Wayne ”Frosty Freeze” Frost has died aged 44.

Frosty Freeze was part of the legendary Rock Steady Crew who helped the set off a breakdance craze featured in ‘Flashdance’

The Hip-Hop pioneer died at Mount Sinai Medical Centre after a long illness.

Frost got his start in 1978 with the Bronx-based Rock City Crew. In 1981, he became part of the Rock Steady Crew which consisted of acclaimed breakdancers like Ken Swift and Lil Crazy Legs.

Frost toured the world with the Rock Steady Crew and other hip-hop artists, including Fab 5 Freddy, Futura 2000 and Kool Lady Blue.

Frost also appeared in the hip-hop defining ’Wild Style’, ‘Beat Street’ and ‘Style Wars’ films and was known for his energetic style, intricate choreography. He experimented with breakdancing by incorporating including back flips and head spins. One was even dubbed the “Suicide.”

Benson Lee, director of ‘Planet B-Boy’ said

“He was one of most charismatic b-boys that ever lived,”

Close friend and Graffti artist Zulu King Slone said he was “like a walking hip-hop culture encyclopedia.”

Joseph Schloss, a scholar at NY Unverisity described Frost as “one of the first B-boys that most people ever saw,”

Our thoughts go out his family and friends. A true Hip-Hop Pioneer!

Source: AP