Pakelika - Kottonmouth Kings
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Pakelika also referred to as "The Visual Assassin" from the group Kottonmouth Kings, has been getting down since 1979. He is most known by his fans for being the dancer/member for the hip-hop group, the Kottonmouth Kings.
WestcoastpoppinWhen did you start Popping?
PakelikaI started…young…..1979……
WestcoastpoppinWhat got you into popping? At what age?
PakelikaSeeing this dude light up a light bulb…..in his mouth….but doin it poppin….i was hooked…
WestcoastpoppinHow did you get your name?
PakelikaWell,Pakelika..is my name in Hawaiian….i grew up with a hawaiian family…and been using that name for 15 yrs...before that most knew me as twee’dee……..
WestcoastpoppinAre you in a crew now? if so which?
PakelikaNo poppin crew….i’m in the kottonmouth kings…band..full band member …
WestcoastpoppinWhere were you from? Where are you now?
PakelikaBorn in Portsmouth va….but grew up mostly in ..Oxnard,California..Los Angeles for the last 16 yrs
WestcoastpoppinWas there a certain style you were known for?
PakelikaFreestyling….and poppin….my style is called..HYDRO-MECHANIX….
WestcoastpoppinWe keep hearing that back in the day, no one danced like each other. Each crew had their own styles and individuality. Please explain how that was, and what you see in today’s scene. What are the new generations missing? How can we achieve it?
PakelikaIn an opinion…the difference is perseverance…and technology…We didn’t have dvd…video tapes….to learn from…you had..to go search it out…Its like a double egded sword….for the new generation….all the benefits of dvds but it came with a cost….The newer kats…will find themselves eventually…and then they can start progressing…Most are so worried about if you don’t..do it like..this..or like that…then ur doing it wrong..that’s not what dance is about….Now that falls in the realm of choreography…. But not dance persay..
WestcoastpoppinWhat do you think is the major differences between today’s scene and before?
PakelikaLess creativity…and no new music….And a misconception of battles are …and what they really mean…..Just becuz a contest is called a battle it..really isn’t a battle…or at least what a battle means to me…. Contest…are for accolades..awards…ego….Battling….is letting one know ur soul isn’t going to be denied……No judges needed just look in one’s eyes……
WestcoastpoppinWho were some known poppers back then? What made them known?
PakelikaWell all the ogs..were known…Free…skeet…robot prince ,boppin Ronnie, animation ,flattop…one arm bandit….pete..taco..shrimp…smiley..Mario…cooley…casper….Jeffery daniels…Anthony Thomas….c-mo….puppet….jazzy…paul sanchez. They were already og’s….but were still active..and ran into them often…..when I was out…
WestcoastpoppinWho was your inspiration? What did you guys do different back then to get inspiration?
PakelikaInspiration……I got from a lot of different places…Ali…..for his brash confidence… Bruce lee …..a lot of his philosophy…and approach to art… The guy with the light bulb…that lit up..in his mouth that …got me hooked on poppin. My life………Free…he taught me ..that precision..and perfection….is required to get to that …..level…I wanted to get to….and I thank him for that because…he didn’t have to..explain shit to me…but saw I truelly loved the art….so shared some of his knowledge with me…Meetin all the og’s that I have met and one’s I hope I will meet….to hear their story … And from the new kats…..that aren’t afraid to be themselves…
WestcoastpoppinDid you train with a certain group/individual/teacher? If so who?
PakelikaNo teacher persay…I had a mentor in …free…..who helped me with the finer aspects of…the art we do….and got me to that next level…..
WestcoastpoppinCan you still find inspiration from the new generation?
PakelikaFunny thing about this ?….8yrs ago..it would have been an emphatic…NO…….. But I knew it would take sometime for one’s to find themselves…instead of being straight copies….becuz that’s not what dance is about…..choreography …maybe…dance …not so much.. I told a group of dancers back then ..that they need ten..years…just to see how they would react……they reacted how I expected…..but they understand now…what I was talking about…I told them after most of them..got all riled up…that im better than I was 10 yrs ago…thought processes…A couple understood what I was saying back then..but ..still took them awhile to find themselves…and still are finding themselves… But now…..Yes I have seen some of the progression I was hoping to see..from some dancers…which is great…I still think people need to expand their street dance knowledge..after 84…For the younger kats in this scene…should find inspiration from other dances aswell….
