The Revival of Rhode Island Breaking in the 1990’s
The Origin of the 401 Rockerz (1995)
The 401 Rockerz were established around 1995, at the height of New England’s underground rave scene. At the time, breaking had largely disappeared from mainstream media following years of commercial exploitation. Many considered the dance style played out, viewing it as a remnant of the 1980s craze that had faded from mainstream society.
However, with breaking beginning to resurface in New York City a few years earlier, it was only a matter of time before Rhode Island caught the wave.
Breaking began making its way back into the greater Providence area around 1994. Many practitioners were searching for places to dance, practice, and connect with others who shared their passion. Underground clubs, after-hours venues, and raves provided those opportunities.
Unlike New York City and Los Angeles, Providence did not yet have an established dance-jam circuit. Most of the original dancers from the early 1980s were no longer actively involved in this new wave. Instead, the revival was developing organically in underground venues, fueled by young dancers discovering the culture for themselves.
VHS Tapes, Mixtapes, and the Underground Hip-Hop Scene
During this period, popular breaking VHS tapes circulated underground among dancers and hip-hop enthusiasts. Breakbeat mixtapes, cassette recordings, and videos were also sold at POAM Action Wear, a hip-hop clothing store with two locations: one in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and another in downtown Providence.
The store also sold underground, raw b-boy videos that offered young dancers a glimpse into the reemerging breaking culture, particularly the movement taking place in New York City.
Combined with the music, the videos, and stories passed down through oral tradition by older dancers, these resources helped educate a new generation of 1990’s breakers about the history and techniques of the culture.
Several clubs and after-hours venues became gathering places for breakers and other members of the underground dance community, they were not all necessarily hip-hop clubs, however they did feature open format nights or venues catering to underground hip hop crowds, some of which included:
Club Babyhead
The Living Room
The Black Repertory company, where Round Midnight, an all-encompassing hip-hop event, was held on Friday nights
Club Therapy (after hours)
Club Oxygen
Various underground raves and house parties
These venues helped create the environment in which Providence’s new generation of breakers could practice, exchange ideas, and develop their skills.
Jesse “TKO” Mouio: The Formation of a New Crew
At the time, Jesse “TKO” Mouio was a young, 20-year-old rave DJ, house dancer, and breaker. He was deeply connected to the local underground scene and shared dance floors with house dancers and breakers traveling from Boston, Maine, Connecticut, and other parts of New England.
TKO was looking to form a crew of his own.
His search eventually led him to a place known as Everett Stage, commonly referred to as the Carriage House, on the East Side of Providence.
The Carriage House was owned by a wonderful family of actors, ballet dancers, and production artists. Having heard about the reemerging breakdance culture in the city, they were eager to find a breaker who could teach classes at their facility.
TKO arrived at their doorstep and was immediately hired to teach breakdancing classes.
Through these classes, he met several young Asian and Latino youth, primarily from the mid-city that peaked his attention. He also reconnected with dancers he already knew from the club scene, including Mankato “Kato” Saloio, Bobby “Footluz” Daluz, Gabe Parquet, Pete Olabri, Mathew Kohanski, and others.
As TKO began teaching at the Carriage House, he became well acquainted with this younger group of breakers who were eager to learn more. They began accompanying TKO at local raves and club nights, these kids would eventually become the foundation of his crew.
The Original 401 B-Boy Rockers
The young B-boys, roughly between 10 and 14 years old, were already involved in writing graffiti, dancing, and participating in the local underground scene. They lived in the mid-city area of providence known as the Smith Hill section.
They included:
Soukane “Kid Reckless” Keo
Bebe, Kid Reckless’s younger brother
Sitha “Krabby” Meas
Russell Cartagena
Sal “Lil Sal” Aquino
TKO took them under his wing. With an established practice space, support for performances through the Carriage House, and access to the necessary resources, he was able to organize the group, develop its skills, and arrange performances.
Because TKO was also a DJ, he created the music for the crew’s showcases.
And so, the 401 B-Boy Rockers were born.
Kato and Footluz, who were already dancing and rocking together, naturally became part of the lineup. The crew’s early years burned brightly, with the Carriage House regularly providing practice space and performance opportunities supported through city grants.
TKO was responsible for the crew’s creative development, helping the young dancers refine their abilities and prepare for performances and battles.
