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Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Remembering Atlanta, Georgia From the Mid 1990s: The Bankhead Bounce & Freaknik



The HoodieBeenieGuy, Aug 31, 2008

From the good old days of ATL Freaknik and Booty Bass.
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about the Bankhead Bounce, a very popular mid 1990s Atlanta, Georgia Hip Hop dance and information about Atlanta's Freaknik, an event that was widely attended in the mid 1990s by African American college/university aged men and women from almost every region in the United States. This post also showcase two videos of that dance and comments from those videos and one more Hip Hop video that shows people doing that dance. The selected comments also document some perspectives about Atlanta, Georgia in the 1990s and now.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and entertainment purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to all those who created the Bouncehead Bounce and all those who recorded Bankhead Bounce records. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
**** INFORMATION ABOUT THE BANKHEAD DANCE Source #1 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankhead_Bounce "The Bankhead Bounce is a dance that originated in a neighborhood on the west side of Atlanta known as Bankhead.[1] The dance was popularized by a song named "Wassup Wassup" by rapper L. "Diamond" Atkins, featuring D-Roc that was released in 1995. Within the same year, rap group Outkast released the song "Benz or Beamer" music video featuring the Bankhead bounce. The dance is performed by moving one's shoulders up and down with arms bent toward the chest.

Background The discovery of the dance occurred when Kevin Lee, a music manager, visited to a night club called Bounce in Bankhead, Atlanta.[2]

Other than musical artists performing the dance, it has become popular in dance fitness routines made popular by Atlanta-based African American dancers.[3] Bankhead Bounce became known in Atlanta’s African-American culture due to choreographer Rennie Harris, a collaborator of Run-DMC.[4]"...

**** Source #2 From https://www.gpb.org/blogs/atlanta-considered/2015/09/11/rap-musics-roots-in-atlantas-bankhead-neighborhood Rap Music's Roots In Atlanta's Bankhead Neighborhood September 11, 2015 By: Rickey Bevington

"In the latest installment of our ongoing series about how Atlanta places got their names, today we turn to the west Atlanta neighborhood of Bankhead. This community took its name from the highway that runs through it. The John H. Bankhead Highway runs nearly 3,000 miles between Washington, D.C. and San Diego, California. It became one of the earliest American Auto Trails for the burgeoning sport of riding in automobiles. Many communities in states along its route took the Bankhead name.

Today the part of the highway that runs through the Atlanta neighborhood of bankhead has a new name -- the Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, named for an African-American attorny and civil rights leader. The renaming was part of an effort by the Atlanta City Council to revitalize the historically poor and crime-ridden area. But many Atlantans still call the road 'Bankhead.'

Bankhead has another meaning to Americans growing up in the 1990's. In the early part of that decade, a wildly popular song called "Bankhead Bounce" captured young people's imaginations and taught them the dance of the same name. Even Michael Jackson did the "Bounce" at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City.

Since then rappers have been citing Bankhead in their music, including international superstar rapper T.I. who grew up there. "... **** Source #3 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankhead_Courts "Bankhead Courts was a public housing complex located in Bankhead, Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was demolished in 2011,[2] with the ultimate plan of redevelopment into a mixed-income community, although as of 2018, development has not yet occurred. Built in 1970 over a former landfill in the city's far northwest corner, it is surrounded by warehouses and light industry. It was poorly built and the authority moved tenants out of some apartments because of chronic sewage backups. Out of 1,700 residents, 1,025 were under 19 years old. Ninety-eight percent of the households were headed by women, and the average age of grandmothers there was 32. Hoke said records indicated that only 42 of the residents held jobs. Crime was so rampant at the Bankhead Courts that the mail carriers had to have a police escort making rounds. [3][4][5][6]

For several years, rapper Lil Nas X resided in the housing complex with his mother and grandmother.[7]"...
**** INFORMATION ABOUT ATLANTA, GEORGIA'S FREAKNIK FESTIVAL from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freaknik

