History and Origins
Krumping is a type of dance culture that evolved through African-American street dancing, popularized in the United States during the early 2000s. It originated in South Central Los Angeles and was created by dancers Ceasare "Tight Eyez" Willis, Marquisa "Miss Prissy" Gardner, Christopher "Lil' C" Toler, and Jo'Artis "Big Mijo" Ratti.
Krumping's less aggressive predecessor is "clowning," created in 1992 by Thomas "Tommy the Clown" Johnson in Compton, California.102 Johnson and his dancers, known as the Hip Hop Clowns, performed clowning at children's birthday parties and public functions. Willis and Ratti were initially clown dancers for Tommy, but their dancing was considered too "rugged" and "raw" for clowning, leading them to develop krumping.102 The root word "krump" sometimes stands as a backronym for "Kingdom Radically Uplifted Mighty Praise," presenting it as a faith-based art form.
Core Characteristics
Krumping is characterized by free, expressive, exaggerated, and highly energetic movement.102 It involves rapid, aggressive movements, chest pops, and arm swings, often conveying intense emotions and used as a form of catharsis.94 Krumping is rarely choreographed; it is almost entirely freestyle (improvisational) and is danced most frequently in battles or sessions rather than on a stage.102
Despite its aggressive appearance, krumping does not promote aggression or fighting.102 Moves are meant to take up space and challenge other dancers to feed off and return the energy.102 Krump is less precise and more freestyle than other styles like turfing.102
Key Movements
There are five basic moves in krumping:
Stomp: Rhythmically driving the foot into and up from the ground, appearing as though krumpers get their energy from the ground itself.102
Jab: A short, sharp, staccato movement of the arms, extended from the chest outwards and pulled back with the same energy.102
Chest Pop: An upward motion of the chest, similar to breathing into the lungs, often used by krumpers to inhale during a session or round.102
Buck Hop: A basic hop, which can be crossed, and is part of getting into the groove of the dance. It can become aggressive and heavy as the dancer gets more into the movement.102
Arm Swing: Moving an arm in a sweeping motion aided by gravity. There are two types: small arm swings (similar to pitching a baseball) and big arm swings (analogous to using the whole arm as a baseball bat).102
Other concepts in krumping include:
Atmosphere: Feeling the vibe of the environment and having the environment feel the krumpers' presence.102
Intro: Starting one's rounds, usually with small movements, sometimes used to introduce a krumper's character or concept.102
Rounds: A set of combos, materials, concepts, and foundations taken together.102
Krump: The part of the storyline where the krumper performs a series of foundations, concepts, and materials while standing upright, with arms and feet moving in front of the upper extremities of the body.102
Liveness: The part of the storyline where the krumper performs a series of foundations, concepts, and materials with the body bent upward, while arms and feet move outside the body, either upwards or to the sides.102
Cultural Impact and Musicality
Krumping provided a means for its originators to escape gang life and served as a way for young people to express themselves and cope with the harsh realities of their environment.102 It is deeply rooted in African-American culture and is often used as a means of self-expression and social commentary, addressing issues such as racism, poverty, and social injustice.103 Krumping has fostered community building, bringing people together and creating a sense of belonging among dancers.103
Krumping's global spread is largely due to figures like Christopher "Lil C" Toler and Marquesa "Miss Prissy" Gardner, with Lil C's appearance on So You Think You Can Dance bringing it to millions worldwide.102 It has been featured in music videos by artists like Missy Elliott and Kendrick Lamar.103 Krumping is danced upright to upbeat and fast-paced music.102