20 years of Red Bull BC One
The biggest global one – on – one breaking competition, Red Bull BC One celebrates 20 years as it seeks to unearth the latest South African talent at this year’s regional cyphers. Breaking, DJing, and MCing will be on showcase for the world to see with the very best of South Africa’s breakers going all out to see who comes out on top.
The breaking battle royale is set to take place across some of South Africa’s most iconic landmarks. Kicking off with the regional cyphers at the ever vibrant Newtown Junction on January 27, followed by the Rooftop on Bree in Cape Town on February 3, and ending off at the Gallery on Produce in Gqeberha on February 10. The highly anticipated national finals return to Johannesburg on March 23 where the 2024 champions will be crowned and go on to represent South Africa at the Red Bull BC One World Finals taking place in Rio de Janeiro later this year.
A DJ spinning the freshest breaking tracks will also be a fixture for each cypher. DJ Ready D who is a hip-hop heavyweight and legend in his own right, highlights the critical role a spinning wizard plays at breaking events of this magnitude, “We DJ’s are not just simply playing music, we are creating an immersive experience for both breakers and fans to get lost in for the few hours they are at the event. We help in building anticipation before a cypher, dropping unexpected beats to test dancers’ adaptability, and even creating friendly rivalries through clever track selection.”
Red Bull BC One has ignited the breaking scene in South Africa, and is still at the forefront of the Mzansi’s hip-hop culture. Red Bull’s commitment to the sport is further validated by the inclusion of breaking at the 2024 Olympic games – a historic first
Industry legend and well established b-boy, Vouks, reflects on how far breaking has come in South Africa; “The art of breaking has truly evolved over the years. Just last year we were celebrating 50 years of hip-hop, which includes breaking. In South Africa, it has changed from a dance move done on the street corners, to a sport that is improving communities and has individuals making a career out of it. This year we are celebrating another milestone, where breaking will feature at the Olympic games for the very first time. This is a gamechanger and youth can now dream about being future Olympians beyond mainstream sports, and showcase their talent on a world stage.”
With Red Bull BC One South Africa celebrating hip-hop culture – breaking, MCing and DJing – participants and fans alike can look forward to a memorable experience in 2024.