WestcoastpoppinHow were battles judged back then? Do you feel it is better judged now or before? What are your opinions on contests and battles?
PakelikaWell contests…are.contests…….preset time ..date…music…ect..politics ..judges…We did contests…. to get beer money…or drink tickets……going to the next club money…Battles….happen on the spot…don’t require a crowd…judges…….just the look in eyes….I wish the newer generation had a better understanding on this……One could go win a shitload of contests…doesnt mean he can battle…or would win a battle….Contest can have an adverse effect on one’s ego…….if they don’t keep themselves in check….Contest are for fun…prizes…ego stroking. Battles are intense…and soul driven….and the truth is known by both parties…..no matter if one..is lying to themselves or..not… That’s on them… Obviously….you can win …contests……doing other peoples moves and soul… But battles you lose right off the bat doing someonelse’s…style..and don’t have ur own…So contests…don’t impress me….Battles do..
WestcoastpoppinSkill level compared to back then to now, what are the differences? Please be specific (musicality, technique, originality, crowd control, character, etc) .
Pakelika Skill level…..interesting topic this one….i guess..technique wise…is comparible… But everthing else..the new generation is lackin….
Musicality is getting a lot better..but..if one only dances to a specific type of music or rhythm….that’s fairly easy…..
Originality is still to come…….with the lack of their knowledge..after 84….people think they are doing new stuff..but from what I have personnally witnessed…not yet…really
I mean finger tuts have taking a life of their own and this generation…is responsible for that….But with out a new music….its hard….. we had rap..electronic..house….and that’s stll the music ..now…
Character…is what will make you known….every og….has a character…….most underated..aspect of dance…..my character…is worldwide…and in many different scenes..feel me..Some countries….i have police escorts…and have been chased down the streets by a 1000 people,,,with my clothes being torn off me…..Character…highly important
Westcoastpoppinwhat do you feel about the internet becoming a big part of networkin in poppin community?
PakelikaThe internet…..like dvds is both a blessing and a curse…. I think the good out weighs the bad..but not sure yet…..Exposure no doubt…..But it hurts the drive and perseverance aspects somewhat ..at least in my opinion
Westcoastpoppinwhat do you think brought poppin back? Who is responsible?
PakelikaOnce again …poppin was never gone…it changed.
Once rap emerged..dances changed..but if you were from the westcoast…poppin and lockin….were all ways around…..After the trendy/grooving dance period and freestyle became more to the forefront…but poppin was always involved.
So I don’t give credit to anyone..for bringing it back…
Was told directy to my face..poppin wasn’t hiphop…and I said”it is now because I do it to rap”
I remember all the poppers and lockers ..trying to hiphop dance in the late 80’s….it wasn’t pretty….I mean out here you had…free…c-mo..kaloni(rip) …myself….aswell as some of the og’s in the spots occassionaly….they(og’s) like dancing to funk..not rap..ragamuffin..We elevated the game and changed it…If ur poppin to rap music its becuz of me and my peer group…
If you watch…wrekin shop in Brooklyn..stretch and his boi’s had poppin influences in their dancing aswell…..The scene came back becuz …lil ceaser..started up radiotron again…for a place for the bboys and poppers lockers..hiphop dancers had a place like back in the day….at the radio…….
So I guess indirectly…lil ceaser..
WestcoastpoppinThere are many debates on what people should be Popping to, what do you feel about the new styles of music out there? Do you think by adapting to the new generation of music, the styles themselves will evolve into something new? What are your favorite tracks?
PakelikaI don’t think there is new music..when it comes to me…like I said….It ur poppin to rap……house music…..its because of me..and my peer group…
I really wish there was a new music..for this generation……Favorite tracks….hmmmmmmm to many…..i like dancing to all types of different music…punk to rap..soul..breaks..funk..electronic..reggae …hawaiian….
Westcoastpoppin Most of the media knows of you through your group “The Kotton Mouth Kings” how did you get involved? What is your story with them? When did you start touring?
