Documenting The Confusion Between The Late 1980s Hip Hop Dances The Cabbage Patch & The Reebox (videos & comments)

Reebok vs. Cabbage Patch • Hip Hop Dance • Feat. Buddha Stretch

Versa-Style Street Dance Company, Jul 8, 2025

In this video, Buddha Stretch shares with us the history and difference  between the Reebok and the Cabbage Patch!

Dance With VS: Online Street Dance Tutorials

VS Member BeastBoi featuring Hip Hop and Street Dance Pioneer Buddha Stretch!

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series about the 1980s Hip Hop dance called "The Cabbage Patch" and some other 1980s Hip Hop dances.

This post showcases YouTube videos of certain 1980s Hip Hop dances that are often confused with each other, particularly "The Cabbage Patch", "The Reebok", "The Wop" and The Prep.  

This pancocojams post also includes an AI Overview about The Cabbage Patch & The Reebok Dance as well as a few comments from some of those YouTube videos' discussion threads.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/06/tennas-dance-in-2025-deltarune-chapter.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents some information about The Cabbage Patch dance and showcases two videos of that dance. One of those featured videos is a 2025 demonstration of "The Reebok dance". That Hip Hop dance came shortly after The Cabbage Patch dance and is often confused with that earlier dance.

Part I of this series also presents information about the 2025 Deltarune video game character Tenna and its "Tenna Boogie" This post also showcases two videos of the Tenna Boogie which r eminds some people of the 1980s Cabbage Patch dance. 

Click __ for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents some examples of African American children's recreational rhymes that include references to The Cabbage Patch dance.    

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the creators and early popularizers of these Hip Hop dances. Thanks to all those who are featured in these embedded YouTube videos and all the producers and publishers of these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
An upcoming pancocojams post about video games, race, and ethnicity will be published ASAP and its link will be added to the posts in this series.  

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AI OVERVIEW ABOUT THE CABAGE PATCH AND THE REEBOK (also known as "THE TROOP"  / SKELETOR) HIP HOP DANCES

This write-up is the result of my query: "Which Hip Hop dance came first- The Cabbage Patch of The Reebok?

AI Overview
"The Cabbage Patch came first. It emerged in the mid-1980s, gaining massive mainstream popularity alongside the iconic Cabbage Patch Kids dolls and songs by groups like Gucci Crew II.

The Reebok dance emerged shortly afterward in the late 1980s. It was directly inspired by the booming popularity of the Reebok sneaker brand and was heavily influenced by marching bands at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which needed to adapt the Cabbage Patch into a side-to-side shoulder move so musicians could still play their instruments."

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR SHOWCASE VIDEO #1

(given at the top of this pancocojams post)

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - How to do the Cabbage Patch | Hip Hop Club Dance Moves

DanceKizombaTV, Jun 27, 2014

Awesome demo of Hip Hop Club Dance Move Cabbage Patch by legends Buddha Stretch (go to his workshops), Terry Link & Caleaf Sellers. Watch, Learn and Enjoy!
-snip-
Unfortunately, this 2014 video added to the confusion about how The Cabbage Patch or The Reebok were (are) performed. Most of the commenters in this video wrote that the dance that Buddha Stretch demonstrated in that video was The Reebok (also known as "The Troop" or "Skeletor") and not "The Cabbage Patch". It appears to me that in his 2025 video that is given as #1 in this pancocojams post  (without mentioning this 2014 video) Buddha Stretch corrects the record that the dance he did in  2014 was The Reebok and not a version of The Cabbage Patch. 

Here are a few comments from this video's discussion thread. (Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.)

1. @mobus1603, 2016
"That looks like the Reebok to me."

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2.@James_Carter_K, 2017
"this is the real cabbage patch"

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3. @vergon666, 2019
"The Reebok"

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4. @michaeltruthson6262, 2021
"Not the cabbage patch but he's rocking whatever dance that is.""

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Reply
5. @HighSpeedNoDrag, 2026
"Outstanding observation but a Variant of the Cab at best."

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6. @Queen-bj1ou, 2024
"We called this dance the Troop  and/or Skeletor back in the day.🤷🏾‍♀️"

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7. @christopherdieudonne, 2024
"Where I come from that was called The Reebok.  The cabbage patch was still a shoulder dance but not done like this."

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Reply
8. @stoplookinent4791, 2025
"Your correct that's the reebok"

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9. @MichaelJones-co3df, 2025
"This was the cabbage patch, you go side to side, I don't know what that other thing is they do but you want to look like a cabbage patch kid so I don't know what the other thing is on the internet with the circles but  these guys are the best......."