"Freaknik... originally Freaknic) is an annual spring break festival in Atlanta, Georgia. It is primarily attended by students from historically black colleges and universities.[1] Begun in 1983 as a small picnic in a public park near the Atlanta University Center, it was initially sponsored by the DC Metro Club.[1] ... it is typically held during the third weekend in April. The event increased in size and popularity in the 1990s, incorporating dance contests, concerts, parties, a basketball tournament, rap sessions, a film festival and a job fair.[2] The Atlanta magazine called it Atlanta's most infamous street party.[3] In 1999, actions by the police and elected officials caused celebration of Freaknik to cease. A revamped version of Freaknik returned in 2019, it is set to move forward as a summer three-day event centered around artists performing.[4]"...
**** VIDEO #2


jjcenterprises, Apr 20, 2008

Atlanta's own A-Town Players "Wassup, Wassup"

**** SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT THE BANKHEAD BOUNCE AND ABOUT ATLANTA IN THE 1990S FROM THESE VIDEOS' DISCUSSION THREADS AND ONE THER VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
(Numbers added for referencing purposes only) DISCUSSION THREAD #1 From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qXcDfmjLIY&ab_channel=TheHoodieBeanieGuy [This is the first embedded video in this post.]

1. Micael Jimenez, 2014 "Thats when Atlanta was poppin" ** 2. Stephanie Carter, 2015 "Good old days in Atlanta"
**
3. 
HOSTILE SLATE, 2017 "Bankhead bounce is the jam.. Always will be"

** 4. Lakiesha Jordan, 2017 "skating ring days😊"

** 5. Quips909, 2019 "Classic!! Hold it down for Bankhead!!" ** Reply 6. Mario Mitchell, 2020 "He shout out the hoods he lived in too Englewood Manor and Capital Homes." ** 7. nintyoneys, 2019
"
I grew up in sc 4 hours away from Atlanta but the influence was all the way here. The Bankhead bounce back then in 95-96."

**
8. 
afmg, 2020
"Those boys had major energy SALUTE to the OG'S. Of music and the "A" " ** 9. BROTHA Jeff, 2020 "I miss the 90s... They need to have a club that just plays nothing but booty bass music like this like club 559 used to be..." ** 10. NewJack Production501, 2020 "Ying Yang Twins interview by B High brought me here" -snip- Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2d5Db97rKk&ab_channel=BHighAtl "Ying Yang Twins: D Roc And Kilo Ali Got Into It Over The Bankhead Bounce" published on Sept 13, 2020 by B High Atl for one portion of that interview.

**
11. Jeron White, 2021 "Back when Miami bass, atl and teen jams parties was poppin"

**** DISCUSSION THREAD #2 From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPOLHYGumKU&ab_channel=jjcenterprises [This is the second embedded video in this post.]

1. DocG07, 2008
"Damn this back when the ragtop out, and folks had them ticking contests. Thanks to the booty music back then, the middle school dances was an off the chain experience for me as a youth."

**
2. ronthatus, 2008
"This was when Freaknik was in full affect.  I still have my Kango from back then."
**
3. SC Johnson, 2009
"I love this song. It brings alot a memories back especially being born and raised in the A town. This was when it was fun to dance."

**
4. SleekTekNeek, 2009
"Man, I remember the clothes and hairstyles back then.  Polo shorts, herringbones, and kangols.  Atlanta certainly had its own style"

**
5. BlakSpade420, 2009
"WOW Memories! FREAKNIK BACK BABY LETS DO IT!"

**
6. MooreMedia, 2008
"
Man, D*MN. This was what was up. A Town Players had this mug locked down in the mid 90's. Seems like it was just yesterday. Straight A-TOWN CLASSIC! Freaknic was on FIYAH! AUC was on FIYAH."
-snip-
This is the way this comment was written in that discussion thread.
"AUC" = Atlanta University Center

**
7. 
I Ford, 2020
"I was just watching Moesha and she was like this dance was called "bounce" but as an Atlanta native I was like "I could have sworn it was the Bankhead bounce.""
-snip-
Here's some information about the African American sit-com (situation comedy) show Moesha:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moesha
"Moesha... is an American television sitcom that aired on UPN from January 23, 1996, to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Denise Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles."...

