It’s not often a dance fan can view a live krump session. Some happen after hours. Others pop off in parking lots or parks and are frequented only by those in the know. On Thursday, June 5, 2025, attendees of the Second Annual Hip-Hop Block Party at the Grammy Museum in DTLA had the pleasure of viewing two live sessions, one on the Ray Charles Terrace and the other in the Clive Davis Theater.
Throughout the night, the top four floors of the museum were buzzing with what Schyler O’Neal, Manager of Education & Community Engagement, called activations. There was a schedule posted in the entry and handed out to folks listing each activation and when and where it would happen. Poetry open mics, fashion shows, podcasts, a jam session, DJ sets, and trivia game sessions were all on the program.
Grammy Museum Second Annual Hip-Hop Block Party – Syncopated Ladies – Photo by Randy Shropshire, Courtesy of the Recording Academy – Getty Images© 2025.
During the dance activations, O’Neal shouted out Leslie “Big Lez” Segar, best known for her work on BET’s “Rap City” and FOX’s “Living Single,” for choosing the styles: tap and krump. Around 8:45 p.m., Chloe Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies hit the stage on the Ray Charles Terrace, the roof top level of the museum. The downtown skyline was the backdrop for these three ladies tapping to a medley of hits.
For anyone wondering why tap was featured at a hip-hop party, Arnold answered by stating that freestyle and improvisation are central to both tap and hip-hop. Big Lez highlighted the fact that while most of the more well-known tap dancers have been and are male, these ladies are creating a lane for themselves: Their viral videos have garnered more than 200 million views, and Arnold collaborated with Jerry Seinfeld on his Netflix film “Unfrosted” and choreographed the Apple TV+ musical film “Spirited,” starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. Arnold is an Emmy Award-nominated dancer, choreographer, producer, director, and the co-producer, along with Debbie Allen and her sister Maud, of the Hollywood Tap Festival, coming to town July 21-27.
Grammy Museum Second Annual Hip-Hop Block Party – Syncopated Ladies – Photo by Randy Shropshire, Courtesy of the Recording Academy – Getty Images© 2025.
At 8:00 p.m. the first krump session started on the roof top. Ruin orchestrated both sessions and invited his friends and fellow dancers to participate. There were the fellas: Creed, Wreck, Check, Justice, Manny, Oxy, and special guest Tight Eyex, one of the founders of krump. The two dancers representing for the females were Malice and Five.
Grammy Museum Second Annual Hip-Hop Block Party – Krumpers: Ruin, Creed, Wreck, Check, Justice, Manny, Oxy, Tight Eyex, Malice and Five – Photo by Randy Shropshire, Courtesy of the Recording Academy.
Each session lasted only about 10 minutes and in that short amount of time, each dancer stepped into the session at least once. Each one had their own unique choreographic story to tell. The fundamentals of krump are chest pops, arm swings, and foot stomps and then each dancer adds their own personality and flavor. With each movement comes an emotion. The dancer’s mood and the energy from the other dancers and the crowd all combine to fuel the dancer’s turn in the session. It’s why the same dancer gets off differently every time they step in the session.
Ruin and Tight Eyex exhibited poise and professionalism as they used every inch of the terrace patio floor and vibed off the cheers from the audience. The grace and power of Oxy and Creed showed up in each of their movements that synched superbly with the beat. Malice, who shared she had been krumping for 2 years, moved her arms with equal parts chaos and acuity. Her dedication shined as she stomped and arched her back. A dancer’s face is equally as emotive as their body parts.
Grammy Museum Second Annual Hip-Hop Block Party – Krumpers – Photo by Randy Shropshire, Courtesy of the Recording Academy.
Almost 2 hours later, at 9:40 p.m., the second krump session ignited; this time inside the Clive Davis Theater. Here, the dancers were boxed onto the stage with a ceiling overhead, causing an explosive energy to circulate. Putting a session on stage, as opposed to outside or on a rooftop, highlights the shock and awe of krump. The choreography is happening in real time. It’s alive; it leaves the audience overwhelmed with emotion and reeling from the body’s ability and agility. Even O’Neal was inspired to krump in the session. At the end, Ruin assured that they would be back next year—and even better.
For more information about the Grammy Museum, please visit their website.
Written by Jessica Koslow for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Grammy Museum Second Annual Hip-Hop Block Party – Krumpers: Ruin, Creed, Wreck, Check, Justice, Manny, Oxy, Tight Eyex, Malice and Five – Photo by Randy Shropshire, Courtesy of the Recording Academy.