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3: DANCIN' ON AIR ON FUSE TV - OLD SKOOL FRESH PRINCE WILL SMITH JAZZY JEFF -  BLOOPERS

Dancin' On Air, Feb 21, 2016  #DANCINONAIR #SMFONFUSE

DANCIN' ON AIR Season 2016 On-Demand 24/7/365, on FUSE TV. Also watch SATURDAY MORNING FEVER, on FUSE TV & HULU, the behind the scenes reality series about DANCIN' ON AIR
-snip-
In response to the question "What year was this [filmed], one commenter in this video's discussion thread wrote "1986" while another commenter wrote "1987?"

Most of the comments in this discussion thread refer to the "Dancin' On Air"  television series or to (old school) Will Smith & DJ Jazzy Jeff.

Here are a few comments from this video's discussion thread. (Numbers are added for referencing purposes only).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLr2uKRT3JE

1. @cravingspopcorn, 2020
"That cabbage patch was hard. The transformer dance too. I love it, but good thing the internet didn't exist then."

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Reply
2. @Oldskol81, 2025
"Exactly"

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3. @Jess2012rocha, 2022
"Was this before fresh prince of bell air?? Was he tryna become a hiphop rap artist back then and decided to be a comedian"
 -snip-
In this comment the words "Fresh prince" and "he" refer to rapper/actor Will Smith who later starred in the television sit-com The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.

**
Reply
5. @GL_FAB, 2023
"Way before his tv show 🎤🔥🎶👍"

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Reply
6. @rahtaylor7651, 2023
"He was a popular rapper before actor. First rapper to get a Grammy too"

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Reply
7. @IceManLikeGervin, 2023
"His first song came out in 1986 "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble". And this song "The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff" is from 1986 as well. His NBC sitcom came out in 1990. He released three full albums: Rock The House (1987), He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper (1988), And In This Corner... (1989), as well as won two Grammy awards before he even began his NBC sitcom."

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Reply
8. @jaigriggs3878, 2025
"And he was never a comedian he was a rapper before anything else he did."

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9. @destinmosby734, 2025
"Wills cabbage patch is ss god mode 😂"

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10. @jordonvazquez7620, 2025
"I love his cabbage patch."

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11. @justjonesy, 2025
"Who is the guy in the blue? He hitting that ish!! ❤ #JazzytheGenuis"
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Reply
12. @billyjacc, 2026
"Ready Rock C...The Human Beat Box"

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13.@PrinceSupreme-y8x, 2025

"You're taking me back to the old school days of hip-hop!

 DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, consisting of Jeff Townes and Will Smith, were indeed part of the West Philadelphia Crew and the larger Philadelphia hip-hop community.

 As you mentioned, they were affiliated with the Philly Crew, a collective of MCs, DJs, and breakdancers who were known for their lyrical dexterity, musical innovation, and cultural expression.

 Regarding their "knowledge of self" and "righteous names," it's true that many members of the Philly Crew and other early hip-hop groups adopted aliases or stage names that reflected their African American heritage, cultural identity, and personal values.

 

Some notable examples from the Philly Crew include:

 

- DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Townes)

- The Fresh Prince (Will Smith)

- MC Parlay (Paris Williams)

- MC Ready Rock C (Clarence * Bobbit)

 

These righteous names often signified a connection to African culture, Islamic or Afrocentric spirituality, and a commitment to self-empowerment and community upliftment."
-snip-
*This name was given in that comment as "Charles", but was corrected by another commenter.

 **
14. @PrinceSupreme-y8x, 2025
"You're highlighting the connection between DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, the West Philly Crew, and the Five Percent Nation.

Indeed, some members of the Philly Crew, including DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, were influenced by the Five Percent Nation's teachings and adopted righteous names that reflected their connection to the Nation.

The Five Percent Nation, founded by Clarence 13X, emphasized the importance of knowledge of self, African identity, and spiritual growth. The Nation's teachings resonated with many young African Americans in Philadelphia and beyond.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's affiliation with the Five Percent Nation and the Philly Crew reflects the complex and dynamic cultural landscape of 1980s Philadelphia, where hip-hop, Afrocentrism, and Islamic spirituality intersected."

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Will Smith doing the Cabbage Patch (1980s)

@DJDAVINCI, May 1, 2025
-snip-
This is a clip of the video given as #3 in this pancocojams post.


Here are a few comments from this video's discussion thread. (Numbers are added for referencing purposes only). All of these comments are from 2025.

1. @ShabazztheGreaterTaker
"Dance Party USA!"

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2. @DarkTitanX
"I remember watching that episode of Dance Party USA."

