Los Angeles, 2000s
KRUMP
The cathartic rage of South Central
Krump was born in South Central Los Angeles at the very start of the 2000s, against the backdrop of the 1992 riots and the precariousness of California's Black neighborhoods. Created by Tommy "Clowning" Johnson (Clowning) then radicalized by Tight Eyez and Ceasare "Tight Eyez" Willis (Krump), it is a dance of catharsis: one pours rage, faith, pain, and energy into it.
The documentary Rize (David LaChapelle, 2005) made it known to the world. It shows young people who, rather than joining gangs, choose to "krump" — that is, to dance to exhaustion in "sessions" that resemble exorcisms. The style is as spiritual as it is physical: many krumpers come from Pentecostal churches.
How it's danced
Technique & figures
Krump is danced at high intensity, to noisy Hip-hop music at 100-120 BPM. The body is constantly engaged, the chest opens, the arms slash the air, the legs stomp the ground. It is a dance of power and control at once.
Styles and fundamentals
The vocabulary is organized around four foundations: Stomps (heavy foot strikes), Chest Pops (violent chest contractions), Arm swings (arm slashes), and Jabs (punches thrown into the air). Each krumper develops their own "character" — a danced alter ego that expresses their story.
Main figures
- 01
Stomp
A heavy strike of the foot on the ground, leg bent then brutally extended. Anchors the krumper in their axis.
- 02
Chest pop
A violent forward contraction of the chest, with an explosive intake of breath. A signature of the style.
- 03
Arm swing
A fast, sharp sweep of the arms through the air, crossing in front of the chest or circling.
- 04
Jab
A punch thrown into the air, on a musical accent. Carries significant dramatic weight.
- 05
Kill off
The final sequence of a round, where the krumper symbolically "kills" their opponent with an explosion of movement.
- 06
Character
A danced persona unique to each krumper: Miss Prissy, Tight Eyez, Slausen, each with their own signature.
Reading the music
Instrumental Krump music, often produced specifically for the scene (Rob Vicious, Jitt Beats). Heavy drums, distortions, spiritual samples, moderate tempo.