breakdancing." B-girl refers to a female who practices breaking, and the term breaker is gender neutral. I first came to know Eddie and Saso after they had seen and were impressed by some photos I had created for the 2009 Culture Shock San Diego dance theatrical “Graffiti Life: The Color of my Sole. This was a creative collaboration between the Culture Shock San Diego dance troupe and local graffiti artist, Pose2. One thing led to another and we arranged the shoot you are looking at now. We all decided to do guerilla style portraits, where everyone drives from one location to another, stopping and shooting for a short period of time then moving on. Eddie & Saso started b-boying 15 years ago at Culture Shock San Diego and made a name for themselves by dancing with the acclaimed JabbaWockeeZ dance troupe. While they were with the JabbaWockeeZ, they toured with New Kids on the Block, opened for the 2009 All Star Game with Shaq, starred in the Gatorade G Series commercials as well as working with various artist such as Missy Elliot, Swizz Beatz, Daddy Yankee, etc. In 2001 they started their own crew called "Rock So Fresh", which include the following b-boys, Fresh Finesse Optic, Tuff Rockin' E-Swift, Eddie Styles, King Saso, Poe One, Rock/BugId Bandit, Sumo, Belle Roc, Get Busy Godoyski, Jazzy Jade & Destijl. Since starting the crew they have been in Gatorade G Series commercials and were honored with the 2010 Mighty 4 appreciation award. They now run the Breakin Habits workshop that focuses on the fundamentals of b-boying & b-girling. The crews goal for the future is to continue to spread knowledge to the community about hip-hop and hip-hop dancing (b-boying). For one reason or another I feel that since I enjoy, appreciate and support hip-hop music, graffiti art and dance, I have become somewhat of a hip-hop ambassador for San Diego. So one of my goals is to keep educating people with my photos and words, that hip-hop culture is and has been important part of what makes San Diego style what it is today.

San Diego b-boys eddiestyles and kingsaso (Rock So Fresh Crew) in front of some Ocean Beach graffiti art on the Seedless Clothing building

San Diego b-boys, Saso and Eddie from the Rock So Fresh (RSF) crew in Ocean Beach (OB), California

San Diego graffiti art portrait of Eddie Styles in front of some fresh spray paint on the Undisputed fitness and training gym in in North Park

San Diego graffiti art portrait of King Saso & Eddie Styles in front of some fresh spray paint on the Undisputed fitness and training gym in in North Park

San Diego b-boy, King Saso in front of new graffiti art on the east wall of the North Park Undisputed fitness center

A portrait of San Diego b-boy, Eddie Styles in front of some fresh graffiti art in North Park

Graffiti street art portrait of Rock So Fresh b-boys, eddie and saso in front of a new painting in Encanto by Mr.Maxx Moses (Pose2)

[caption]Saso & Eddie (b-boys) at the Encanto, San Diego trolley stop at 26th & Imperial in front of some new graffiti art by Mr.MaxxMoses (Pose2)

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