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3. @Ynaffit_76
"My favorite era of Will..I appreciate these memories of him most youngsters wouldn't understand"

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4. @G.O.A.TGemini
"Will doing the Philly version"

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5. @Tha1isay
"That’s crazy, he Called it “dumb dancing” it doing a dance hard with a serious face.. real talk no joking. Look it up"

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Reply
6. @jawannwomack1950
"You right my uncle told me that years ago 😂"

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7. @MarsDK88
"Y’all forget that this man was a dancing fool back in the day."

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8. @irisshalurhad7901
"The dude in the back in the blue is doing the Biz Markie  harder than I’ve ever seen it done.  😂"

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9. @auracle9231
"You was supposed to look stupid when you did these dance moves.. Biz Markie would approve..Will was just chillin"

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10.  @sadetwizelve
"Cabbage Patch…The Wop"

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11. @studivan
"Somehow I don’t think that’s the was the dance went and I lived through that era, don’t know what he’s doing but that’s not the cabbage patch."

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Reply
12. @kenoyount6758
"Cabbage patch?😂

Looks like he's doing the Brussel sprouts"

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13. @fairassesment
"That ain’t the cabbage patch that’s the collard green. It seems painful."

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Reply
14. @Kekebusinessmogul
"😂😂😂"

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15. @gd97folk
"Definitely not the cabbage patch"

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16. @paulantonio10
"i.. i dont think thats how we used to do it. i dont remember it looking so thrash an jerky. (LOL)  Janet Jackson did it best."

**
17. @j.smoov7220
"Actually cabbage patch crossed with the prep."
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/12/memories-of-1980s-wop-dance-other.html for the 2023 pancocojams post entitled "Memories Of The 1980s Wop Dance & Other Comments From Two YouTube Videos' Discussion Threads."

The first showcase video in that post is "Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew's Hip Hop rap "All The Way To Heaven" . That video was released in 1986 are scenes of African American women and men people dancing the Wop.

The second video in that pancocojams post is a Howcast tutorial of the Wop and the third video in that post is
"Tony - The Wop, The Cabbage Patch & The Prep", published by DJ Tony Vito, Apr 20, 2007
"Yes, that's me, kickin' old school moves .... 80's lives on!  The third step in this video is a dance we used to call the Raindance at Bentleys on 40th and Madison;  I've since found out that it is better known as The Prep."
-snip-
The first dance in that video is The Wop. The second dance is The Cabbage Patch, and the third dance is The Prep.

**

18. @Blu-om
"I love how he background dancers look like the inflatable, flailing figures outside car dealerships. I think they're called 'air dancers' lol"

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Reply
19. @jasmyionsellers6755
"Oh you mean whacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men ? 💀"

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20. @richardmccall7479
"Real Philly in the house 💯"

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21. @dianejohnson4601
"Flavor flav was known for this dance also.  Will Smith help so many cultural generations to update and better themselves."

**
22. @DonnaFrazier-eb3ez
"I NEVER SEEN IT DONE QUIET LIKE THAT BUT WILL IS DAMN SHO KILLING IT 😂"
-snip-
"Quiet" is a probably a typo here for the word "quite".

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 -Reebok vs Cabbage Patch (Which is Which??) | Hip Hop Dance Steps

The Shed, Jan 3, 2026
-snip-
Here' s the very beginning of the auto-generated English language transcript of this video (0.01-0.16 and from 1:00-1:32 in this video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8OdqTcpuj8

"Today, we're going to be breaking down two separate hip-hop steps and sort of
trying to settle a debate that surrounds them within the hip-hop community. These
two steps often get mistaken for each other.  So, we're going to break each of them down today
and really try to highlight the differences between them  so that there's less confusion around
these two steps.

[...]

These two steps are highlighted in the video * that I have linked in the top of the description by hip-hop's own Buddha Stretch. If you don't know who Buddha Stretch is, he is an iconic member of hip-hop culture and he has been around since the creation of the dance and even played a very important role in the formulation of the style. So, the info that I am laying out in this video is not sourced from me. This
is sourced from him and sourced from numerous other individuals who are far more credible when it comes to this sort of thing than I am and who have a lot more personal experience with the origins of hip-hop and with the origins of these steps."
-snip-
There are only a few comments in this video's discussion thread. Most of those comments compliment and thank The Shed for this video.

