Tommy the Clown Transforms Culture and Builds Community through Krump

by Taylor Marie Contarino

Tommy the Clown is not your everyday clown. Originating near Inglewood, California, Tommy the Clown brings “krumping,” a unique clowning and hip-hop-inspired style of dance, to local party events. For three decades, Tommy the Clown has been inspiring inner-city youth and bringing his own unique brand of entertainment to California audiences. His unique “hip-hop birthday party act” has since developed into a cultural movement that has led to achieving local and national acclaim. He rose to international acclaim after he was highlighted in David LaChapelle’s award-winning documentary, RIZE.

RIZE creatively documents the origin story of Krump.

Although he was ​born in Detroit, Michigan, he moved shortly after and was raised in South Central Los Angeles, California. He often found himself in trouble in his youth, and after spending five years in jail, he decided that he wanted to make a major life change. He became a clerk for a short period of time, and then in 1992, was offered the chance to perform at a co-worker’s child’s birthday party. Tommy was known for his entertaining, amusing and vibrant personality, and after accepting the opportunity, his life was changed forever.

Soon after establishing his career as an entertainer, he started to develop this innovative new dance form in Los Angeles. He dedicates his energy to advocating for children’s rights by supporting their passions and creativity, utilizing the national attention that he has garnered and making positive changes in his local neighborhoods. Tommy has always encouraged children to dance, which led to him creating his own group, the “Hip Hop Clowns.” 

Krumping emerged as an artform in response to the 1992 Rodney King riots. Tommy wanted to cultivate a healthy coping mechanism for those like him to deal with trauma and socially inflicted pain and found it through the art of dancing and clowning. His goals for the artform consist of using dance as an opportunity to give youth an outlet to prevent them from participating in drugs or gang activities. Dance crew members are expected to follow a particular set of rules in order to join: "No gangs, No drugs, Do well in school - and be a role model by living a positive lifestyle at all times."​ This is the lifestyle and legacy that Tommy seeks to foster through his dance programs.

Tommy poses for a photo with his Hip-Hop Clowns.

Tommy the Clown is also an originator of dance battles across the state of California. He established competitions that are held at his own Tommy the Clown Academy, where audiences could watch and judge the performers, selecting the best ones. Competitions like these have flourished, transforming into what is now known as the “Battle Zone” event— an official dance battle featuring community dancers and celebrity guests.

In the years since the release of the RIZE documentary, Tommy and his Hip Hop Clown Crew have been traveling the globe performing and making appearances to spread his inspirational message. Tommy has also appeared at numerous schools and colleges across the United States. He’s even partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide his own uniquely curated workshop series.

Tommy the Clown makes an appearance at “The Pop Out” concert. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Tommy The Clown is known to South Central L.A. and the world as an artistic, entertaining sensation. His dedication to dance as an artform has landed him performances all over the world - including at the Kia Forum, where he brought krump to the forefront, dancing alongside Kendrick Lamar and over twenty-five other L.A.-born and bred hip-hop, rap, pop, alternative, and R&B artists.