****
DISCUSSION THREAD #3
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwnHltO6j2U&ab_channel=OutkastVEVO

WARNING: This video and song contains profanity, the n word, and depictions of illegal activity (car theft). 

1. Neltron8000, 2015
"Man this song is still dope!!! Bankhead Bounce!!!!"

**
Reply
2. Tamiya Gathings, 2019
"And we still Bankhead Bounce to this #ATLIEN
-snip-
"Atlien" is a contemporary nickname for people who live in or are from Atlanta, Georgia.

**
3.Russell Adams, 2015
"At 4:13  D-Rock of Ying Yang Twins."
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ying_Yang_Twins
"The Ying Yang Twins are an American hip hop duo consisting of Kaine (born Eric Jackson on December 16, 1978, age 42) and D-Roc (born Deongelo Holmes on February 23, 1979, age 42). They are not actually twin brothers. The group debuted in 2000 and rose to mainstream popularity in 2003 collaborating with Britney Spears on her album In the Zone and with Lil Jon on "Get Low". In 2004 and 2005, Ying Yang Twins became more popular with party singles "Salt Shaker", "Wait (The Whisper Song)", "Shake" and "Badd". They have received notoriety for their song "Halftime (featuring Homebwoi)" which is played at New Orleans Saints homegames after most touchdowns."...

**
4. Lance Olds,2015
"This was what Atlanta was all about. A young D-Roc from Ying Yang Twins doing the Bankhead bounce

**
Reply
5. Justin Figgins, 2021
"D-Roc rapped on the actual “Bankhead Bounce” song, some history for yawl...."

**
Reply
6. Jay Jackson, 2021
..."It is him and he basically popularized the Bankhead Bounce. He has a song and video."

**
7. TonySummerz, 2015
"Now THIS was Atlanta before it became "ATL"...and before all the dusty ass NY transplants invaded."

**
8. TonySummerz, 2015
" @*****  No NY transplant i know uses the term "ATLiens"....that's a SW Atlanta thing stupid ass. You would know that if you were a native..."

**
Reply
9. Air Pegasus, 2018
"You Do Know 90% Of Black America’s Roots Are In The South Right? Some People Are Returning Back To The Root. #360%"

**
Reply
10. Dee Joyce, 2018
"FieryReign You're right it was both East and West Coast. Actually people from any state in the U.S. were flocking to ATL in the 90s. I graduated college in 94... many of my classmates decided to relocate to ATL. Many of them lasted a year or less before returning to TN. They couldn't handle what seemed like "Freaknik" every weekend. It's was the Mecca for young ambitious Black people back then. It's became oversaturated with weirdos at some point though. The early 90s were amazing times of unification. So fortunate that I was able to experience that moment in time."

**
Reply
11. Jay Jackson, 2021
"Facts, facts, facts!"

**
Reply
12. Bougie Barb, 2021
" @Jay Jackson  exactly all these NY rappers sound like they from the South now 🤣

** 
13. TheFlY ENT, 2016
"80% of these people not even from Bankhead, bouncing was the sh_t* n I'm from Michigan mayne 
-snip- 
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

"mayne" is an African American Vernacular English way of saying and spelling the internection "man".  

**
14. trevor myers, 2016
"ATLANTA IN 1995 > ATLANTA IN 2017"

**
Reply
15. Gemini Lovehate, 2017
"Yes bruh, u both NEVER lied about that era. It was like the golden age of Atlanta, miss it very much."

**
Reply
16. I.DIG.WAX., 2018
"THE WORLD IN 1995 > THE WORLD IN 2018"

**
Reply
17. Chinua Savage, 2018
"Facts!!"

**
18.
Adrian Carpenter, 2016
"
Man, this is when Hip-Hop was great! It'll never be this good again. I miss Outkast."

**
19. 
MeMeShawdy FoSho, 2017
"
aye tru' dat, to all of what's been said ... I do miss the mentality we all had in Tha A. (i still hold mines down ya feel me)we thought of ourselves as individuals with the understanding that we was all making a way. respecting our minds we all called each other folk or blood (we had heavy west coast influence) and u didnt meet strangers . and those who were strangers was strange.