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This concludes Part II of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Tenna's Dance In The 2025 Deltarune Chapter 3 Video Game Reminds People Of The 1980s Hip Hop Dance Called "The Cabbage Patch"

Mr. "Ant" Tenna's DANCE in 3D!?!? | Deltarune Showcase

@dani17dev,  July 16, 2025

"Deltarune 3D Model Comparison of Mr "Ant" Tenna Dancing Silly Dance and Swing Dance Animation from Deltarune Chapter 3 made in Blender."..
-snip-
DISCLAIMER: This pancocojams blog focuses on the culture of Black people in the United States and throughout the world.  

The inclusion of videos of and information about Deltarune Chapter 3 and its "Tenna" character doesn't mean to imply that these creative works originated with Black people.

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series about the 1980s Hip Hop dance called "The Cabbage Patch" and some other 1980s Hip Hop dances.

This post presents some information about The Cabbage Patch dance and showcases two videos of that dance. One of those videos includes a demonstration of The Reebok dance. The Reebok dance came shortly after The Cabbage Patch dance and is often confused with that earlier dance.

This post also presents information about the 2025 Deltarune video game character Tenna and its "Tenna Boogie" This post also showcases two videos of the Tenna Boogie which r eminds some people of the 1980s Cabbage Patch dance. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/06/documenting-confusion-between-late.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post showcases YouTube videos of certain 1980s Hip Hop dances that are often confused with each other, particularly "The Cabbage Patch", "The Reebok", "The Wop" and The Prep.  That pancocojams post also includes comments from some of those YouTube videos' discussion threads.

Click __ for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents some examples of African American children's recreational rhymes that include references to The Cabbage Patch dance.    

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the creators and early popularizers of The Cabbage Patch dance. Thanks to Toby Fox, the creator of the Deltarune video game. Thanks to all those who are featured in these embedded YouTube videos and all the producers and publishers of these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
An upcoming pancocojams post about video games, race, and ethnicity will be published ASAP and its link will be added to the posts in this series.  

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - How to Do the Cabbage Patch | Hip-Hop Dancing

Howcast, Sep 24, 2012
-snip-
By showcasing this  video and the other video that features a way of doing "The Cabbage Patch" dance , I'm not saying that these are the "right" way/s that dance was/is performed. 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Reebok vs. Cabbage Patch • Hip Hop Dance • Feat. Buddha Stretch

Versa-Style Street Dance Company, Jul 8, 2025

In this video, Buddha Stretch shares with us the history and difference  between the Reebok and the Cabbage Patch!

Dance With VS: Online Street Dance Tutorials

VS Member BeastBoi featuring Hip Hop and Street Dance Pioneer Buddha Stretch!

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Tenna Dance

@MoistFob, Jan 18, 2026

Tenna bustin' it down like I've never seen before...

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SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE late 1980s "CABBAGE PATCH" DANCE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabbage_Patch_(dance)
"Cabbage Patch (dance)
 The Cabbage Patch is a hip-hop dance move that involves moving one's clenched fists together in front of the body in a horizontal, circular motion.[1][2] The hips may be gyrated in sync with these arm movements.

 The dance became popular in the 1980s, showing up in many dance clubs in North America. The dance's name is derived from the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls or the use of "cabbage" as slang for paper money. The dance was originally celebratory and often associated with being cool.[3]

Several songs about the dance have been released:

Rare Item & the Bud Buddies - "The Cabbage Patch Dance" (1983)

Delmar Donnell - "In the Cabbage Patch" (1984)

Experience Unlimited - "Doing the Cabbage Patch" (1986)

XII - "Cabbage Patch" (1986)

R.P. Cola - "The Cabbage Patch Dance" (1987)

Gucci Crew II - "The Cabbage Patch" (1987)[4]

World Class Wreckin' Cru - "Cabbage Patch" (1987)[5]"...
-snip-
Gucci Crew II's 1987 record was the one that popularized the Hip Hop dance known as "The Cabbage Patch." I haven't come across any mention of these other records in YouTube discussion threads or in other online articles about The Cabbage Patch dance. Unfortunately, I haven't come across any videos of Gucci Crew II performing their "The Cabbage Patch" song. Their Hip Hop Hop track.
-snip-
In most YouTube discussion threads of performances of The Cabbage Patch dance, you will find a number of commenters insisting that that dance is being done wrong. Many of the commenters indicate that-instead of The Cabbage Patch, the dancers are doing another late 1980s Hip Hop dance such as "The Reebok", or "The Wop", or "The Prep".  The problem is that there were different variations of The Cabbage Patch, in part, depending on which region of the United States a person was from. Besides that, the above named Hip Hop dances did look a lot alike. Click Part II for more information and examples about this topic.  

