Rap legend Kurtis Blow is special guest MC for a hip-hop holiday mash-up at NJPAC on December 19 and Baristanet has a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky reader!
The Hip Hop Nutcracker reimagines Tchaikovsky’s classic score through explosive choreography. A dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, an electric violinist, and digital scenery bring the traditional Nutcracker story to life in a contemporary urban setting.
Ready to embark on an international tour that includes stops in Russia, this freestylin’ show celebrates love, community and the magic of New Year’s Eve. The high-energy cast includes Gabriel Alvarez, Ann Sylvia Clark, Myriam Gadri, Lucile “Frak” Graciano, Alain “Hurrikane” Lauture, Sophia LaVonne, Derek Matterson, Miki Michelle, Frankie Rodriguez and Brandon Rosario.
The Hip Hop Nutcracker is directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber from the award-winning hip-hop company Decadancetheatre. It is adapted to contemporary New York City by Mike Fitelson and set to The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky, with hip-hop interludes remixed and re-imagined by DJ Boo.
One of the founders and creators of recorded rap, Kurtis Blow became the first rapper to be signed by a major label in 1979, at the age of 20. His gold album, The Breaks, helped ignite an international “Rap Attack.”
Want to see Hip Hop Nutcracker with Kurtis Blow on Saturday, December 19? Enter in the box below by Monday, November 23 at 9 p.m. We’ll randomly choose a winner — check back to see if it’s you!
“Throw your hands up in the sky
And wave em round from side to side” is one of the most classic lines.
“Just do it, just do it, just do it, do it, do it!”
Throw your hands up in the sky
And wave em round from side to side
And if you deserve a break tonight
Somebody say alright!
these here breaks will rock your shoes!!
Hard times, spreading like the flu
You know I caught it, just like you
And the IRS says they want to chat
And you can’t explain why you claimed your cat
dance, dance, must be ants in your pants.
Breaks on a stage, breaks on a screen
Breaks to make your wallet lean
Breaks run cold and breaks run hot
Some folks got ’em and some have not
Breakes on a bus, brakes on a car
Breaks to make you a superstar
If your woman steps out with another man,
(that’s the breaks, that’s the breaks)
And she runs off with him to Japan
(that’s the breaks, that’s the breaks)
And the IRS says they want to chat
(that’s the breaks, that’s the breaks)
And you can’t explain why you claimed your cat
(that’s the breaks, that’s the breaks)
And Ma Bell sends you a whoppin bill
(that’s the breaks, that’s the breaks)
With eighteen phone calls to Brazil
(that’s the breaks, that’s the breaks)
And you borrowed money from the mob
(that’s the breaks, that’s the breaks)
And yesterday you lost your job
(that’s the breaks, that’s the breaks)
Well these are the breaks,
Break it up, Break it up, Break it up!
breakin and bakin
Wow, Curtis Blow – would love this!!!
Clap your hands, everybody
If you got what it takes
Cause I’m Kurtis Blow and I want you to know
That these are the breaks
Stu is my name. Don’t wear it out. I dwell on top, like Sauerkraut.