Homegrown talent is taking centre stage as local breaking icon Bashimane Masetloa, known as B-Boy Bashi, officially claimed the Johannesburg B-Boy title at the prestigious Red Bull BC One Cypher.

The 34-year-old veteran dancer from Dalpark Ext 6 proved that experience and dedication reign supreme on the floor.

Battling through intense head-to-head rounds with no routines and no preset playlists, Bashi took on a fierce field of competitors to secure his top spot

The event took place on July 19 at Fourways Mall.

Addressing the rising new generation of dancers after a decade of high-level battling, Bashi delivered a strong message of veteran grit: “I don’t want to give these 2Ks a chance.”

Bashi’s journey on the floor began back in 2005. Over the last 20-plus years, he has built an impressive resume, claiming numerous national and international titles and establishing himself as one of the most formidable competitors in the country.

“I started breaking after being inspired by my brother and his friends. We initially formed a crew called 915, which later evolved into the Shaolin Monkz crew, coming out of the East Rand.

“From the moment I started, I never looked back. Today, I proudly represent Artistic Intelligence (AI) and Kreative Beings Crew,” he said.

Bashi is a trained performance artist, international B-Boy (breaker), and highly respected figure in South African breaking.

He is renowned across the country and abroad for an unmatched flow, technical ability, and distinct originality on the floor, with a track record of winning numerous competitions across the country.

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A major career highlight includes serving as the Youth Olympic coach at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina – the historic first instalment of breaking in the Olympic Games.

Red Bull BC One is widely recognised as the premier one-on-one breaking competition in the world, bringing together the absolute best B-Boys to test their stamina, style, musicality, and technique under strict panel judging.

Winning the Johannesburg cypher is just the first step in Bashi’s pursuit of global bragging rights.
He has officially booked his spot at the Red Bull BC One South Africa National Final, which takes place in Cape Town on September 6.

If Bashi claims the national crown in Cape Town, he will earn the ultimate prize of representing South Africa on the global stage at the Red Bull BC One World Final in Toronto, Canada, on November 29.

As the community rallies behind its local star, Brakpan and the broader Ekurhuleni region will be watching closely as Bashi prepares to take on Cape Town and bring the national title home.

Follow Bashi on social media:

• Instagram: @Just_Bashi
• Twitter/X: @Just_Bashi
• TikTok: @GeneralBashi