PakelikaWell I was already in the entertainment industry..did many commercials and few movies..videos,,tv shows …ect…….and was workin occasionally at the wax museum they paid me to practice..that’s how I looked at it and happened to be good…so made great street money…
Well … brad x …founder of kmk..was a club promoter(artist groove network) in la …in the early 90’s I use to go to their spots…and bust…
He would always be buggin on me dancing…for hrs on end…
he has always been in music bands..deals with easy e(ruthless) and Hollywood records..in groups b4 kmk..
Asked me if I was interest in seeing this group perform…I said sure….went to this thing in oc..saw dloc..richter..and saint..doin their thing…. He asked me if I was interested in being in the group..i said yeah…..told him that I would need to be paid equally..in show and merch money..though and be a full group member..and having a say in group decisions……….
So a aday lata he drove by..when I was out at the wax museum working..brought by the rest of the guys so they could see what I do…blazed a blunt…they were down… We did shows in la every week..and started to expand down to…oc…sd…. We were opening for someone..we got discovered by our live show…. 12 yrs lata the rest is being written in the history books.
WestcoastpoppinHow do you deal with stage freight? What is your mindset while performing on stage in front of millions?
PakelikaStage freight….never had it……I think I got rid off that …just surviving parties and clubs that always use to be shot up…I look at the stage as a place I get to release my anger…..and mental approach is…. I dont give a fuck if the crowd likes it or not…but they will respect it….when im done
WestcoastpoppinWhat is the “Hydro-Mechanix” style?
PakelikaThat’s the name my soul gave it…..its me and how I entertain….the rhythm……its more a philosophy….
I cant teach someone to dance..that’s a choice within themselves….. But we can conversate opinions to hopefully help one reach…the level one is aspiring to be at…..
WestcoastpoppinWhat advice would you give to anyone who is interested in getting into this dance?
PakelikaDo it …for the love of it……first and foremost..
WestcoastpoppinWhat do you think young dancers should do to help the scene grow as a whole? Join the mass media entertainment? Stay underground? Make money off of it? What do you hope to see from the new generation as we carry on this art form?
PakelikaAll of the above……you need to learn the business…..if you wanna be in the business….
If you wanna be underground…coo….What I hope to see..is progression…
Don’t just walk thru the doors that have been open for you….open a new door…so someone else can walk thru and open a new door….Og’s just wanna see ur soul when you dance……….
WestcoastpoppinAnything you would like the readers to know about you? Any other comments?
PakelikaWell….im running for …president….08……..
Activist for the plant marijuana…..Smokin Word artist…
Check out
www.kottonmouthkings.com
www.myspace.com/therealpakelika10
www.suburbannoizerecords.com
up soon
yo have fun…….takin all the info….you can…
be you
and stay free
FREEDOM IS A STATE OF MIND
Interview Comments
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7 weeks 5 days 2 hours agoTETRIS
Brand New!
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7 weeks 5 days agosyphon
Great article ... I didnt know much about you Pakelika, thx for givin such indepth view. You really made me think more about poppin itself. More and more I love poppin culture and how it eveolved.
Props to you Tetris bringin such cool things up. Lookin forward for next one.
Keep it upLast edited on 2008-05-10 20:40:48
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7 weeks 4 days 10 hours agoLiquid Toez
Good interview - thanks to both of you for taking the time to do the interview.
The only thing that the interview text was missing was...the ellipses...that Pakelika is known for using in his text messages. I was hoping you would ask him about that.
He's right about the lack of originality within the new school. As you may recall, I had accumulated a huge collection of videos and video clips at one point in time, then one day I realized that the majority of dancing in those videos all looked about the same with a few exceptions. So, I kept the few exceptions and trashed and/or deleted just about my entire collection. Now, like many OGs did in the past, I get my inspiration from watching the old Soul Train clips from the early 1970s - so much individuality, originality, and creativity back then.
I agree with Pakelika about "character" being an underrated part of the dance. I think a dancer really has to let go, no inhibitions, and really dance outside the box to really develop one's character, but also to include the whole package, that is, the way you dress, talk, and facial expressions.
Peace /Last edited on 2008-05-11 13:23:52
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7 weeks 4 days 3 hours agojigsaw
I love what he says about the differences between contests and battles. That's the truth right thurr.
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