Poplocking

[Larry Pink]

i don't know ANYTHING about how this came around. But i do know that there's currently DRAMA about it. But i want to know, if anyone can put their 2 cents on why this word won't go away - or even if it needs to go away.

I assume it's an incorrect term, but terms are just slang that different groups of people use. So, if anyone can enlighten me with why THIS WORD became so prevalent, that'd be great.

Or a clip!

[MikeyP]

its a media coined term like "breakdancing"

yes it does need to go away.

[deuceboogie]

while browsing through the madness that is westcoastpoppin, i came under the impression that some LA cats made a style they call poplockin. i dont know.

me no like.

[Larry Pink]

well i know about the west coast poplockers - and they still use the term. and they still can TEAR IT UP! but i'm just confused.

Mikey P you may be onto something though. But don't you think, that if us as dancers REALIZED that it was a media mogul term, we would not like...i dunno, abide by it?

confoozled.

[Funky Robotnick]

From what I understand, after reading countless references and arguments on the term "poplocking," is that it was a term used in certain areas of LA. This is fact, as many og LA dancers will tell you. (crews like westcoast poplockers and Slick Dog still use the term, as well as many people you will randomly meet throughout your life)

While it seems like everyone has their own definition, the story that seems most plausible to me is that when popping hit LA, there were already people getting down to funk-- Lockers. So when people first saw poppin, there was probably some confusion as to what the dancers were doing, thus the term "poplockin."

Please bear in mind the above statement is an opinion, as I haven't researched the origins of this term/dance, outside of reading all the entertaining drama posted online.

However, the fact remains that the term "poplockin" WAS and continues to be a legitimate term in many neighborhoods/ dancers opinion, including many pioneers and forerunners of the LA popping styles. Please respect the OG's history, as none of us would be here without their contributions.

[Magic Mike]

Thanks for that info Robotnik, definitely makes more sense when you think about it.

But answer me this then people , what does "poplocking" look like? After all, if I see someone just locking, i'll say you're locking. If they're popping, obviously I'll say their popping. Is it both? I tried it and it don't work =P

The term can exist and thats fine, its when someone uses that term to describe something that already has a name and history that bugs me. I can bet any of the Original Lockers or EBs would get pissed if someone yelled poplockin while they were gettin down =P

Oh yea, and it wont go away because its already widespread by the media. Unless a 2nd coming of The Lockers comes our way through the world, its staying.

[Double You Kong]

And don't forget, the term "pop and lock" is even bigger now due to the song pop, lock, and drop it. I'm a bit sad because mainstream media (like on MTV) doesn't really take much time to explain the difference between the two.

If no attempts are made education people, pop and lock will continue to grow together as a household name.

I always explain the difference when I see people in person, but you guys got any ideas on how to spread the word even more?

[ceech]

i'm in 100% agreement with doclock. maybe we were both there when pete edumacated us. lol

I'm going to paraphrase what Pop'in Pete said.

"...
Dancers in LA back in the days, would mix styles, as some dancers still do. They would come out and pop, then when they run out of popping moves, they would lock. Just because you mixed two styles together, that doesn't make it another style of it's own. So, if I came out and pop, then i follow that immediately by breaking, did I just invented a new style called popbreaking ? Hell no. Or if I lock, then immediately house, did I just made up lockhousing ? HELL NO. That's why poplocking doesn't exist. And if poplocking really exist what does it look like ?
..."

I hope this piece of knowledge helped. I am definitely interested in learning what other OGs have to say about it. All of the EBs, and Lockers, are in agreement about this term so there's absolutely no confusion for me.

[Lil b]

"Poplock" is one of those words that I just can't help cringing when I hear it. All throughout high school it's a word that came across so often and so easily. I wasn't educated at all with hip hop or funkstyles back then, but I was under the impression that "poplockin'" was just like...waving with stopping. Someone just kind of left that impression on me and I always shy'd away from researching anything past that. I just thought it was kinda stupid.

I think that i'd just rather popper's and locker's be called "funkstylers" or something similar. Though I can see some educated folks actually using "poplockers" in the same way i'd use "funkstylers" just for whatever reason. but besides that, I almost feel that poplockers is a derogatory term. I know that's kinda blowing it out of proportion but like Magic Mike pointed out,
The term can exist and thats fine, its when someone uses that term to describe something that already has a name and history that bugs me.

