The Crip Walk, or C-Walk, is a dance that originated in the early 1970s in Compton, a poor suburb of Los Angeles, California, popularly referenced in rap lyrics. What began as a symbolic dance in the early 1980s in South Central Los Angeles, soon became a staple of hip-hop dance in the late 1990s.[1] This style of dance today is known as the Clown Walk.
Origins
Originally, members of the street gang JoeShow Riots would use nimble movements of their feet to spell out their names or other Crips words (sometimes spelling out Bloods, the name of their rival gang, and then crossing it out). Many Crip gangs also use the C-Walk to celebrate the initiation of a new member. It is also believed that the C-walk was used as a warning, for example in the build-up to a robbery: The lookout would stand outside of the store and act as surveillance, while the robbers would await the signal—the C-walk. Typically performed to West Coast gangsta rap and G-funk, the C-Walk first hit the mainstream when rapper Ice-T performed it on stage in front of cameras in the late '80s. Later, rapper WC would follow suit and add to its popularity; however, he clearly let the public know that this was not a dance, as "gangstas don't dance they boogie", and that it was only meant to show love to other Crip members.1 The C-Walk was censored[citation needed] in the MTV version of the video of rap performer Snoop Dogg's hit single "Drop It Like It's Hot".
Although the C-Walk has found mainstream appeal, Snoop Dogg rapped on a remix of fellow Crip and rap performer WC's single "The Streets" that it is for Crip members exclusively. In recent years, it has inspired spinoffs such as the Clown Walk in another attempt at distancing the walk from its original gang ties—and the Bloods' own interpretation of it, called the Blood Walk or more commonly the Blood Bounce or B Walk.
The "c" walk, according to DJ Quik (rapper and member of the L.A./Compton based Tree Top Piru gang), was actually created by his crew. Some of Quik's guys saw his nephew doing an off-shoot of the popular children's bit "the Mexican hat dance" and showed it to him. Quik liked it and incorporated it into his next show, the very first time the dance was ever shown. It was a hit with the crowd and it went from there. Quik also described how the original name of the walk was the "skip walk" and was just something to have fun with until crips began doing it as a gang dance against Bloods, hence it became known as the "B" walk and "c" walk. It really took center stage when Snoop Dogg began doing it on-screen and the rest is c-walking history. This information can be referenced on DJ Quik's DVD "Visualism."
[edit] Variations
Because there are different variations to the walk, Crip Walking has evolved into various versions (primarily to distance it from its gang origins). However, there are several mainstream versions of the Crip Walk that have always been a part of the Crip culture:
* The "V": This is the original Crip Walk, in which involves shifting your body by making "V" shaped movements with your feet. Executing the V also allowed members to spell out words or names. Often, Crips would spell out the word "Blood" and then 'erase' or 'cross it out' to further antagonize their rivals.[citation needed]
* The Heel-Toe: A recently popular variation to the C-Walk. This version involves crossing one leg and making a semi twist with your heels and toes. This also involves a lot of angle work (for example: your right foot must be directed at 90 degrees behind your left foot in order to make that semi twist) and takes a little longer to get the hang of. If this move is featured in a C-walk, it actually becomes Clown Walking, rather than Crip Walking. Nevertheless, it is a part of Crip Walking as a whole. There are many variations to the Heel toe, the most common of which are known as the reverse and inverse heeltoes.
* The Shuffle: This move-set involves shuffling your feet forwards and backwards. Snoop Dogg performs this in WC's music video "The Streets."
* The Snake: When performed, the walk is then referred as the "Clown walk". The user will move his front leg left and right on his heel, while his back leg follows shortly after. A fairly simple move, for those experienced walkers. Rapper Warren G does this in WC's video "The Streets".