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE TENNA CHARACTER IN DELTARUNE CHAPTER 3 (VIDEO GAME)

AI Overview
" "MR. (Ant) TENNAS TV TIME!" is a fan-created animation based on the Deltarune video game, which features a vintage 1980s TV network theme. The animation connects to the Cabbage Patch because both are iconic pieces of 1980s pop culture—with the dance being a signature hip-hop move that emerged during the era.

Key Connections to the 80s:
The Dance: The Cabbage Patch is a hip-hop dance introduced in the late 1980s, popularized by the Miami rap group Gucci Crew II.

The Inspiration: The dance was named directly after the massively popular line of Cabbage Patch Kids dolls.

The TV Theme: "Tenna" is a TV-themed antagonist from Deltarune, and animations like Mr. (Ant) Tenna's TV Time! lean heavily into 1960s-1980s analog station aesthetics. Both the character's era and the dance share that nostalgic 80s DNA"
-snip-
Click https://deltarune.fandom.com/wiki/Tenna Deltarune Wiki
"SPOILER WARNING

This article contains major SPOILERS for Chapter 3. Read at your own risk!"

****
INFORMATION ABOUT WHY SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE 2025 DELTARUNE VIDEO GAME HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN DISCUSSION THREADS OF SOME YOUTUBE VIDEOS ABOUT "THE CABBATE PATCH"
[Here's the question that I wrote on Google Search on June 17, 2026: "Why are there a lot of comments about the Deltarune video game in  some YouTube discussions thread about the cabbage patch dance?"]

AI Overview
"The crossover in comments is happening because of the highly anticipated release of Deltarune Chapter 3.

The game features a major character named Tenna—a mischievous television-headed antagonist who is heavily featured performing a slick, groovy dance routine often referred to by fans as the "Tenna Boogie

Because the arm-pumping, shuffling moves Tenna does bear a strong, undeniable resemblance to the classic 1980s hip-hop dance, fans flooded the YouTube comments of classic "cabbage patch" tutorials to reference the game.

For a look at the animated dancing sequence that has fans leaving so many references across dance tutorial videos:

Exploring the Tenna Boogie Dance in Deltarune Chapter 3
certainlylazTikTok · Jun 25, 2025"
-That is the end of that AI Overview-
The link for that tik tok video is https://www.tiktok.com/@certainlylaz/video/7520016533146373398

I regret that this pancocojams blog doesn't showcase any Tik Tok videos.

View the YouTube videos of the Tenna Boogie that are embedded above in this post. 

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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

"The Jalen Generation" - Information About The African American Created Personal Name "Jalen" & Its Variant Spellings

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about the origin and current popularity of the African American name "Jalen" and its various spellings.

The content of this post is presented for historical and etymological * purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to professional basketball player Jalen Rose whose popularity was the initial reason for the spread of this name for males and ,later, for females. Thanks also to all those with the name "Jalen" -regardless of how that name is spelled. 

 Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.
-snip-
"Etymology" is the study of names.

Click the "names and nicknames" tag below to find more pancocojams posts on this subject. 

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ONLINE EXCERPTS ABOUT THE NAME  "JALEN"
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

ONLINE EXCERPT #1
From https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31309206/the-jalen-generation-how-jalen-rose-name-spread-world-sports "The Jalen Generation: How Jalen Rose's name has spread throughout the world of sports" by Eric Woodyard, Apr 28, 2021

"HEATHER MAYFIELD WAS five months pregnant when she went to Mercy Health Saint Mary's hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, Brian, accompanying her for an ultrasound appointment on a chilly January day in 2000.

 Upon the revelation that their first child would be a boy, the couple quickly began considering names. As an homage to Brian's grandfather, the middle name Walker was locked in. But the first name was not so settled.

 "I was torn between Marcus and Spencer," Heather told ESPN.

 Eventually the discussion turned to Michigan basketball, and the famed Fab Five.

 "It kind of made sense because the Fab Five was so big when we were in college, and we watched every game when we were at school," Heather said. "Chris [Webber] was too common of a name, and then Ray [Jackson] was kind of an old man name, then you got Jimmy [King], so we didn't go with Jimmy. So I was like Jalen [Rose] ... Jalen wasn't too obscure, but it wasn't too common."

 "I liked Juwan [Howard] too," Brian Mayfield added.

 But Jalen it was, so on May 23, 2000, Jalen Walker Mayfield was born.

Twenty-one years later, after playing football at Michigan, Jalen Mayfield heard his name called in the 2021 NFL draft, as the No. 68 overall pick. So did Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle, who was selected No. 6 overall by the Miami Dolphins, where he'll be teammates with Jaelan Phillips, the former Miami Hurricanes defensive end who was selected with the No. 18 overall pick.