The original roster consisted of:
Jesse “TKO” Mouio
Soukane “Kid Reckless” Keo
Bebe
Sal “Lil Sal” Aquino, who was only 10 years old
Sitha “Krabby” Meas
Russell Rock
Mankato “Kato” Saloio
Bobby “Footluz” Daluz
This original lineup battled and performed throughout 1995 and 1996, establishing the foundation of what would become one of Providence’s most recognizable breaking crews of the decade.
Daddy Long Leggs Joins the Crew (August 1996)
In August 1996, a young 15-year-old from Providence’s East Side, soon to become known as Daddy Long Leggs, learned about the crew through his younger brother after attending a performance at a neighborhood park.
Living just around the corner from the Carriage House, he was close to the very place where the crew practiced and developed its skills.
As fate would have it, an opportunity to join the group soon presented itself.
By early summer, Footluz had left to join the Navy, creating an opening in the lineup. In late August, the young dancer auditioned for the crew. Ironically, the group was practicing for a performance at the same park later that day.
During the audition, Kid Reckless jokingly referred to him as Daddy Long Leggs, a nickname inspired by his tall, lanky appearance.
The name stuck, and he became the newest member of the 401 Rockerz.
Later that fall, his younger brother, Joe “Joeskee” Hector, who was 12 years old, and their neighborhood friend, Leeron “Kid Flex” Silva, who was 11, joined the crew in September 1996. Joe was well received and liked by the crew due to his charismatic nature and high energized acrobatic energy.
The Carriage House continued providing practice space and performance opportunities under TKO’s direction.
By this time, the venue had become a gathering place for young breakers from different parts of Providence. Dancers from various neighborhoods and crews regularly came to practice and exchange knowledge.
Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, the Carriage House hosted breaking sessions, helping nurture the growing community and creating a space where young dancers could develop their skills.
The 401 Rockerz Take New York City (1997)
In the winter of 1997, the 401 Rockerz began traveling back and forth to New York City to attend a string of popular b-boy jams they had heard about through the underground scene. It was decided by Reckless that the crew should abandon the “B-boy” part in the name since “rocker” meant the same thing.
These trips would help put Rhode Island on the breaking map and establish connections that would influence the crew for years to come.
The young dancers were quickly welcomed into the New York hip-hop community, building friendships with pioneering figures and connecting with other young crews that were making names for themselves.
The Hunts Point Bronx Battle: February 15, 1997
One of the most significant moments in the crew’s early history occurred on February 15, 1997, during its first trip to the Bronx.
The 401 Rockerz, under the direction of Richard “Crazy Legs” Colón of the legendary Rock Steady Crew, faced The Breaks Kru, a Brooklyn-based crew being taught breaking and uprock by Ralph Casanova, better known as King Uprock (RC), and Break Easy of the Dynasty Rockers.
According to the crew’s history, the matchup developed from a friendly wager between Crazy Legs and King Uprock. Crazy Legs believed that the dancers under his guidance could defeat the young crew being trained by RC and Break Easy.
Crazy Legs recognized considerable talent in the 401 Rockerz and invited them to help support his junior crew of young b-boys, whom he was teaching at the Hunts Point Community Center.
The 401 Rockerz brought additional experience, energy, and firepower to the encounter, contributing to a memorable chapter in the crew’s early New York City connections.
For the young dancers from Providence, these experiences provided opportunities to learn directly from established pioneers, test their skills against talented peers, and become part of a larger breaking community.
New Members and the Next Generation (Spring 1997)
In the spring of 1997, the 401 Rockerz welcomed several new members who brought fresh talent and energy to the crew.
One of the most notable additions was Tammie “Lady Luvbug” Keo, the younger sister of Kid Reckless (Now Known as Just Reckless) and Bebe. The two brothers had secretly been training her behind closed doors before she joined the crew.
At just 11 years old, Tammie eventually became known as Tam-Rock. Her cute style and impeccable skill was immediately noticed and celebrated in New York by fellow dancers and pioneers alike.
Another young addition was Manuel “Flex-Roc” Texeira, who was only 10 years old when he joined. He was introduced to the crew by his longtime friend, Kid Flex. Flex-Roc was highly flexible and could also pop well.
Both Tam-Rock and Flex-Roc quickly established themselves as talented young breakers from Providence.
Tam-Rock became the crew’s only female member during this period, representing a significant part of the next generation of the 401 Rockerz.
Another member, Damien “As-oner” Brown, a 21-year-old lone wolf solo dancer known for his unique style, also joined during the early spring of 1997. Recruited by Reckless, As-oner brought another distinctive layer of flavor to the crew’s lineup.
