The New York City Breakers, also referred to as NYC Breakers or NYCB, are a pioneering B-boy group from The Bronx formed in the early 1980's by Michael Holman. The group originally consisted of members from Wildstyle and "Floor Master Crew"
History
The New York City Breakers are a Breaking crew originally known as the Floor Masters formed by Michael Holman in the early 1980's. Holman was inspired by a battle between the Rock Steady Crew and The Dynamic Rockers at the Lincoln Center. The original members were: "Action" (Chino Lopez), "Kid Nice" (Noel Manguel), "Glide Master" (Matthew Caban), "Lil Lep" (Ray Ramos), "Mr. Wave" (Tony Droughan), "Icey Ice" (Cory Montalvo), "Powerful Pexter" (Tony Lopez) and Flip Rock (Bobby Potts). Their first real exposure came in 1982, with an offer to battle Rock Steady Crew; in NYC at a club called Negril.
Their first performance was on the nationally televised talk show The Merv Griffin Show in 1983. Soon after, the NYCBs began appearing in live performances with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in Boston. They were featured in the 1984 film Beat Street where they battled the Rock Steady Crew and appeared on the first hip-hop television show Graffiti Rock, created by Holman. They also made appearances on various other television programs such on Ripley's Believe It or Not!, NBC's TV Special The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Teams, CBS Evening News and P.M. Magazine and the film Sixteen Candles.
The New York City Breakers also became the first B-boys to release an instructional video and album (Break-Master) which went gold and broke down steps on how to hold a competition. They performed in Washington D.C for sitting President Ronald Reagan, during 1983 at the Kennedy Center Honors. Photos of NYCB and Ronald Reagan were included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "Roots, Rhymes & Rage:The Hip-Hop Story" exhibit.
Film
Sixteen Candles
Beat Street
Body Rock
Television
That's Incredible! The Merv Griffin Show Ripley's Believe It or Not! PM Magazine CBS Evening News Good Morning America, ABC Graffiti Rock Kennedy Center Honors