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Jimmy Castor is really one of the unsung heroes of a generation that defined the funky rhythms that is now heavily akin to sampling of hip hop. However, Jimmy Castor’s work is to be praised individualistically in its purest form without regard for who chose to pay tribute to it or not. It’s a true shame that this year and 2011 has been riddled with the passing away of so many great artists including Gil-Scott Heron, Heavy-D, as well as Guru.

Castor who passed away Monday in Henderson, Las Vegas, passed from cancer at the age of 64. Truly, it was Jimmy with his iconoclastic approach to music, one of a kind persona, swinging rhythm and hard to ignore voice that probably drew inspiration from groups such as Funkadelic. The Bboy community will always appreciate his incredible contributions to the music with “Its Just Begun”, and “When”, which to me are as important to original breaks as “Apache”.

Civil Salutes Jimmy as an artist who really chose to Celebrate The Difference, in fusing Latin, funk and many genres into his own unique mixture.

Two legends in the span of two days, Rest in Peace Heavy D.

Props to our good friend Frankie Flave  Killafornia for taking this jam in the 1 on 1 competition. Frankie rockin’ the Regime tee while he Celebrates the Difference.

The Story of Kashmere Stage Band is one of struggle, fame and exuberance transcending music beyond the human experience. A lot of us grew up on Dan the Automator and DJ Shadow’s “Holy Calamity” break used on “Handsome Boy Modeling School”.

Growing up I experienced the sound of Kashmere through DJ Shadow’s production, as well as in BBoy Summit 99, when Leacy played it. To me Kashmere hits a very high point because of its sentimental connection with bboying, digging culture, jazz, jazz funk, and historical music. It truly reflects the intersection of cultures that are related but don’t seem so at first. It was one of the first experiences in my early adolescent life where I connected the hip hop culture in breaking to that of funk music. At the same time, its pretty astounding how a group of High school kids were able to play at this level well beyond their age.

Kashmere High School is located in a predominantly black neighborhood known as Kashmere Gardens in Houston, Texas. Music teacher Conrad O. Johnson attended an Otis Redding concert in 1967 and was inspired to translate the style of the concert into a program he could sustain at the high school in order to create opportunities for his student musicians, and thus the Kashmere Stage Band was born.

During its time, KSB won national championships in high school band competitions and gained a reputation as being unbeatable. Johnson served as band director, arranger, and principal composer for the band. KSB recorded eight albums during its life.

The teenagers in the Kashmere Stage Band produced a sound equal to that of the contemporary funk bands the JB’s and the Bar-Kays. Although lost for decades, since 2003 the KSB recordings have been released, some for the first time, on both vinyl record and CD and have become prized by hip-hop artists and DJ’s for their inimitable sound. A notable sampling occurs on the Handsome Boy Modeling School album So… How’s Your Girl?; DJ Shadow’s track “Holy Calamity (Bear Witness II)” samples “Kashmere” from the album Kashmere Stage Band Plays Originals.

Notable KSB alumni include jazz drummer Bubbha Thomas.
In February of 2008, thirty original members of the Kashmere Stage Band, all in their mid-50s, reunited for the first time in over three decades to pay tribute to their legendary leader, Conrad “Prof” Johnson, who was 92 at the time. The story of Prof, the exceptional music program he built, and the historic reunion of his former students was captured in a feature-length documentary film, THUNDER SOUL, to be released in theaters on September 23, 2011.[

Well – good news! It’s out this weekend in select theaters starting Friday, 09.23! A full list of theaters is below. And, if you need more of a reason to go, check the film’s official trailer above.

NEW YORK
BRONX – Bay Plaza 13
FARMINGDALE – Farmingdale Stadium 10
GARDEN CITY – Roosevelt Field 8
JAMAICA – Jamaica Multiplex 15
NEW ROCHELLE – New Roc City 18
NEW YORK – 84th Street 6
NEW YORK – E-Walk 13
NEW YORK – Village Theatre 7
VALLEY STREAM – Sunrise Multiplex Cinemas 14
WEST NYACK – Palisades Center 21

CONNECTICUT
BRIDGEPORT – Showcase Cinemas Bridgeport 12
STAMFORD – Majestic 6

GEORGIA
ATLANTA – Midtown Art Cinemas 8
ATLANTA – Movies ATL 14
ATLANTA – Parkway Pointe 15
CHAMBLEE – Hollywood 24 @ N I-85
DOUGLASVILLE – Arbor Place 18
LITHONIA – Stonecrest Mall 16
MORROW – Southlake Pavilion 24 Theatres

NEW JERSEY
CLIFTON – Clifton Commons 16
EATONTOWN – Monmouth Mall 15
ELIZABETH – AMC Jersey Gardens 20
MONTCLAIR – Clairidge Cinemas 6
NEW BRUNSWICK – New Brunswick 18

OHIO
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS – Severance Town Center 14
VALLEY VIEW – Valley View 24

TEXAS
HOUSTON – Greenway Grand Palace Stadium 24 Cinemas
HOUSTON – Gulf Pointe 30 Theatres
HOUSTON – Houston Marq*E Stadium 23 Cinemas
HOUSTON – Studio 30 Theatres
HOUSTON – Deerbrook 24 Theatres
JACINTO CITY – Tinseltown 17
SUGAR LAND – First Colony 24 Theatres
THE WOODLANDS – Cinemark @ Market Street 5
WEBSTER – Cinemark Webster 18

Credit to Stones throw for showing the film nationwide.

Freestyle Session 14!!! Check out our good friend Bboy Machine rockin’ the “LA is Ours” tank! Getting busy in those circles! Props to our boys Killafornia!!! 

-Machine at 2:01

                    Freestyle Session isn’t the same as it used to be but the bboys continue to evolve showing a more well- rounded style blended with unique flowing moves. In the late 70s and 80s, there was an emphasis on the raw flavor, foundation, style and execution of moves. While the former is important, the 90s saw an addition of evolution in power moves as well as unique style.

                    In 2000, and the era that I grew up with, there was a great change that saw a definite break in style, where there was an exploration of moves that relied heavily on balance, as the dance began to evaluate its identity choosing to borrow more heavily from Cirque moves, punk and goth style. In this era, there were more specialists of the dance. You would have someone that specializes in footwork, foundation, character, power moves, freezes, and few that would combine all of the above.

 In this decade from 2010, I feel that the bboys are definitely more well rounded, although the striking individuality is not as prevalent.

Highlights of the Battle:

Kid David’s set at 3:30.Beat hitting around 3:46.

5:20 Jinjo crew’s jackhammer, shoulder hop alternation on beat.

Congrats to Jinjo Crew for taking it…this time Korean bboys get their well deserved win.

Civil Clothing featured in Antenna magazine. Thanks Liz and William Buckley for the love!

Check the press release here.