From far-flung locales to those accessible by a quick ride on the #36, Seattle's world-renowned Massive Monkees give it their all. From their free dance-studio practices at Beacon's Jefferson Community Center to voter-registration drives and high-school education, Massive also give back. "It sounds cliché and corny but it's true: The children are the future of this art form," says Massive's own djblesOne. "The next generation is the base, the bottom line—if we don't invest in the children, don't invest in our scene, we literally won't have one." Just as dedicated to grooming a new generation of breakers as they are to repping their town, Massive have been sprinkling true and living Seattle flavor on an international level for many moons now, nephew. In fact, the double-M celebrate eight years of floor-rocking filthiness Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28, to coincide with the day the mayor himself declared Massive Monkee Day.

Massive's love in the breakdancing community is illustrated by the wealth of illustrious talent—domestic and imported—coming through to vibe with the 206's finest. Among the big names that will be in attendance are B-boy Remind (Style Elements, California), Lil John (Havikoro Crew, Texas), Nemesis (Breaks Crew, NYC), Fever 1 (DVS/Rock Steady Crew, 206/NYC), Machine (Rock Force Crew, SF), Paulskee (Rock Force Crew/Mighty 4, SF), Cros1 (Freestyle Session/Armory), and many others, including KLP Crew (France) and Lone Star (London). They'll be gathering at the box-fresh Vera Project for Friday's FREE prefestivities, which include a b-girl fight for supremacy and a popping battle. Saturday is the main event—this all-ages, always major event is going down at the UW HUB's North Den from 4:00–10:00 p.m. Just check the crew battle (grand prize—a free trip to Freestyle Session '07 in Seoul) and one-on-one footwork battle for yet more hood-reared reasons why you still look so lame busting an ironic running man. Our brosephs Big World Breaks will be laying down the live styles, and Massive's go-to guys djblesOne and DJ DV One will be on the wheels.

"I'm excited about everybody getting together, everybody from out of town coming up," enthuses djblesOne, "but what I love is that this event gives outsiders a real, concrete, positive perspective on our culture. Like, you can bring your kids to this! You can come learn from experienced heads, see that hiphop isn't the evil monster it's always portrayed as." He ain't just whistling Dixie, either, kids—hiphop is under attack. When Don Imus can flip his blame onto the shoulders of hiphop—something that particular idiot has little to no connection with—and get a perfect "10" for his flawless dismount, you know something is very wrong here. Don't get it twizzlered though—America's favorite whipping boy is absolutely not without complicity in all this. Hiphop has always been the signifier of America's truth, ugly or no, and it's really our own damn fault we can't elevate past that. Being too eager to epitomize America's favorite values of money, blood, and fame has just left us holding the bag for old white men, once again.