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[edit] Origins
Largely composed of nimble movements with the feet, the Crip Walk had a variety
of purposes including recognition, showing love and loyalty to fellow Crip
members, and making a loud statement to others that the walker is a member of
the Crips. Another purpose of the dance was to insult rivals (most specifically
the Bloods), in which they would spell out the name of their rivals and then
cross it out. They would also spell out their names, neighborhoods, or other
words related to themselves. Crip Walkers would also flash gang related hand
gestures while performing the dance.
A common practice for Crip members is to use the C-Walk to celebrate the
initiation of a new member. It is also largely believed that the C-Walk was used
as a warning to other gangs of a future attack by the Crips, or as a signal in a
robbery. For example, the lookout would stand outside of the store and act as
surveillance, while the robbers would lay in wait and await the signal: the
C-Walk. Allegedly, Crips would also C-Walk after shooting or killing a rival
gang member in celebration. [1]
Typically performed to West Coast, Gangsta Rap and G-funk, the C-Walk first hit
the mainstream when rapper WC felt the urge to represent his gang at one of his
concerts. Since then, a variety of rap artists have featured the C-Walk in their
music videos and/or live performances- though those who perform it are usually
Crips themselves (or at least have been in the past). They have also warned the
younger audience that The C-Walk is not a dance and is meant to show love to
Crip members only.
However, the warnings were largely ignored by non gang members who not only
practiced and performed the dance but also altered the spelling of the word to
alternatives such as "Krypt" or "Krip" in an attempt to distance the dance from
its gang origins (although they commonly referred to it as simply "The C-Walk").
In addition, many young and popular hip hop artists such as B2K and Bow Wow
began performing the dance in their concerts and music videos, which thus
increased the popularity of the dance. Concerns about its origins and the
potential to start fights amongst students led schools to ban the C-Walk on
school property and at school functions in response[2]. The popularity of the
Crip Walk continued to grow and it became a part of Hip-Hop culture in the late
1980s and 1990s. In later years, a spin-off version called the Clown Walk was
created.
Sometimes, this version of the Crip Walk is referred to as "The O.G. Crip Walk"
- O.G. being the acronym for "Original Gangsta".
[edit] Variations
Because there are different variations to the walk, Crip Walking has evolved
into various versions (primarily to distance it from its gang origins). However,
there are several mainstream versions of the Crip Walk that have always been a
part of the Crip culture:
The "V": This is the original Crip Walk, in which involves shifting your body
by making "V" shaped movements with your feet. Executing the V also allowed
members to spell out words or names. Often, Crips would spell out the word
"Blood" and then 'erase' or 'cross it out' to further antagonize their rivals.