THE ORIGIN OF THE SHAKEFACE

Many have wondered at the origin of the shakeface. It's a highly disputed subject that has led to much violence and civil unrest in parts of the world. I do not profess to know everything regarding the early beginnings of the shakeface, however, I will do my best to explain it's Panhandle roots. The earliest roots of the shakeface can be tied to canine behavior. You've seen dogs do it many times before, in fact, every animal with a coat of fur do it on occassion. The correlation between this movement and the shakeface as it's known in modern times is uncanny.

Notice that this dog, along with many, have one of the key components of an properly executed shakeface and that is excessive skin near the front of the face. Without that, getting a propa shakeface is like trying to make Kool Aid without the suga (which I wouldn't advise).

Through the years, the shakeface has found a few manifestations through the hip hop community. Firstly, we have the great Biz Markie who is never far away from dropping a shakeface on you. Like this one which was used for the cover of his Friends EP.

I mean, c'mon, the dude's doll is even doing a shakeface. Not only is he a hip hop legend (pick up Biz Never Sleeps record for proof), but he's a shakeface madman.

Just a few years after Biz broke, Prime Minister Pete Nice, MC Serch and Daddy Rich formed 3rd Bass. While they were more remembered for the lead single from their second record, it was "Gas Face" that first put them on the map. Check out the label below where the 3rd Bass is actually misspelled right under the Def Jam logo and PolyGram stamp. Geez, no respect. Unfortunately, this is indicative of how 3rd Bass would be under-appreciated for much of their career. Still to this day, it's a small circle who recognize their impact.

Ladies and gentlemen, MC Serch who, along with his 3rd Bass brethren and KMD's Zev Luv X (MF Doom) introduced the world to the "Gas Face." As Pete Nice's first verse alludes, it was Zev who first did the gas face when he says, "Zev Lover gave it the first light."

Essentially, it was an action given to those who you look upon or whose actions are looked upon with disdain. Peep the video. Some serious cameos: Russell Simmons, Flavor Flav, SubRoc, Bobbito, Gilbert Gottfreid, Don Newkirk, Prince Paul, Erick Sermon, Parrish, Play and so on. And, more importantly, see the shakeface in an earlier more primitive form. We didn't invent it. We improved upon it. But give 3rd Bass their props and check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF4IQlsm7Ds&search=GAS%20FACE

And, if you can stand watching even 45 seconds of the following clip, you'll see, again, how the gas face is close brother to the shakeface. It's at the 30-second mark. Incredible material here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvsAND3LRfM&search=gas%20face

Fast forward to about 4 years ago. Good things always happen with the j3 and Bro Bro come together. It was a family get-together. A digital camera was making it's way around the room. As I've done a million times, I decided to leave my beautiful mug on the camera. I turn it on myself, fire off a shot and send it on it's way. Well, it's bound to happen, I got carried away. Figuring that on digital cameras one could take pictures and delete them without any consequence, what harm would it do. So with my brother's help, I just began shaking my head violently to see what it would look like when my face was frozen in time by the camera. As I convulsed, I saw the flash go off. I stopped and immediately my brother breaks out in laughter. I then turned the camera on Bro Bro, then back on me, then back on him, then back on me...the epidemic had begun.

With the uber-information age in full swing, the evolution of the shakeface has accelerated forward. So much, a site has been dedicated to chronicling shakefaces from the seven continents. Someone beat me to it. In fact, they even got their own tee-shirts. But it's worth the view.

www.shakeskin.com

Let me tell you, some of these are downright disturbing on this site. Nothing offensive, just disturbing. Buy a shirt while your there to support the cause. It goes by many names. The local vernacular refers to it as "shakeface" however, after some research, I found many variations, including: shakeskin, feel-good shake, shake your face, face shake and the shakeolution. But one thing remains true, it's the same in every country no matter what it's called.

For those needing further clarification, I'm including a few video shorts for you courtesy of YOUTUBE. Perhaps these will help you properly envision the modern shakeface.

Short, but dude's got the idea. A little practice and he's got it nailed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Bja7a1nzQ&search=SHAKE%20FACE

This dude's gotta lot of work ahead of him. Face is too skinny. Not enough skin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7fgNojBHK0&search=SHAKE%20FACE

A whole room of potential here. Leonard's whole body goes crazy and I think he laced the nearby girl with globs of spit in the process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0SzXpk1Ohc&search=SHAKE%20FACE