This year I got the chance to go to a party in Las Vegas where the New Boyz were performing. There is something about going to a function like that, where everyone is pin dropping despite the cramped quarters, that makes everyone want to say “I’m a Jerk.”
Katie Murray from Zoptopz with the New Boyz
Two years ago high schools and all age clubs in LA were filled with kids wearing pop neon colors, skinny jeans, colored hair and Mohawks. This group was a combination of skater kids, nerds, and hip hoppers. It took over music two years ago, but now the jerk movement is more than just a music fad: it’s a lifestyle.
The influence on the rest of the nation and world is growing. Because this culture started with 15 year olds from Hamilton High’s Academy of Music magnet program, it is a very young movement. The age demographic expands from 11 to 21. These are kids who relied upon their computers to make their music, make their own videos of themselves jerk dancing, and make themselves famous. With YouTube, anyone can be the next big star. Every teen across the nation can put together a crew and film their dances to gain popularity. Some of the huge dance crews are the Ranger$ (who were recently in a Justin Beiber music video), U.C.L.A. Jerk Kings (now Tha City Kingz), and Lol Kid$ among many others.
This movement started in California, and really began to take off when Cali radio stations started to pick it up. Some important players in Cali radio for the jerk movement: DJs from the Power 106 radio station like DJ Carisma and Felli Fel were the first people to bring Jerkin to a wider audience. DJ Goofy’s events are considered a jumping off point for jerk culture. Some notable jerk music groups are , Pink Dollaz, LaissWorld, Rej3ctz, Cold Flamez, Tay 3rd, YT, Bangz, Baby Dollz, and Asia Lynn.
