The Hip Hop community is mourning the death of 58-year-old Bruno “Pop ‘N Taco” Falcon. The legendary breaker, who appeared in the cult classic film Breakin’ in 1984 and worked alongside Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, reportedly passed away at his Long Beach home on Saturday (July 2), although no official cause of death has been disclosed.
Longtime friend and collaborator Popin’ Pete, who also worked with the King of Pop on videos such as “Thriller,” “Smooth Criminal” and “Beat It” and starred in Breakin’ alongside Pop ‘N Taco, confirmed the news with an Instagram post, writing, “Rest my brother Taco, glad we had this moment last year after not seeing each other in 15 years.” He added, “Rest in peace my brother Popin n Taco, you will be missed..can’t believe this.”
Fellow Hip Hop/music legends flooded the comment section with condolences, including fellow B-Boy Crazy Legs, The Beat Junkies’ D-Styles and Rhettmatic, Sheila E. and Omarion.
Pop ‘N Taco was born on June 10, 1964 in Los Angeles, California and quickly fell in love with dancing as a kid. He ultimately became one of the first Mexican-American dancers to rise to notoriety. Starring in videos such as “All Night Love” by Lionel Richie, “I Feel For You” by Chaka Khan and, of course, several of Michael Jackson’s videos, Pop ‘N Taco helped popularize popping, locking and breaking with mainstream culture. He ultimately wound up as Michael Jackson’s dance teacher for over 16 years, showing the late pop icon popping, waving, gliding and animation techniques.
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“Before Breakin’, I had danced in the movie DC Cab, dancing on a set of the White House with Irene Cara,” he told Rock The Bells last year. “I knew the other dancers in Breakin’—Popin’ Pete, they called him ‘Pistol Pete’, from Electric Boogaloos. He trained me when I was very young, at Polytechnic High School.
“He got the part as my sidekick. Then Ana ‘Lollipop’ Sánchez got the other part and we became Electro Rock—the rivals. I had never had lines in a production before, plus I was really bashful. They told me just play the opposite of my character, so I went in and did it: ‘Hey punk! Are you back for more, fool?’”
In addition to Breakin’, Pop ‘N Taco also appeared in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey in 1991, Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo and the 2009 documentary Michael Jackson Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour. Later in life, he was committed to hosting choreography workshops for young dancers to hone their craft.
Tributes are pouring in on social media from artists such as Breakin‘ co-star Ice-T, KXNG Crooked, “Mickey” singer Toni Basil, The Egyptian Lover, Project Blowed and Jermaine Durpi. HipHopDX sends our condolences to Pop ‘N Taco’s family and friends.
Wow smh I just can’t belive it this came out of left field not my man pop n taco 58 years old that’s way too young we really losing legends we just lost o zone a year ago I say all the time people
Better start giving legends people period thjer flowers peope is really checking out rest in power my brotha I remember this cat. Did his thing he was way ahead of his time he was super talented dancer and break dancer I remember he was in a lot of r&b music videos like Janet jackson chalks khan and klymaxx meeting in the ladies room I was 6 years old and of course the ultimate hip hop classics breakin and breakin electric bugaloo I was 6 and 7 years old when them joints came out 84 and 85 that’s what set it off for me for hip hop i I was a breakdancer myself I studied his moves and the whole cast of breakin how to do
The wave the whole style
Of breakdancing man we really lost a living legend your legacy will never be forgotten I gotta break out breakin 1 and 2 when I get back to
The crib
while I’m also sad about his death, 58 is not way too young. we should stop applying way too young with everything.
It’s younger than life expectancy and not yet elderly. RIP! I got great grandparents who lived to 104! Me in 20’s, I only hope to live as long as my great grandparents!
Loved his dancing very much