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"Jeet Kune Flow" has a double meaning. "Jeek Koong" or "Jeet Kune" is Korean slang for "freestyle." "Jeet Kune Do" is the original form of martial art invented by American born actor, director, screenwriter, poet, philosopher Bruce Lee. Jeet Kune Flow is the Asiatic way of originality, excellence, and rebellion in arts.
A project of Asian Hip Hop Summit 3, Jeet Kune Flow open mic was founded on Sunday, May 29, 2004 at Korean Immigrant Workers Advocate (KIWA) on the corner of 8th and Hobart in Koreatown, Los Angeles. JKF was an offshoot of an earlier open mic/open floor WooMak, founded by Sonny Kang & Kublai Kwon at Green Pastures Youth Center (GPYC) in 2003. WooMak, even in its short existence, spawned a whole generation of K-Town artists, such as Unbalance, Seoulstyles, Quikflex aka Express, Noz, J-Tek, DJ Kayo, DJ Shy, Prophetic, Far East Movement, Chosen 1, Reck n Asia, Inlaws, Most Hated, Mike the graffiti artist.
WooMak was the first open mic in K-Town, but JKF came right after. In attendance on the first day of JKF were Furis, Yellah Fellah, Brenda, Chosen 1, Clasicc, Kublai Kwon, Skim, Dumbfoundead, Sam I Am, Mina & Lina, Daresay, Angeles, Marvin, Kevin, Mista Ri, Duma, Restless, Jdubk, DJ Cloud, and Jamie Kim. The founders were a group of mostly teen Korean and Asian rappers from the surrounding area who needed a place to practice. Every Sunday from 4pm-9pm, freestyle sessions, performances, and MC battles elevated the skills of these dedicated artists while also encouraging musical collaborations. The first two group performances by JKF were Asian Hip Hop Summit 3 and the 1st National Asian American Student Conference (NAASCON) at USC. Since then, musicians and dancers from the Jeet Kune Flow open mic/open floor have performed as a group many times all over Southern California.
After a year at KIWA, JKF relocated to Lafayette Park on the eastside of K-Town. The core of JKF remained the same, with the addition of many new faces. Here, at Lafayette Park on Sundays, a new branch of JKF emerged: the dancers of Jeet Kune Floor led by Eugene aka Quikflex. Highlights from this year included the rise to prominence and success of individual JKF vocalists and the special Korean-language JKF pop song, sung by Brenda, that aired on ABC's "Lost." Over the course of a year, Jeet Kune Flow/Floor and affiliates rocked numerous shows, increasing their reputation as the most accomplished & diverse crew of young Asiatic artists in Los Angeles.
In its hird year of existence, JKF open mic/open floor was located at Ko Sue Hee Traditional Korean Dance Studio, meeting every Sunday from 7pm-midnight on the corner of Western/Wilshire across from the Wiltern Theatre next to New York New York Cafe (sign in and take elevator to basement level).
In September 2006, Jeet Kune Flow/Jeet Kune Floor rocked the Korean Festival at Seoul International Park. Everyone performed at Asian Hip Hop Summit 5 in December 2006. Some people got in trouble with the law. Robbie's back. New and younger rappers and new and younger dancers. Shin-B's doing shows in Korea. Chosen's a Vietnamese pop star. Dumbfoundead's headlining shows in the LA underground. Viruss is officially the best Korean-language freestyler in America. Exflosive was on KBS Shine. Brenda was on MTV. Guess Who? and Funky Fresh Fam combined to form Who's Fresh. Upload won at Kollaboration. Some actually made it to college: UCLA, UC Berkeley, Cornell, UC Irvine, LACC, Musician's Institute, Santa Monica College.
In its fourth year, Jeet Kune Flow open mic has moved back to its original location at KIWA on 8th and Hobart where new faces and the younger generation of Asian rappers mix with the JKF residents.
For more information about Jeet Kune Flow open mic/open floor, or for bookings for artists affiliated with JKF, contact asiaticempire@yahoo.com.
SHERRY YI on JKF SET at KOREAN FESTIVAL:
NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND FREESTYLE DANCE @ SHIM BOOK CAFE:
JEET KUNE FLOOR at NEXGEN, OMC, K-TOWN LA:
ASIAN HIP HOP SUMMIT 5 RECAP BY MEDIA REMIX:
BRENDA AT K-TOWN LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL (4707 since the Red Devil):
FREESTYLE DANCEOFF AT GHETTO MUSIK REMIX:
