Incredible Rock with Style Production's Profile of Charles A. Santos (Charlie Uprock) Incredible Rockers Charles A. Santos a.k.a. Charlie UpRock" (age 34). President and founder of the "Incredible Rock with Style Production Co." (for the preservation of UpRock), Brooklyn, NY. Charles is a former member of the "Incredible Rockers", Brooklyn, NY, along with being current president of "Rock with Style".

As a "shortie", 10-12 years, living in Bushwick, Brooklyn, I first noticed Uprock, "Rock dancing" as it was called back then in the era of "Old-School", (late 1960' thru 70's). At which time there were your usual neighborhood "hard rockers" and "gangsters" just hanging out feeling "zooted" (high) all the time with nothing else to do. I would take a glimpse at them rocking each other with moves that impressed me. I was very impressionable and ignorant then. The moves didn't make sense to me at first, but as I looked on, I saw it was fun, after all the "homies" were all smiling and getting along with each other. I would hear them say "I burned you or I roasted you".

I was impressed because of the slang, it didn't make any sense to me. As a "shortie" I remembered the records they used to "UpRock" to. Songs like "Get on the Good Foot" by James Brown, "Cloud Nine" by the Temptations, and "We the People" by Soul Searchers. This crazy, almost violent type of dancing frequently appeared in my neighborhood but mainly the "hard rockers" would be dancing it, not your typical 9 to 5er's.

I would go to my "crib" (home) and try to imitate some of those moves, not knowing exactly what I was doing. Before 1976, basic moves to uprock dancing weren't created yet. There was no standard move to uprocking yet. There were no "jerks" (a basic move in UpRock). They would just do a burn (footwork and go down). Brothers like "RubberBand", Tee and Lenny, Incredible Mike, Weo, Willow were UpRockers who I first noticed that had added moves to the uprock dance which was called the "Jerk". Maybe others were doing this move but I only saw them doing it. It looked awesome.

Especially when using jerks to the "break" of a record. Personally I give respect to Mike Gomez (Pres. of the "Incredible Rockers") for the way I dance. He believed in me when no-one else did. He was/is a humble person. He told me once "Charlie, practice hard and you will be the "Man" or a legend one day". Who would have known he would be right. By 1979, I created about five of my own personal jerks which up to now in 1997 no one else can execute. My freestyle footwork and burns were now at champion level. I was in my junior year in High School (79) burning legends left and right, winning UpRock contests in "1st Place" and getting homegirls "on the strap" (picking up girls). UpRock is the Dance of humiliation, no doubt.

If it is done right you will look awesome. Through my personal history and knowledge, "UpRock" has been around for nearly 3 decades now. It is known as the dance before "B-Boying" and I am sure that the "Incredible Rock with Style Production" company with all the new members learning how to "UpRock" will keep this part of Hip-Hop Culture alive and on the beat. UPROCK LIVES FOREVER ! "Charlie UpRock" Bushwick, Brooklyn 22 years as an UpRocker (Legendary Status) . Return to Links Page .