After seven years as the UK's premier fixture in the Hip-Hop calendar, Steal-Life thought it high time we donned our shell toes, threw down a battle and broke our backs. We attended this year's event at the Brixton Academy and spoke to Hooch, the UK B-Boys very own patron. …and put together some of the sickest shots from the three day weekend.

Steal-Life - Where did your interest in breaking start?
Hooch - I first saw breaking on the Malcolm Maclaren "Buffalo Gals" video. As soon as I saw it, I knew the face of the music I was playing (Planet Rock, ET Boogie, Yellow Magic etc). Then when I saw the way the World Famous Supreme Team were using turntables it captured my imagination .Up until then we were dropping our tunes Soundsystem style but that all changed!

SL - What is your first hip-hop/breakdancing memory?
Hooch - I used to play local Jams and House Parties. There were kids who were starting to swap from Toasting (Jamaican style chatting) to Rapping but everyone seemed to be in to both reggae and Hip-Hop/Electro. The breakin' crews were starting to become more of a regular feature at the parties. One regular jam we used to do was Kilburn Square Youth Centre. The local crew was called Ossie's Crew. They were dope poppers especially. Break Machine came to the jam after they did Top of the Pops and battled Ossie's Crew. That was the first time I saw a proper battle and DJ'd a battle.

SL - So looking at where the Championships are now, Hip-Hop and breakdancing have come along way in the UK since that day?
Hooch - Hip-Hop is the definitive street culture and now Rap is as big as it wants to be. B-boying is getting bigger all the time, but this time the media is not manipulating it.

With 7000 people attending this years event, Breakdancing and Hip-Hop is certainly a spectator sport. Hooch doesn't break, but after DJing since he was a kid, he knows better than anyone what to watch for…

SL - You must have seen it all before, but what, if any move, really impresses you?
Hooch - Air-Flares are the sickest power moves. But I love it when a breaker has it all. The kids that light-up the circle with their energy, style, power and dancing skills all together. Those are the dancers who make their mark on the world stage.

Steal-Life.com asked the winning Project Korea how they felt about winning in they're first competitive year

Project Korea - Eye opening experience, positive vibe, and world domination

SL - Where you happy with the winners?
Hooch - Hell yeah. Korea came to win. This year b-boying went to another level!

SL - Yeah, three days if I remember rightly… How was that for you?
Hooch - It was better than I could have imagined. With the warm-up jam it was really a 3-day b-boy festival. It's all about Hip-Hop baby!

SL - What is the plan for next year?
Hooch - Just to keep building. We're about to open the first Break Station, which will be a Hip-Hop Academy! It's gonna be a permanent place for breakers to practice. The 2003 Championships will include a Poppin competition as well as the Solo & Crew B-Boy battles... know you gonna be there!!!

www.bboychampionships.com