The story is the same in the NBA: Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs, G League Ignite's Jalen Green and Duke's Jalen Johnson are all projected as top-eight picks by Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz.

Forty-eight years ago, Jeanne Rose named her son Jalen -- and with a few dozen variants in pro sports and more on their way -- the "Jalen Generation" is in full effect.

"I always say that the name Jalen's a superpower," Jalen Rose said. "Because, if you're seeing this level of Jalens when you're watching college basketball and football, pro basketball and football, that's a small percentage of the society that actually carry the name."

IT'S BITTERSWEET FOR Rose. His mother died of lung cancer in February, two months before her 80th birthday on April 28, and the months since have been emotional. But it has also helped Rose come to an important realization.

"If she would've named me James or Jason, that wouldn't have hit the same. So she's the creator, and I'm the vessel that gets to carry it out," Rose said. "Names and words are extremely powerful. If people don't rock with you or they don't like you, you know the last thing they're gonna do is name their kid after you. That ain't got nothing to do with your rings. That ain't got nothing to do with where you went to college. Like, if I'm gonna name my son or daughter after you, I rock with you.".

Rose was tasked with going through his mother's personal belongings after her death. Searching through one of her drawers, he discovered a handwritten list on a white sheet of paper. Jeanne Rose didn't just follow the career of her son Jalen; she followed every Jalen.

 "I knew it was something that she realized had become bigger than her -- and clearly way larger than me," Rose said. "It's something now that really is gonna be what defines her legacy and mine. Something that has zero to do with the score of any game that I ever played."

Among the dozens of names on Jeanne Rose's list were Jalen Richard (Las Vegas Raiders), Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles), Jalen Mayfield (Michigan Wolverines), Jalen Brunson (Dallas Mavericks) and Jalen Ramsey (L.A. Rams). She also kept track of the players who spelled their name differently, like Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown

According to ESPN Stats & Information, there are currently 32 players with some variation of the name Jalen on rosters across the NBA, NFL and other major North American professional sports. Nearly 80 Jalens played men's college basketball this past season.

While there was at least one Jalen born in the United States before Jan. 30, 1973, when Jeanne gave her son the name that was a combination of his father's (James) and his uncle's (Leonard), there's no doubt the popularity of the name can be tied directly to Rose's fame.

"When a name jumps fast, that means that there's something going on, that something is influencing it," said Jennifer Moss, founder and CEO of BabyNames.com. "Why wasn't it anywhere on the charts before 1992? Well, of course, because it must have been influenced by Jalen Rose."

Rose debuted as part of Michigan's Fab Five in 1991. The very next year, Jalen cracked the top 1,000 most popular names, according to the U.S. Social Security Office of the Actuary for U.S. Births. The name debuted at No. 378. The next year, when Rose was helping the Wolverines reach a second consecutive national title game, it jumped to 216.

There are now nearly a dozen variant spellings of the name.

[...]

The original Jalen spelling has been a mainstay on the top 1,000 list since debuting, peaking at No. 106 in 2000, when Rose helped the Indiana Pacers reach the NBA Finals.

That same year, an alternate spelling appeared among the top 1,000 most popular names.

"J-A-Y-L-I-N, which is used for girls, popped onto the U.S. charts in the year 2000 and stayed there until 2015," Moss said. "What parents will do is because they want their own unique spelling, or maybe they want to feminize the name a little bit. They might put extra letters in there, or just change the spelling."

That was the case for Jaylyn Agnew, who became the WNBA's first Jalen when she played 12 games for the Atlanta Dream last season.

"Jalen has become a unisex name, an international name," Rose said. "I started to take pride in the fact that [I'm] 'the first Jalen.' There's a sense of responsibility that came with it."

[...]

In 2020, Jalen Suggs became the first athlete in Minnesota history to win Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football honors in the same season. A year later he led the Gonzaga Bulldogs to an undefeated regular season before his team lost to Baylor in the national championship game. His buzzer-beating overtime 3-pointer in Gonzaga's Final Four win over UCLA almost immediately became one of the most iconic shots in NCAA history, and he's now expected to be a top-five pick in July's NBA draft.

Throughout his journey, he's kept an eye on his peers who carry the same name, and over the years, they've found ways to differentiate themselves.

"I've kind of gotten a couple nicknames out of it, just because it's always one or two Jalens in the building," he said. "It's something we just kind of bond over."

Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson, born Aug. 31, 1996, is among the first generation of players who were named after Rose to reach the pro ranks. His father, Rick, played nine seasons in the NBA, including two as Rose's teammate with the Chicago Bulls. Jalen Brunson still remembers being introduced to the player who inspired his name as a kid visiting the former Bulls training facility, the Berto Center.

