The week of YEEK is upon us and if you haven’t already been out to celebrate the three-decade-old phenomenon with other revelers in the city of Atlanta, get prepared for an experience like no other. Rolling out had the opportunity to break bread with founders and current staples of YEEK ATL; Anthony “A Dog,” Sweet Melodi, Ted Rush, MC Lightfoot, Hilton Holloway, Courtney “Chicken Little” and DJ Cutmaster Swiff to get the full picture of what YEEK means to the “A.”
YEEK, (Your Energetic Explosive Klimax) is a style of dance representing a buildup of emotions, unbridled energy and raunchy innuendo. The dance was first made popular at skating rinks and later in dance competitions and nightclubs.
“It’s just in you,” says MC Lightfoot. “It’s just like line dancing. It’s like any other dance that you do. You could play a certain song and it’ll all come out. Like if you play ‘Back That Azz Up’ or … a bass song or one of [the] electric boogie [songs], we all know what that is. You play a certain style of music, it’s YEEK time.”
Interestingly enough, most people over 30 (and some under), especially ATLiens, have YEEK’d at some point in life. In the 80s, one of the most popular dance crazes that permeated the country, was the Smurf — an ATL original, according to Ted Rush.
“The first thing … to identify what the style is, always start off with the dance Smurf,” Rush explained.
“Right. Even if you not a YEEKer. Non YEEKers know what smurfing is. That’s [YEEKing] 101,” A Dog agrees before adding,
Such a YEEK session, in its infant stage, oft times begins with a call and response. “You can yell, ‘And one and two and you know what to do,'” Mel belts, as the other members join her in unison. “Everybody in the street (Atlanta) knows what that means and they might just start walking off to the side.”
Lastly, while there are a myriad of dance moves associated with YEEK, all types of dancers, short and tall (the tallest was 6’9″ – Vivica A. Fox’s former husband — Christopher Harvest — not the informant), there is only acceptable way to YEEK and that is FYE.
“If a woman looking like a man, she is what we call fye – FYE,” says A-Dog. “If you’re a female and you ain’t fye, you might as well not be doing it. Not to generalize or nothing like that, but it’s only one style. You either fye or you not.”
The YEEK Fest continues this weekend at Welcome All Park and all are welcome to YEEK for FREE. Just keep this handy guide by your side and you should be A-okay.
For more information search YEEK ATL on IG and Facebook.
