by Alex Garland

Celebrating 24 years of hip-hop culture, DJs, emcees, footwork, and attitude, the Massive Monkees Day kickoff event on Pier 62 showcased dance moves from over 20 b-boys and b-girls from all over the United States. The Massive Monkees crew formed in 1999 when four young b-boys came together in Beacon Hill. That crew grew, and with it came art, music, dance, and wins at local, national, and international competitions and performances. In 2004, the first Massive Monkees Day was celebrated as then-Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels declared April 26 to be their day, after their first international win. Now, each year, hip-hop and break dancing are shared with a wider audience as people from all over the world visit Seattle and catch slick moves from b-crews.