Cypher Etiquette
Don’t you hate in the cypher when your run is through and some cornball goes in right after you? Hasn’t it ever crossed your mind that wow! This person’s been breaking for 2-3 months and is straight hoggin' the cypher where all the heavy hitters are in? I’ve found myself and some of my closest friends thinking and verbalizing on the same subject and it all comes down to knowing your rank.
In this addition on the Breaks Kru Blog, we’re going to address Cypher Etiquette. The ins and outs, the dos and don’ts so that the next time you’re out there you know why someone wants to smoke you.
Realistically there are a few key notes to always keep in mind when you’re in a circle, ready to rock out;
1. Make sure your shoes are tied up. Don’t be the herb who’s run got cut short cuz your shoe fell off or even worse, shot off and pegged an innocent bystander in the dome piece. Also, it’s sloppy to have your shoes untied.
2. Don’t lose your hat. Take it off or make sure it stays on but don’t lose it unintentionally. Also it could be used against you by an opponent in a battle so just be mindful.
3. Don’t mix dance forms. The worst is there will be a really ill bboy circle and some geek dressed like a clown comes in and start doing the sponge-bob, D-mack or other dance that doesn’t belong in a breaking circle. Don’t do that, you’re ruining the flow of the cypher.
4. Don’t, by any means, bite another person’s move, style, character, etc. We know when you throw something out that isn’t yours, especially style, so stop it.
5. If you haven’t been practicing, then don’t jump into a circle with the best bboys in the game, you’ll make yourself look really dumb.
6. Try to not spill drinks on the floor
7. DO NOT put that silicon spray on the floor so you can get better spins, spins should be gotten legitimately or not gotten ya bozo!
8. Go to practice dressed like you’re there to practice, go to jams dressed like you’re a fly super hero. Do not miss-match these concepts.
9. If it’s a party then socialization is cool, at a cipher there’s nothing worse than someone getting all chatty while you’re in the zone or are really trying to go all chips in. So know which is which.
10. And have fun, it shows if you’re a robot and are just going through the motions. If your energy is flat then your flavor is flat, c’mon son!
Here’s what a few people said when questioned about the topic:
“Don’t be wack” Vigorous
“There are no rules. You’re at a party having a good time.” Nemesis
“You gotta look fly, back in the days heads wouldn’t come to a jam looking bummy. Heads would get dipped and come through and rock out. Now-a-days heads dress like they’re goin to the gym or gonna go play flag football or something AND they be wack!” Ken Swift
“Go ALL out, there’s nothing worse than holding back and losing or not doing as well as you want.” Brooks Jones
“Set the bar really high so that the next person that goes has to do better than you and you know who to battle” Cesa
So keep these in mind and you’ll do aite, it’s a promise.
OH! And do remember, if you’re wearing a mock-neck with sweatpants or ball shorts and ripped up pair of those Kmart Velcro shoes, we ARE laughing at you!!!
-Brooks Jones out!