but fo real doe, as we all was at the concert downtown at the Olympic park ...man it was old lanta all over again, we all didn't know each other but we was all in that moment and it was real. (we was bootleg watching the Outkast concert from the steps of a restaurant that was the perfect view to see the whole concert! lol for' tha free gottdame!! up close too didn't miss sh-t*!! what we was doin' was some real'lanta sh-t* lol)
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

**
20. Greg B, 2017
"I live in SC was born in Philly... When I went to Philly one summer and heard 2 cousins of mine rapping outkast, word for word ..I knew outkast was not just southern rappers to ppl lol"

**
Reply
21. brkjeff, 2021
"first video I seen ppl doing the Bankhead Bounce. South Philly cat that was bangin Outkast when it was NOT accepted on the east coast"

**
22. Chosen One, 2017
"My childhood right here! Thank you lord best era ever!!! They hittin that bankhead bounce halfway thru the video lol classic"

**
23. MR. CLIF, 2017
"History lesson: This video made the Bankhead bounce nationally famous"

**
24. Justin Credible, 2018
"ATL to tha bone EVERYBODY bankhead bouncing and Mr DJ KILLED IT AT THE END"

**
25. Q D, 2018
"Man as a kid growing up in Georgia we would do the Bankhead bounce to just bout anything 😂😂"

**
26. Thomas Reddin, 2018
"
ATL Flavor In Your Ear!!! They Paved The Way 💯💯🔥🔥👋👋"

**
27. HUZTLE MAYNE, 2018
"The Old Atlanta mayne"

**
Reply
28. Black Millionaire Status, 2018
"The old Atlanta era will FOREVER BE CLASSIC !!! #StewartAve"

**
Reply
29. Jonas Bernal, 2019
"Can’t compare Times haves changed so much lol"

**
Reply
30. yawnn112, 2021
"Yup."

**
31. Megan Robinson, 2018
"This was a good time to be in ATL. Folks bankhead bouncing all over the south."

**
Reply
32. Frankluv Aka, 2019
"Hey we were bouncing in va too😂! If this didn’t make bounce; nothing would."
-snip-
"va" = Virginia

**
Reply
33. Bobby Douglas, 2020
"So true we doing in alabama😂😂😂😂😁"

**
34. DollaSign Napo, 2018
"Boi those freaknik days down in ATL I tell ya.. I swear as a lil kid from Ohio visiting family for reunions that was some sh-t* to see and it was nothing but pure fun and goodtimes!*
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

**
35. Christopher S, 2018
"MAAAAN I WAS THE ONLY CAT IN COMPTON BUMPIN THIS LIKE 96!! GREAT MUSIC FROM THE SOUTH IN THE 90'S FROM CPT BEEN TO ATL TWICE LOVIN ITT PLAYA!!"
-snip-
"Compton" = "Compton, California
"Cpt" here = Compton, California

**
36. 
Guest List, 2018
"Ahh 95” the year the world was properly introduced to the Bankhead Bounce ☝"️

**
37. 
Regina Smith, 2019
"This bring back so many memories!!!!!! Alll the way live in 95!!!!! Bankhead bounce! I remember they told the radio hot 97.5, said they want people up there for the video 😎"

**
38. Stanlayy7000, 2019
"First time I saw the Bankhead Bounce! Back when artist made songs specifically for soundtracks!"
-snip-
This song was made for the movie and soundtrack New Jersey Drive (a reference for the New Jersey Turnpike where state troppers were notorious for giving people tickets for speeding.)

**
39. anthony jeter, 2019
"My era of music...when the South was on the bubble, no infiltration by the industry. Our music in the purest form.."

**
40.James Williams, 2020
"This video makes the song even hotter. Either want a Benz or a Beamer.  Bankhead bounce!!! Shout out to da old Montree's strip club featured in multiple Outkast videos."

**
41. Jay Jackson, 2021
"Atlanta 1995 was before all the New York transplants."

**
Reply
42. Faruq Al-Amin, 2021
" @Jay Jackson  that right there 👏🏾"

****
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