Rock Steady for Life: Bringing Breakdancing to the World

Hailed by The New York Times as the godfather of breakdancing, Colón, founder and president of the legendary Rock Steady Crew, takes readers through a fifty-year celebration of B-boy culture and its role in the golden age of hip-hop.

Breakdancing, or breaking—one of the Three Pillars of Hip-Hop that emerged from the Bronx in the 1970s (alongside music and graffiti)—is the least represented component of the culture. The Rock Steady Crew is the most important collective of dancers in breaking’s over five-decade history, responsible for hundreds of moves and credited with popularizing breakdancing in the United States and worldwide.

Featuring a treasure trove of never-before-published images, this book places the vibe, fashion, and energy of golden-age breakdancing front and center. Readers will experience what it’s like to sit with Crazy Legs as he shares untold stories, accompanied by rare photos from his personal albums and archives. The book offers an insider’s look at the early life of one of the world’s most iconic B-boys and his crew—including Frosty Freeze, Ken Swift, Mr. Freeze, Devious Doze, Buck 4, Kuriaki, Baby Love, and more—as they brought breaking to the world.

Fans will also glimpse historic hip-hop tours of the 1980s, including The Kitchen Tour (US and Canada, 1981), the first-ever Wild Style tour (Japan, 1983), and Rock Steady Crew’s record tour (Europe, 1984)—tours that laid the foundation for a global cultural phenomenon.

Richard “Crazy Legs” Colón is a founder and president of Rock Steady Crew. He was born in the Bronx, New York City.