Jalen Brunson didn't recall meeting many other people who shared his name until reaching high school, but started hearing it more in college. No matter how many other Jalens hit the scene, though, Rick Brunson wouldn't let his son forget about his eponymous teammate, who has gone on to inspire a younger generation not only through his name and basketball career, but also through philanthropic work as well.

"It's pretty cool to see someone like that with the impact on and off the court and the things he's doing in his community back home," Brunson said. "It's pretty special so I've definitely got a sense of pride."...
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Jalen Brunson is the star player on the 2026 New York Knicks team. The Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions. 

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The names that are highlighted in this article serve as links to information about those individuals.
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SHOWCASE EXCERPT #2
From https://www.nba.com/news/how-jalen-became-most-popular-name-nba How Jalen became the most popular name in the NBA

Created by Jalen Rose's mother, the name is the most popular in the NBA for the 3rd straight season.

by Jonathan Hartzell, NBA.com, January 30, 2025
"When Jalen Rose was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 1994, he was the first-ever Jalen to enter the NBA. When he retired in 2007, he was still the only Jalen ever to play in the league.

 Then Jaylen Brown made his debut in 2016 and started a new wave. Since then, 26 more players named Jalen have played in the NBA. And it’s been the most popular name in the league for the last three seasons, with 17 Jalens on opening night rosters for 2024-25.

Did Jalen Rose inspire this wave of Jalens? The numbers say yes.

To celebrate Jalen Rose’s birthday today, let’s dig into the rise of the name created by Rose’s mother, Jeanne, as a combination of “James” and “Leonard”.

After Jalen Rose’s first season with the Fab Five at the University of Michigan in 1992, the name debuted at No. 378 on the list of most popular boys names in the USA. Then “Jaylen” with a “y” debuted at No. 668 the next year. Both names have stayed in the top 1000 ever since.

When you include all spellings of the name, there have been 28 players named Jalen to make the NBA. Here’s the complete list with each player’s debut season: [A chart with photos included in this article.].

For the 2024-25 season, there are 15 teams with a Jalen (or variation) on their roster – half the league. When you include all spellings, 3% of the NBA is named Jalen this season.

The NBA isn’t the only league with an influx of Jalens. There have been three in the WNBA, 58 in the NFL, 322 in NCAA basketball and 496 in NCAA football.

To put the rise of the name Jalen into perspective, the other most popular names in the NBA since 2000 have been Chris, Jordan and Josh — all names with origins that date back over 1,000 years.

The data makes it clear – Jalen Rose’s game and his mother’s innovation created the most popular name in the NBA and inspired the next generation of athletes."
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The words that are written in bold font are given that way in this article. 

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The New York Knicks Win The NBA Championship 2026! (videos & information about the meaning of the team name "Knicks")

 

KNICKS WIN NBA Championship - Final moments and on-court celebrations

Chaz NBA, Jun 13, 2026

New York Knicks WIN NBA Championship - Final seconds and on-court celebrations

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases seven YouTube videos of people in New York City celebrating the Knicks winning the National Basketball Association's championship in 2026.

This post also showcases a YouTube video about The 2026 Knicks team prior to winning this championship.

The Addendum to this post presents information about the meaning of the team name "the Knicks".

The content of this post is presented for historical, informational, and celebratory purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.   

Congratulations to the Knicks!

Thanks to the producers and publishers of these videos on YouTube. Also, thanks to the author of the information about the meaning of the words "knickerbocker", "knickerbocker nine", and the "Knicks" (New zyork City's NBA basketball team's nickname).

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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/10/what-word-knickerbocker-means-in.html for Part I of a three part pancocojams series about the English language recreational rhyme "Dr. Knickerbocker Number Nine" (and similar titles). 

That post presents information about the origin and meaning of the words "knickerbocker" and "knickerbocker Number 9". That post also includes additional information about the meaning of the phrase "number 9" in United States' culture and in British culture.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/10/examples-of-dr-knickerbocker-number.html  for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents some (word only) examples of the children's recreational rhyme "Dr. Knickerbocker Number Nine".  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/10/doctor-knickerbocker-number-9-videos.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcases some YouTube videos of the rhyme "Dr. Knickerbocker Number Nine".  

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SHOWCASE VIDEO-#2- KNICKS ARE NBA CHAMPIONS AGAIN!!🚨

@Houseofhighlights, June 14, 2026 New York Knicks WIN the 2026 NBA Finals to become NBA CHAMPIONS!! Their first since 1973!

