Harlemshake
Encyclopedia
The Harlem shake, originally called the albee in Harlem, is a dance that started in 1981. The dance became mainstream in 2001 when G-Dep featured the Harlem shake in his music video Let's Get It. It has its history from an East African or Ethiopian
(Abyssinian) dance called "Eskista" and was allegedly started in Harlem by a man named Al B. It ancient form "Eskista" is still used in Ethiopia today.
. Since its beginnings it has spread to other urban areas and became popular in music videos. The announcers at the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic at Rucker Park
will tell you that the modern day Harlem Shake was started by a man by the name of “Al B” (nickname Sisqo or Cisco). Al B was an alcoholic that would do the dance upon request. Because of its founder, the dance was originally called the “albee” in Rucker and Harlem, but then later became known as the Harlem Shake.
Al B is quoted saying that the dance is “a drunken shake anyway, its an alcoholic shake, but its fantastic, everybody appreciates it.” He it comes from the ancient Egyptians
and describes it as what the mummies used to do. Because they were all wrapped up they couldn’t really move, all they could do was shake. Harlem Shake is based on an East African dance called the Eskista.
Al B states that he has been doing the Harlem Shake since 1981. The dance first caught on at the Entertainer's Basketball Classic or EBC and spread from there to other areas.
Though starting in 1981, the Harlem Shake became mainstream in 2001 when G-Dep featured the dance in his music video “Lets Get It”.
The Harlem Shake is commonly associated with a similar dance move called The Chicken Noodle Soup. The Chicken Noodle Soup evolved from the Harlem Shake and exploded into popularity in the summer of 2006 when DJ Webstar
and Young B brought it to the mainstream.
The dance is referred to in the CunninLynguists
song, "Old School" and in Nelly
's song, "Dilemma."
A band from New York City took the name of the dance and dubbed themselves "Harlem Shakes
." Their debut album Technicolor Health was released March 24, 2009.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
(Abyssinian) dance called "Eskista" and was allegedly started in Harlem by a man named Al B. It ancient form "Eskista" is still used in Ethiopia today.
History
The Harlem Shake is a dance that originally began in Harlem, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Since its beginnings it has spread to other urban areas and became popular in music videos. The announcers at the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic at Rucker Park
Rucker Park
Rucker Park is a basketball court in the Harlem neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard across the street from the former Polo Grounds site...
will tell you that the modern day Harlem Shake was started by a man by the name of “Al B” (nickname Sisqo or Cisco). Al B was an alcoholic that would do the dance upon request. Because of its founder, the dance was originally called the “albee” in Rucker and Harlem, but then later became known as the Harlem Shake.
Al B is quoted saying that the dance is “a drunken shake anyway, its an alcoholic shake, but its fantastic, everybody appreciates it.” He it comes from the ancient Egyptians
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
and describes it as what the mummies used to do. Because they were all wrapped up they couldn’t really move, all they could do was shake. Harlem Shake is based on an East African dance called the Eskista.
Al B states that he has been doing the Harlem Shake since 1981. The dance first caught on at the Entertainer's Basketball Classic or EBC and spread from there to other areas.
Though starting in 1981, the Harlem Shake became mainstream in 2001 when G-Dep featured the dance in his music video “Lets Get It”.
The Harlem Shake is commonly associated with a similar dance move called The Chicken Noodle Soup. The Chicken Noodle Soup evolved from the Harlem Shake and exploded into popularity in the summer of 2006 when DJ Webstar
DJ Webstar
Troy Ryan , better known by his stage name DJ Webstar is a DJ/producer/rapper/singer. In 2006 his song "Chicken Noodle Soup" became an internet hit with fans uploading their own videos to the song's track, the popularity lead to him being signed by Universal.-Albums:- Singles :-External links:****...
and Young B brought it to the mainstream.
The dance is referred to in the CunninLynguists
Cunninlynguists
CunninLynguists are a hip hop trio from Lexington, Kentucky and Atlanta, Georgia. The group currently consists of Deacon the Villain, Kno, and Natti...
song, "Old School" and in Nelly
Nelly
Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...
's song, "Dilemma."
A band from New York City took the name of the dance and dubbed themselves "Harlem Shakes
Harlem Shakes
Harlem Shakes were an American indie rock band from New York, formed in 2006 and signed to Gigantic Music. The band disbanded in September 2009 after a hiatus following the release of their first full length album, Technicolor Health, which received very positive reviews from critics.The group's...
." Their debut album Technicolor Health was released March 24, 2009.