Red Bull International B-Boy Championship Comes to NYC

Red Bull is really getting into this big-event-sponsorship thing. You know, like the insane plane races where pilots in 1/4-seater planes fly spinning diagonally going a bajillion miles per hour through a hula hoop blindfolded drinking Red Bull through a sippy cup doing a crossword puzzle… Anyway, Red Bull is underwriting, and KRS One is hosting, the Red Bull RC One the “international b-boy championship” that will probably be a ginormously promoted, and positively received hip-hop event at the Hammerstein Ballroom on November 18. It may be news to us, but it’s been a 5-year-long annual worldwide event, so it should be nice to have it come back from whence it came.

Tickets for the Red Bull BC One International B-boy Championship go on sale October 9. Info below, directly from their press release:

NEW YORK, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ — The most powerful voice in Hip Hop – KRS ONE, will host the world’s most respected international b-boy championship – Red Bull BC One – at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, November 18, 2009. Tickets for the annual event go on sale October 9th for $15 (plus service charge) at http://ticketmaster.com..

KRS One is known for being a political and socially conscious rapper. These traits have earned him the title “Teacha.” He is a major player in the evolution of Hip Hop and has been known to spark controversy. Currently, The Boogie Down Productions legend has outdone himself by writing the 600-page Hip Hop bible titled The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument which he hopes will someday become a sacred text of a new Hip Hop religion. KRS One is sure to bring the house down by connecting the worlds of music and dance and shining a light on the physically powerful and stylistic athletic element of Hip Hop – b-boying.

WHO IS THE ONE?
Red Bull BC One is known to bring the heat. Every year 16 dancers are handpicked from Hip Hop capitals worldwide and given the chance to represent their country and their individuality in this acclaimed head-to-head battle royale. This year, the dancers will be judged by an astute panel of five respected b-boys who represent different styles of dance from different parts of the world. The judges are: Katsu of The Mighty Zulu Kingz (Japan), Salah of Vagabonds Crew (France), Ronnie of Sup3r Crew and 2007 Red Bull BC One champion (USA), Cico of Spinkingz (Italy), and b-boy Float (USA). At the end of the night there will only be ONE b-boy left standing–the one who will walk away with the coveted title and world-wide respect as the Red Bull BC One Champion. The judges have no easy job but it is up to them alone to determine “who is the ONE?”

FULL CIRCLE
Red Bull BC One may be making its live U.S. debut this year but over the past 5 years, the internationally acclaimed event has entertained thousands of fans, inspired innovation among the international Hip Hop scene and given a platform to the best dancers in the world to show their individual skills. The annual event has been hosted in Berlin, Switzerland, Sao Paulo, South Africa, and Paris. This November, the celebration and competition comes home to where the movement first began – New York city. Stay locked on http://www.redbullbcone.com for more event information, announcements, and to find out more about this year’s line-up of dancers and entertainment.

Their video preview: