Albany Student Voice

It started out with "Dem Franchise Boys" and Snap music giving a new face to music, giving the South a new beat. Now it's "Crank Dat Soulja Boy" by Soulja Boy, "Crank Dat Batman" by P.O.B. (Pop it off Boys), "Crank Dat Yank" by Cash Camp and much more.

Not only have these dances swept through YouTube but they are the hottest dances in the club. You can find celebrities from Bow Wow to Omarion in the Soulja Boy video. However, some artists such as T.Pain, who added the dance in his performance routine on the recent Screamfest Tour 07, see the era as a form of entertainment.

Others like rapper Nas say Snap music and the crazy dances that follow it are burying Hip-Hop deeper into it's grave. In his song "Hip Hop Is Dead" he raps "Oh I think they like me, in my white tee' you can't ice me, we here for life, B". More so, it brings up a question. Does music have a limit?

In my opinion, music is an art form consisting of sound and silence expressed through time. Furthermore, Hip- Hop is a form of music that consists of rapping, djying, and dancing. With these elements fun is created. The "Crank Dat" Dances are all about fun. The dances bring a form of equalization and unity to Hip-Hop. These dances are providing something everyone can do from weddings to school functions.

Jortoria Walker, a member of Rock-Dem Dance Group, said the "Crank Dat" dances are popular right now. "Its something everyone can get into. There's no limit, but eventually they will play out," Walker said. Brandon Hill, mass communications major, said that the "Crank Dat" dance craze is going too far.

The "Crank Dat" dance craze may become irritating and eventually old. Or it may just become a classic like the bus stop, a dance that never gets old. No one really knows what the future may bring. But until then, when the song comes on grab a friend or three and Crank Dat!

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