If you’re based in Southern California or are interested in the underground, then you definitely must have heard of the Crips and the Bloods before. Arguably, they are the largest and most notorious gangs in the United States.
Their rivalries weren’t just on the streets. With the Crip Walk dance (and correspondingly, the Blood Walk dance), the gangs’ rivalries even went on to the entertainment realm.
In this article, we will take a closer look at one of the greatest ‘creations’ and most recognizable signatures of the Crips gang: the Crip Walk (or C-Walk).
Table of Contents
What Is Crip Walk Dance?
Over the years, there have been many different variations of the Crip Walk. The classic C-Walk is meant to be used as a gang sign. Members of the Crips would perform the dance to display their affiliation.
And similar to the hand sign, it also serves as a way for members to recognize one another.
The performer of the classic C-Walk would spell the four words C-R-I-P with their footwork.
Alternatively, members of the Crips were also reported to spell out the word “Bloods”, then cross out the name with their foot movement.
Many variations of the classic C-Walk have popped up. To name a few, there is the Clown Walk, the Killwaukee Walk, and the Crown Walk.
They differ mostly in the way that the different moves are performed, like in the flow, tempo, and variation of the moves. The arm and bouncing movements are different between each variation, as well.
C-Walk Dance History – Who invented Crip Walking?
Born in the 1970s
According to most sources, the C-Walk was created by one of the very first Crips members, Robert Jackson (A.K.A “Sugar Bear”). He invented it in the 1970s while he was living in the infamous Compton area, California.
The area held a lot of significance for the gangs, as Compton was one of the fiercest ‘battlefields’ on which the rivalries between the Crips and the Blood were settled.
Most original members of both gangs first started their lives there and many, tragically, ended their lives there, too.
After Sugar Bear came up with the dance, the C-Walk spread among the ranks and files of the Crips. Eventually, the simplistic dance got so popular that it became a gang affiliation symbol, just like the Crips hand sign.
Additionally, the C-Walk is also said to be used by Crips’ scouts to initiate a robbery, signaling when the coast is clear. The C-Walk can also be performed after a gang member has slain an ‘enemy’.
Get recognition in the late 1980s
The C-Walk achieved national as well as international recognition in the late 80s.
The jittery pivots and shuffling motions of C-Walking got adopted by popular rappers and artists, like Snoop Dogg, WC, and Ice-T. Some of whom were once Crips members themselves.
Most recently, the star tennis player Serena Williams performed a C-Walk when she defeated Maria Sharapova during the 2012 Summer Olympics.
It’s not very surprising that she knew of the dance. Serena was raised in Compton!
Crip Walk Dance Move
Before we begin, it’s worth keeping in mind that despite its mass appeal, C-Walking is still a gang symbol. It’s fine practicing C-Walking at home or in private settings.
However, performing it publicly could be dangerous if you live in areas where gang violence is high. So, be cautious.
Here are some of the C-Walking moves that you can practice.
The ‘Classic’ C-Walk
- Start with your feet together. Try and relax your body as much as you can. The key is maximum relaxation. If your body is tense, not only you won’t look good, but you’ll also look awkward.
- Next, set your feet about 3 or 4 inches apart from one another. If you’re a righty, use your right foot. For lefties, use your left foot.
- Make a small hop forward onto your dominant foot (let’s say, your right foot). Your right foot should be on its heel. Meanwhile, kick your non-dominant foot (left foot) back and onto its toes.
- Make a jump and turn to your left. Land exactly like how you began the pattern with your feet together.
- Now that you’ve turned to the left, repeat the pattern above but with your non-dominant foot instead.
It can take a while to get used to the pattern and you may need to watch a few videos to truly understand the instructions.
But, overall, it’s a fairly simple pattern that isn’t too technical. You’ll be able to master it in just a few days of practice.
The Shuffle
The shuffle is a variation of the classic C-Walk. It’s exactly what it sounds like: shuffling your feet forward and backward.
Notably, you can see The Shuffle in Snoop Dogg’s music video (The Streets).
The Heel-Toe
The Heel-Toe is one of the more difficult moves that you can master.
- Place your right foot at 90° behind your left foot.
- Then, make a partial twist by using your toes and heel. The pattern can take a while to get used to, so be extra patient.
It’s considered one of the major moves to learn in the modern variation of C-Walking, called Clown Walking.
The Snake
The Snake involves quickly moving your front leg to the left, then your right foot on its heel. Follow that up with your back leg.
Like the Heel-Toe, it is one of the basic Clown Walking techniques.
The Harlem Shake
No, the Harlem Shake has nothing to do with the vintage meme. The Harlem Shake in C-Walking involves jerkily moving your arms and your shoulders to the beat of the music.
Crip Walk Clothes
There is no particular dress code for Crips walking. So, if you’re practicing, you can just wear whatever clothes that you feel the most comfortable in.
