Tony Carranza Oral History

Tony Carranza Oral History

Popping (Dance)

The Players Club (Crew)

Graffiti

Tony Carranza was born in Madera in 1974 to parents who had immigrated from Mexico. In Madera, Carranza was exposed to popping in the 1980s by a cousin who participated in popping competitions in California's Central Valley as a member of The Players Club. According to Carranza, the music was infectious and every kid was dancing with popping events regularly taking place at small venues throughout Madera including Millview Elementary school, local libraries, and the roller rink. Not only did popping serve as a healthy outlet and alternative to gangs for Carranza and his peers as youths, but he also later learned that popping was important to the Central Valley due to its foundational roots in Fresno. Carranza was also interested in graffiti culture and notes that "Cholo-style" graffiti and lettering were common to California and helped provide the state a distinct style. By the 1990s, "gangster" hip-hop largely replaced popping in local culture. Today, Carranza is part of the art collective Dulce UpFront, which focuses on social consciousness, social justice, arts, and culture.

Raymond Ray (interviewer)

Oral history interview, 1 digitized recording, Straight Outta Fresno, Fresno State University

Digital publisher: Claremont Graduate University

The Valley Public History Initiative: Preserving our Stories holds all rights, title, and interest, including literary rights and copyright, to the oral histories and documents collected as part of Straight Outta Fresno: From Popping to B-boys and B-girls project. Oral history narrators retain the non-exclusive right to copy, use, and publish their oral histories during their lifetimes.

MP3

English

Sound

sof_0062

Madera (Calif.)

Millview Elementary School (Madera, Calif.)