By this time, the 401 Rockerz were beginning to move beyond TKO’s direct leadership as he prepared to relocate to China to teach dance and DJ at venues in the Far East.
Although TKO was preparing to leave, the crew maintained its close relationship with the Carriage House. Meanwhile, Rhode Island’s breaking scene continued to grow, with more dancers discovering the culture and joining the movement.
The Film “Tax Day” (Summer 1997)
In the summer of 1997, the 401 Rockerz filmed a cameo appearance for the independent film Tax Day, directed and produced by Laura Collela, who had close ties to the Carriage House.
The film went on to win awards and was screened at various film festivals and independent movie theaters throughout the United States.
The production featured a flash-dance-style sequence showcasing members of the 401 Rockerz, alongside members of the 1990s lineup of Return to Burn (RTB) and POAM Action Wear (Prospectors on a Mission) including Paris Fisher and Magic Glove.
Some of the individuals associated with POAM were veteran breakers from the Providence area and former members of RTB during the 1980s. Members from 401 in the film were: Leggs. Joeskee, Footluz, As-One, Tam-Rock, Reckless, Lil Sal & Flex-Roc.
The appearance brought together dancers from different generations of Rhode Island’s hip-hop community, capturing a moment when the old guard and the new wave were contributing to the same cultural movement. 401 was however the dominant presence in the film. Lil Sal can be seen performing his incredible Bronco kick to back hand spring, caterpillar combo, and Footluz rocks his tornado knee zulu spin. Daddy Long Leggs displays his “Slo-mo ticking footwork”
For the 401 Rockerz, the film represented another opportunity to showcase their skills and help document Providence’s underground breaking scene. The movie was released in 1998.
Touring, Battles, and Television Appearances
Throughout 1997, the 401 Rockerz continued traveling, battling, performing showcases, and appearing in television commercials.
They expanded their network by connecting with crews from New York City, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.
By this period, the crew’s lineup included:
Daddy Long Leggs:
Joe “Joeskee” Hector
Bobby “Footluz” Daluz
Leeron “Kid Flex” Silva
Manuel “Flex-Roc” Texeira
Tammie “Tam-Rock” Keo
Soukane “Kid Reckless” Keo
Bebe aka DEPS
Marc Carvalho
Meanwhile, Sal “Lil Sal” Aquino had moved to Boston with his family, while Kato, Krabby, and Russell Rock had disappeared from the active dance scene.
TKO relocated to China by the winter of 1997, leaving the crew to continue developing independently.
Despite these changes, the 401 Rockerz continued to represent Providence and Rhode Island wherever they traveled.
The Crew Splits (Summer 1998)
By the summer of 1998, the 401 Rockerz had reached a turning point.
Various creative differences and internal disagreements led to the crew splitting into separate groups.
Daddy Long Leggs, Joe “Joeskee” Hector, Leeron “Kid Flex” Silva, and Manuel “Flex-Roc” Texeira went their own way, while Reckless, Bebe, and Tam-Rock pursued a different direction.
Footluz and As-oner remained neutral and continued doing their own thing.
Although the original crew had fractured, its members continued dancing and representing the culture in their own ways.
Daddy Long Leggs began developing a new offshoot crew with younger recruits he had met through his connections with Kid Flex and Flex-Roc.
Meanwhile, Joeskee eventually stepped away from dancing around 1999.
Daddy Long Leggs and As-oner also explored the possibility of collaborating on a new group venture. Through their connections with some pioneering dancers in Washington, D.C., they participated in jams in the Virginia/D.C. Area and explored opportunities in media production. This was in 1999.
The split marked the end of the 401 Rockerz’ original unified era, but it did not end the individual journeys of the dancers who had helped build the crew.
The Loss of Joe “Joeskee” Hector and the Reunion (2001)
In 2001, members of the 401 Rockerz reconnected following the tragic and untimely passing of Joe “Joeskee” Hector on September 23, 2001.
According to the crew’s account, Joeskee was killed in a mistaken-identity drive-by shooting connected to longstanding, senseless gun violence between individuals associated with Providence’s East Side and South Side.
His death was a devastating loss for his family, friends, and fellow dancers.
In December 2001, Crazy Legs organized a memorial b-boy jam at the Hunts Point Community Center in Joe’s honor. He invited Daddy Long Leggs and Tam-Rock to host and judge the event alongside members of the Rock Steady Crew.
The memorial provided an opportunity for the community to honor Joeskee’s life and celebrate the culture that had brought the dancers together.
