How to Pop and Lock to the Best R&B and Funk Songs

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

How to Pop and Lock to the Best R&B and Funk Songs – A guide to help you get your groove on to some of the best R&B and funk songs out there.

Introduction

Pop and locking is a style of street dance that originated in the 1970s as part of the funk and Soul Train dance movements. The style is characterized by quick, precise movements of the torso and limbs, often to the beat of funk or hip-hop music.

If you want to learn how to pop and lock, there are a few things you need to know first. You’ll need to understand the basics of pop and locking, including the different types of pops and locks, and how to execute them correctly. You’ll also need to have some good music to dance to! Luckily, we’ve got you covered on both fronts.

First, let’s start with a quick refresher on the basics of pop and locking…

What is popping and locking?

Pop and lock is a style of dance that emerged from the streets of 1970s Los Angeles. The style is characterized by quick, jerky movements of the upper body, often done in time to music. The term “pop and lock” can also refer to a specific move in which the dancer abruptly stops, then quickly jerks his or her body back into motion.

Despite its street origins, popping and locking has been embraced by the mainstream dance world. Many professional dancers have incorporated popping and locking into their routines, and the style has been featured on popular television shows such as So You Think You Can Dance.

If you’re interested in learning how to pop and lock, there are a few things you should know. First, popping and locking is all about timing and rhythm. You’ll need to practice moving your body in time with the music. Second, be sure to warm up before you start dancing. Popping and locking is a physically demanding form of dance, so it’s important to avoid injury by stretching your muscles before you start moving. Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment. There are no strict rules when it comes to popping and locking; feel free to add your own style and personality to the moves.

The history of popping and locking

Popping and locking is a style of street dance that emerged from the hip hop scene in the 1970s. The dance is characterized by its quick, sharp movements, and it became popularized by street dance crews in Southern California. As the popularity of hip hop music grew in the 1980s, so did the popularity of popping and locking, and the dance began to spread to other parts of the country. Today, popping and locking is enjoyed by dancers of all ages and abilities, and it has even been featured on television shows like So You Think You Can Dance.

If you’re interested in learning how to pop and lock, there are a few basic moves that you can start with. The first is called the “clock”: start with your feet shoulder-width apart, then quickly move one foot out to the side and bring it back in, followed by the other foot. Another move is called the “tut”: start with your feet together and your hands on your hips, then alternate quickly tapping your feet out to the side. Once you’ve mastered these basic moves, you can start adding in more complicated ones like the “waving tut” or the “hand hop.”

Although it originated as a street dance, popping and locking can be performed to any type of music – not just hip hop. So if you’re a fan of R&B or funk, don’t be afraid to try popping and locking to your favorite songs!

The best popping and locking songs

What is popping and locking?

Popping and locking is a style of street dance that originated in the 1970s among African American and Latino youths in California. The dance movements are said to resemble the movement of robots, hence the name “robbing”. Popping and locking is often danced to funk, soul, and hip-hop music.

While popping and locking may seem like two separate dances, they are actually two different ways of doing the same thing: moving your body in time with the music. When you pop, you move your body in sudden, jerky movements. When you lock, you freeze in mid-movement and then resume dancing again.

Pop and lock dancers often combine popping and locking with other styles of street dance, such as breaking ( also known as b-boying or breakdancing) and house dancing. The best popping and locking dancers are those who can custom tailor their moves to fit any type of music.

Now that you know what popping and locking is, here are 10 of the best songs to pop and lock to:

1) “Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan
2) “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
3) “Cupid Shuffle” by Cupid
4) “The Electric Slide” by Marcia Griffiths
5) “Get Down Tonight” by KC & The Sunshine Band
6) “Good Times” by Chic
7) “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston
8) “Last Dance” by Donna Summer
9) “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees
10) “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars

How to pop and lock

Pop and lock is a style of street dance that originated from funk dancing. The basic moves involve isolating different parts of the body, which “pop” or stop abruptly, giving the dance its staccato feel. Locking is a rhythmic movement where dancers hold certain positions for beat counts before “locking” back into the flow of the dance.

To pop and lock, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Then, isolate your upper body by moving your shoulders and chest independently of each other while keeping your hips and pelvis still. To lock, freeze in a position for 2-4 counts before returning to the flow of the dance. As you get more comfortable with the movements, try popping and locking to music to add an extra level of rhythm and style to your dance!

Conclusion

Now that you know the basics of how to pop and lock, you can start practicing with some of your favorite R&B and funk songs. Remember to start slowly and focus on perfecting your technique before you try to speed up. With practice, you’ll be popping and locking like a pro in no time!

Similar Posts