I'm always happy if i'm dancing like at a club and someone says "oh wow you're a locker!" as opposed to the usual "ohhhh shnaaap it's a poplocker". but that's only after they've seen me pop haha.

And through pete's paraphrase....I wish I could be a housebreaker. Hahaha

[DocLock]

POPLOCKING is a term that originated out of LA. I never used this back in the day but don't deny the existence of it. To me, it's just a slang term and only refers to POPPING.

It doesn't bother me because, frankly, I have never used it.

I wouldn't go as far as to insult someone who was a serious hard street popper then who wants to call it what they will. West Coast Poplockers are some of the hardest looking poppers I've seen.

It's a STREET thing, is all. Was never a MEDIA deal like "POP and LOCK."

I was actually surprised to learn how brothers in Oakland were using the term back in the days.

Back then we did know we were doing two different styles of dance, even though we mixed them in performances or when getting down.

So when folks ask me I just tell them...it's another LA term for POPPING.


True story:

Loose Caboose when he was on Showtime at the Apollo couldn't even argue about it. When asked "What kind of dance you gonna do??"

He says "Locking."

"Oh you mean POPLOCKING, POPLOCKING!!" was the response from the hostess.

No further mention was made.

Loose and CosmoLock proceeded to dance.

[Larry Pink]

I was actually surprised to learn how brothers in Oakland were using the term back in the days.


Like REAL brothers? hahahaa

[Switch Step]

I remember at an even back in 2002 I think it was Pro Am or something Playboy Eddie I think it was demonstrated different styles of LA and stuff during a panel. It was real cool especially cuz I think Demons were there to demonstrating. Anyways, he got to the style of poplocking and he was just saying how they mixed various moves from locking and popped with it. Mostly just like the points and stuff, not so much the actual lock.

I could understand why they would come up with terms like that if what they're doing is mixing styles to make a new one. Like when people do ticking waves or animated waves.

I think the best example though would be from Mr. Wiggles himself in session three. He was ticking while locking.... He called it.... TickLocking.. I think.. .haha, haven't seen it in awhile..

Anyways, my general knowledge on the subject.

[Larry Pink]

you're right - he did do the tick lock! and then he did the ticking old man! and then some zombie thing.

[Funky Robotnick]

I remember at an even back in 2002 I think it was Pro Am or something Playboy Eddie I think it was demonstrated different styles of LA and stuff during a panel. It was real cool especially cuz I think Demons were there to demonstrating. Anyways, he got to the style of poplocking and he was just saying how they mixed various moves from locking and popped with it. Mostly just like the points and stuff, not so much the actual lock.

Sounds tight. I'd like to see that

[Switch Step]

I think there was a video of the event Unfortunately a lot of footage got cut off. And even the winner of the event was changed on the video. Wierd stuff.. I won't go into details. haha..

[Inventfmc]

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[Inventfmc]

I think that vid is a good explaination of the term poplock. There WERE many cats who mixed the moves, just as some lockers mix in house moves and hip-hop moves (and vice versa).
Just let the term be, I say...
I used to cringe when I heard it too, but now that I understand it's history a bit better and realize that that's what the dance is to some of the most passionate about it, I just let all that go.

And as a PS and heads up to cats on the forum. I agree with about 2% of what the EB's say. You guys hate the term poplocking, I hate the term funkstyles. :)

[MikeyP]

I think that vid is a good explaination of the term poplock. There WERE many cats who mixed the moves, just as some lockers mix in house moves and hip-hop moves (and vice versa).
Just let the term be, I say...
I used to cringe when I heard it too, but now that I understand it's history a bit better and realize that that's what the dance is to some of the most passionate about it, I just let all that go.

And as a PS and heads up to cats on the forum. I agree with about 2% of what the EB's say. You guys hate the term poplocking, I hate the term funkstyles. :)

your full of ****!!

i dont mean that, i'm just mad you stood me up on tuesday:mad:

[Funky Robotnick]

lol at "ticlockin" @ 1:30. That's tight though

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