What Is Krump?

Krump, which stands for Kingdom Radically Uprising Mighty Praise, is not just a dance, it’s a lifestyle. Jerky movements that resemble street fighting mixed with pop-lock, break dancing, gymnastics, and something the Scarecrow did before he learned to walk make up the many moves of Krump. It’s an expression of suppression for all that inner city kids have gone through. The release of anger is in battles of high energy, chest popping, primal moves that take your body with the music.
Krumping is not Clowning, contrary to popular belief. It’s a derivative of Clown Dancing, or "Clowning", which was created in South Central L.A. in 1992 by Tommy the Clown, who was asked by a friend to perform at a birthday party. He moved to the music in a way no one had seen yet. Not long after, he started an academy for ghetto youths to get off the streets. Groups of people would get together and have what most of society would call a ‘dance off’. When the movements took on the appearance of a fight, Krump was born, and the ‘dance off’ became a battle. Clowning is more like a performance. Krump is a release of aggression. It’s more intense and aggressive that Clowning. It’s an expression of something beautiful and dangerous coming from a life of darkness and violence. It’s setting the life of an inner-city kid to Hip-Hop music.