︎
artists     stories    image-search     news    contact

Krumping

© Lauren Greenfield

Krumping, a high energy, clowning dance style, was first pioneered by Thomas Johnson, a.k.a. Tommy the Clown, at kids' birthday parties in neighborhoods around South Central Los Angeles.
Dubbed "the punk rock of hip hop" by "Tight Eyez", a major figure in this burgeoning dance scene, it is a high energy, clowning dance style, with roots in hip hop, African dance, and urban violence. Though the dance itself can be aggressive and trancelike, krumping is a positive alternative to street violence for many of the dancers. A documentary film on the subject entitled Rize, directed by photographer David LaChapelle, was released June 24th, 2005.

click to view complete set in the archive


Institute Artist is redefining how stories are produced and told. Representing auteur-driven storytellers, we bring together talent across commercials, photography, fine art, and film. Founded by Matt Shonfeld and Frank Evers. Institute Artists multi-platform production expertise, and established global relationships in entertainment, fine art, and journalism make for unmatched reach and cross-pollination of creative work. Institute Artist has been a leading advocate of the power of underrepresented talent and is fully committed to bringing these authentic voices to our clients by helping them tell compelling and entertaining stories that better connect with their audiences.