The 2006–2011 Reunion Period
Following Joeskee’s passing, members of the 401 Rockerz briefly reunited. Between approximately 2006 and 2011, the crew participated in selected performances and appearances.
This lineup included Daddy Long Leggs, Footluz, Kato, Reckless, Kid Flex, and Flex-Roc.
Meanwhile, Tam-Rock and Bebe had relocated to the Bronx in 2005.
Although the reunion brought several members back together, the group never fully returned to the form it had during its earlier years.
By then, the members were scattered, many had taken on adult responsibilities, and some were no longer actively dancing.
Nevertheless, the legacy and contributions of the 401 Rockerz had already become part of Rhode Island’s hip-hop history.
Life After the 401 Rockerz:
Daddy Long Leggs and Leggwork Productions
In 2007, Daddy Long Leggs founded Leggwork Productions and devoted much of his time and energy to teaching, education, and community outreach. He had started teaching professionally in 2004 and needed a name for his company, he decided to use his very namesake for the idea.
He worked with schools and community centers, helping introduce younger generations to breaking and hip-hop culture while continuing to develop his own dance craft.
His work represented a continuation of the mentorship that had helped shape his own journey as a young dancer at the Carriage House.
Footluz Returns to Rhode Island
In 2007, Footluz returned to Rhode Island after completing his time in the Navy. By then, he was also pursuing a boxing career. Reckless who had briefly relocated to North Carolina for a few years, also returned to Providence around that time.
He, Daddy Long Leggs, Reckless, and other members continued catching up and dancing together from time to time, maintaining the friendships and connections forged during their years in the crew. The group performed some small shows and club appearances between 2006-2011.
TKO Returns to Rhode Island
In 2011, Jesse “TKO” Mouio returned to Rhode Island and reconnected with Daddy Long Leggs at his private Leggwork studio.
Their reunion brought together two figures from different stages of the crew’s history: the original leader who helped establish the 401 Rockerz and one of the young dancers whose life had been shaped by that experience.
Legendary Battles of the 401 Rockerz
Throughout its history, the 401 Rockerz participated in numerous battles that helped establish the crew’s reputation throughout New England and beyond.
These encounters remain part of the oral history surrounding Providence’s 1990s breaking scene. Some were filmed and well documented.
Notable battles recalled by the crew include:
401 Rockerz vs. The Wild Style Crew — Connecticut, 1996; exact location unknown.
401 Rockerz vs. The Floor Lords — Club Babyhead, downtown Providence, 1996.
401 Rockerz vs. U.F.O. — U.F.O another local b-boy crew.
401 Rockerz vs. The Floor Lords (#2) — The Living Room, Providence, Rhode Island, June 1997.
401 Rockerz vs. Chaps Crew aka Return to Burn (RTB) — the 1990s lineup, Carriage House, April 1997.
These battles reflected the competitive spirit of the era, when crews tested their skills, defended their reputations, and built lasting relationships through breaking.
For the young dancers representing Providence, every battle was an opportunity to learn, improve, and demonstrate that Rhode Island belonged on the broader breaking map.
The Legacy of the 401 Rockerz
The story of the 401 Rockerz is an important chapter in Providence, Rhode Island’s hip-hop and breaking history.
Emerging during a period when breaking had largely disappeared from mainstream attention, the crew helped sustain the culture through underground venues, community-based instruction, independent performances, regional battles, and connections with pioneering dancers in New York City and beyond.
The Carriage House provided more than a place to practice. It offered young dancers a supportive environment where they could develop their skills, build friendships, and become part of a larger creative community.
Under the early direction of TKO, the original 401 B-Boy Rockers developed into a crew that would travel, compete, perform, and help introduce Rhode Island’s emerging generation of breakers to the wider hip-hop world.
As the crew evolved, members such as Daddy Long Leggs, Reckless, Joeskee, Footluz, Kid Flex, Flex-Roc, and Tam-Rock each contributed to its story in different ways.
Their experiences reflected the realities of underground dance culture: close friendships, intense competition, creative disagreements, personal losses, reunions, and the continued pursuit of artistic expression.
Even after the original lineup separated, the influence of the 401 Rockerz remained visible through the dancers who continued performing, teaching, mentoring, and preserving the culture.
Their legacy stands as a testament to the determination of a generation that helped keep breaking alive in Rhode Island during the 1990s and carried it forward into the decades that followed.
Respect to the pioneers, the original members, and every dancer who helped build the foundation of Rhode Island’s breaking culture. The 401 Rockerz remain an important part of the Ocean State’s hip-hop history.