But if you’re performing, you can wear common clothes that hip-hop dancers wear, like baggy jeans, loose T-shirts, crop tops, hoodies, and tracksuits.
As for footwear, casual sneakers will do the trick 99% of the time.
However, we recommend buying a pair that you just wear exclusively for practicing. It’ll wear out less that way and you won’t bring in dirt and mud into the studio or the house.
Additionally, pick a pair of shoes that offer a lot of support.
Although C-Walking is fairly simple and you won’t be as easily injured practicing it as breakdancing, it’s best to stay on the safe side. Sprained ankle sucks.
Famous C-Walk Dancers
WC
William LaShawn Calhoun Jr., better known as WC (Dub C), is one of the most notable rappers to incorporate C-Walking into their performances.
He was born on February 3rd, 1970 in Houston, Texas. WC later moved to LA with his family.
In the 80s, WC’s popularity grew until he became a staple in the music scene on the West Coast. He debuted his solo album in 1998, named “The Shadiest One”.
WC was seen performing the C-Walk on multiple occasions. A remarkable occasion was when he and Ice Cube performed the dance during the Up In Smoke hip-hop tour in 2001.
Footage of the occasion exists online!
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg is arguably the most famous rapper to have performed the C-Walk.
After all, according to many reports, he was a member of an offshoot of the Crips in the Eastside of Long Beach, called the Rollin’ 20s Crips.
If you followed the Super Bowl, Snoop led a synchronized C-Walk performance during the half-time show of the Super Bowl LVI.
Considering how taboo C-Walking is to television producers (MTV refused to broadcast anything that’s related to the dance), it’s a pretty remarkable event.
Snoop Dogg’s real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. Born on October 20th, 1971, he’s been an integral part of the hip-hop and rapping scene for decades.
Ice Cube
O’Shea Jackson Sr., known better by his stage name “Ice Cube”, is the lyricist behind the famous rap album “Straight Outta Compton” by the N.W.A.
He is one of the major reasons behind the widespread popularity of gangsta rap in the late 80s as well as today.
Although Ice Cube was never in a gang, he did live in a neighborhood as a child that was heavily influenced by the 111 Neighborhood Crips.
Supposedly, that’s how he’s learned how to C-Walk. Eventually, he did so during his performance with WC during the Up In Smoke tour in 2001.
Blueface
Jonathan Jamall Porter, or Blueface, is one of the younger rappers to have been seen performing the C-Walk. Born on January 20th, 1997, he’s been interested in rap music as well as rapping since he was a kid.
According to his biography, he grew up listening to famous rappers like 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg.
Blueface was a member of the School Yard Crips gang. He referenced his ties to the group with his debut stage name in 2017 (Blueface Bleedem).
Crip Walk Dance Movie
There are many documentaries and movies that you can watch if you want to learn more about C-Walking.
They will also afford you a better look into the rivalries between the Crips and Blood as well as the way of life for these gangsters.
C-Walk: It’s a Way of Livin’
The documentary was directed by CJ Mac. Released in 2003, the documentary recorded the origin and nature of the C-Walk itself.
It also has many interesting pieces of interviews with popular artists like Snoop Dogg, Ice-T, Malik Yoba, Warren G, and Jonathan Davis. Many of them were Crips members themselves.
Their opinions and their experiences would bring you much closer to the real ‘ritual’ of the gang than anything else out there.
You Got Served
You Got Served is a drama dance film that was released in 2004.
Although the reviews for the movie weren’t very enthusiastic and it’s not focused much on gangs, it does have a few small sequences that feature C-Walking.
The movie follows the stories of Elgin and David as they and their dance crew battled it out with other crews for the “Big Bounce”, a top-notch dance competition supposedly hosted by MTV. The final prize? $50,000.
If you want a movie to watch on the weekend that has C-Walking, give this one a shot. It may not be the best breakdance movie you’ve ever seen and it definitely won’t win an Oscar, but it’s definitely a fun watch (in our opinion).
C-Walk Dance Song
- Xzibit – Get your Walk On
- Xzibit – Alkaholik
- Xzibit – Multiply
- 2pac – Loyal to The Game
- 2pac – Still Ballin
- CunninLynguists – 616 Rewind
- Mase – Breathe, Stretch, Shake
FAQs
1. Do Bloods Crip Walk?
Bloods have their own form of gang walking, aptly called the “Blood Walk”. Blood Walking is far less popular than Crip Walking.
However, according to many sources, they have more or less the same structure. The dancers would spell out the words ‘BLOODS’ with their footwork.
2. Is Crip Walking Illegal?
C-Walking is not illegal.
However, it’s highly frowned upon if you do the dance without being associated with the gang itself. It could potentially be dangerous or even lethal.
So, be cautious if you ever attempt C-Walking out in public.
Final Words
The Crip Walk dance is an interesting development in gangsta entertainment, rapping, and underground culture in general.
Sure, its meaning is violent and dark, but it doesn’t do any harm to study and practice it.
Try it out for yourself!