{"id":268,"date":"2008-04-07T07:44:03","date_gmt":"2008-04-07T14:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bigjimindustries.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2008\/04\/frostys-gone\/"},"modified":"2008-04-07T16:15:32","modified_gmt":"2008-04-07T23:15:32","slug":"frostys-gone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bigjimindustries.com\/wordpress\/2008\/04\/07\/frostys-gone\/","title":{"rendered":"Frosty’s Gone"},"content":{"rendered":"

from the AP<\/span><\/p>\n

Breakdance Pioneer Dies in NYC<\/h1>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

By ULA ILNYTZKY \u2013\u00a03 days ago<\/span><\/p>\n

NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Wayne “Frosty Freeze” Frost, a hip-hop pioneer whose acrobatic performance with the legendary Rock Steady Crew in the 1983 movie “Flashdance” helped set off a worldwide breakdancing craze, has died. He was 44.<\/p>\n

Frost died Thursday at Mount Sinai Medical Center after a long illness, said Jorge “Fabel” Pabon, a senior vice president of the crew where Frost and other so-called b-boys (for beat or break boys) made their name performing complicated and daring dance routines.<\/p>\n

“He was one of most charismatic b-boys that ever lived,” said Benson Lee, director of the new documentary film “Planet B-Boy.”<\/p>\n

\"Frosty\u00a0<\/p>\n

Breakdancing emerged from the Bronx and Harlem in the early 1970s, part of the hip-hop culture that also included graffiti, MCing or rapping, and disc jockeys scratching and mixing vinyl records on turntables.<\/p>\n

During extended pauses, or breaks, in the music, b-boys would mimic James Brown’s showmanship and footwork and Bruce Lee’s martial arts, adding their own signature moves.<\/p>\n

Frost was known for his energetic style, intricate choreography and fearless moves including back flips and head spins. One was even dubbed the “Suicide.”<\/p>\n

Frost got his start in 1978 with the Bronx-based Rock City Crew. In 1981, he became part of the Rock Steady Crew, joining such acclaimed breakdancers as Ken Swift and Lil Crazy Legs.<\/p>\n

Frost toured the world with the Rock Steady Crew and other hip-hop artists, including Fab 5 Freddy, Futura 2000 and Kool Lady Blue.<\/p>\n

Frost’s appearance with Rock Steady Crew in “Flashdance” spread the breakdance phenomenon globally, said Joseph Schloss, a visiting scholar in the music department at New York University. “He was one of the first B-boys that most people ever saw,” Schloss said.<\/p>\n

Graffiti artist and close friend Zulu King Slone, who knew Frost for 15 years, said he was “like a walking hip-hop culture encyclopedia.”<\/p>\n

As a member of the Rock Steady Crew, Frost also appeared in several movies on hip-hop culture, including “Wild Style,” “Beat Street” and “Style Wars.” He also appeared on the cover of the Village Voice in 1981.<\/p>\n

Funeral arrangements were incomplete.<\/p>\n

Associated Press writer Tania Fuentez contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n