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3- Celebrations erupt in New York after Knicks win first NBA championship in 53 years

Jun 14, 2026  #knicks #newyork #nba

The Knicks rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Spurs in San Antonio in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, turning pensive crowds euphoric at watch parties outside the team's Madison Square Garden arena and in parks and streets across the city.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4- Knicks fans pack the streets of NYC celebrating NBA championship

Eyewitness News ABC7NY, Jun 14, 2026

Shannon Sohn reports from above Manhattan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hes-us73xLE

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5- NY KNICKS WIN NBA FINALS & ALL OF NYC SINGS EMPIRE STATE OF MIND 



@DAKIDK, June 14, 2026
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Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk6014HuxcE for the December 2021 Hip Hope track "Empire State Of Mine" by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys.

Also, click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_of_Mind for information about that award winning song that was first released in 2009.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #6- Crazy Reaction at Radio City to Knicks Championship!

Ethan Straus, Jun 13, 2026  RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

Official Knicks Watch Party at Radio City Music Hall ft. Larry Johnson and more!

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #7 - Celebrity Knicks fans Spike Lee, John Turturro celebrate NBA title

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Eyewitness News ABC7NY, Jun 14, 2026

Ryan Field reports.

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BONUS VIDEO - How A Viral Chant Became New York’s Soundtrack During Knicks NBA Title Charge | Firstpost America

Firstpost, Jun 12, 2026 #nba #basketball #newyorkviral

New York City is in the middle of a historic Knicks playoff run and one viral chant has taken over the internet, the arenas, and the streets. The now-famous line, 'My mayor's Muslim, my bagel's Jewish, my Christian Dior, Knicks in four' has exploded. From Madison Square Garden to watch parties across the city, Knicks fans are uniting behind a shared belief that history could finally be within reach after 53 years. In this report, Cary Johnston breaks down how a simple fan moment turned into a global viral sensation, and how it has come to define New York’s charge for an NBA championship.

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ADDENDUM - INFORMATION ABOUT THE NAME "THE KNICKS"

from https://www.nba.com/knicks/history__trashed/knickerbocker "Knickerbocker History", presented by Chase, 2026  
"The term "Knickerbockers" traces its origin to the Dutch settlers who came to the New World - and especially to what is now New York - in the 1600s. Specifically, it refers to the style of pants the settlers wore...pants that rolled up just below the knee, which became known as "Knickerbockers", or "knickers".

n 1809, legendary author Washington Irving solidified the knickerbocker name in New York lore when he wrote the satiric A History of New York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker. Later known as Knickerbocker's History of New York, Irving's book introduced the word "knickerbocker" to signify a New Yorker who could trace his or her ancestry to the original Dutch settlers.

With the publication of Irving's book, the Dutch settler "Knickerbocker" character became synonymous with New York City. The city's most popular symbol of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was "Father Knickerbocker", complete with cotton wig, three-cornered hat, buckled shoes, and, of course, knickered pants.

At the same time, the term "Knickerbocker" became indelibly linked to anything and everything New York...from Jacob Ruppert's Knickerbocker Beer to the 1938 Broadway musical Knickerbocker Holiday (which starred Walter Huston and featured the haunting "September Song") to famed society gossip columnists Cholly Knickerbocker (the nom de plume used by Maury Paul and Igor Cassini) and Suzy Knickerbocker (Aileen Mehle).

The Knickerbocker name had its first use in the sports world in 1845, when Alexander Cartwright's Manhattan-based baseball team - the first organized team in baseball history - was named the "New York Knickerbockers" or the "Knickerbocker Nine." The Knickerbocker name stayed with the team even after it moved its base of operations to Elysian Fields at Hoboken, NJ in 1846. (The baseball link may have prompted Casey Stengel to joyously exclaim, "It's great to be back as the manager of the Knickerbockers!" when he was named pilot of the newborn Mets in 1961).

[...]

In keeping with another New York tradition, the team's colors have always (except for the years from 1979-80 through 1982-83) been orange, blue and white...the official colors of New York City.

 So now you know."

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WHY WAS NEW YORK'S BASKETBALL TEAM ORIGINALLY REFERRED TO AS "THE KNICKERBOCKER NINE" (WHICH LED TO THE CHILDREN'S RECREATIONAL SONG "DOCTOR KNICKERBOCKER NUMBER NINE) ?

From https://hooptactics.net/premium/basketballbasics/bb8rulesevolution.php

"Originally, there was no set rule on the number of players. The idea was that the game could be played by any number of players. However, that did not work out. After experimenting with teams up to 50 players, early games were primarily played by nine players on each side - the reason being that 18 students showed up for Naismith's class. In 1897 five players became the mandatory team size."

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