Legendary Bronx breaker and Van Cortlandt Village local, 'Lil' Lep'', dies at 61
The Bronx, along with the hip hop community, mourned the loss of a local b-boy legend who pioneered breaking and helped it reach global proportions.
Ray Ramos, also known by his breaker name “Lil’ Lep’”, died Saturday, Nov. 9. He was 61.
His street name “Lil’ Lep’,” was short for little leprechaun, coined based on his happy, cheerful persona and his small stature.
Before joining the NYC Breakers, Ramos, who lived on Fort Independence Street and Orloff Avenue in the Van Cortlandt Village neighborhood of the Bronx, was a member of a break group called the 7 Deadly Sins.
“He was a pioneer in breaking — and he’s a big part of why breaking is the global, Olympic sport that it is today,” said NYC Breakers founder Michael Holman.
He added Ramos was instrumental in helping him scout talent for the NYC Breakers, an all-star collaborative which included the best breakers from all over the city, but specifically, from the Bronx, Queens and Manhattan, including: , and creator of the b-boy group in 1982, which consisted of other local talented breakers, including Chino “Action” Lopez, Bobby “Flip Rock” Potts, Matthew “Glide Master” Caban, Corey “Icey Ice” Montalvo, Noel “Kid Nice” Manguel, Tony “Mr. Wave” Draughon and Tony “Powerful Pexter” Lopez.
Holman, who was previously a breaker in the San Francisco-based theatrical rock band The Tubes, first met “Lil Lep’” when Ramos was performing at Lincoln Center with another b-boy group, the Rock Steady Crew.
“He may have been small in a physical sense, but he had a giant heart,” Holman added. “He was my leprechaun.”
Having been longtime friends with Ramos for 40 years, Holman said that Ramos was a “mother hen” and brought a new level of maturity and professionalism to the group as well as to the art of breaking. He added that Ramos was a pioneer when it came to acrobatic moves such as swipes, backspins and headspins.
“He was just a good guy all around, he cared about you and your family — and he’d always be there,” said Lewis Martell, a childhood friend of Ramos, who knew him since he was ten years old.
The duo used to ride BMX bikes together in their adolescence, as both of their interests peaked in the sport, and the art of breaking.
Martell recalled a street battle that took place between “Lil’ Lep’” and “Crazy Legs” from the Rock Steady Crew, one of three battles between the two star breakers.
According to Ramos’ niece, Susan Alexander, Ramos’ passion for breaking was evident in his performances in nightclubs throughout New York City, inspiring many with his innovative moves and spirited energy.
“My uncle Ray was a person who always brought warmth and laughter to our family gatherings, known for his positive personality, kindness, sense of humor, and dancing skills,” said Alexander. “He taught many of his nieces and nephews to dance — me personally how to hustle disco dance.”
Alexander described her uncle as a vibrant soul who relished in his groundbreaking contributions to the world of breaking.
“His passing leaves a huge void in our lives, but his memory will forever be cherished by his family and all who knew him,” Alexander added.
During his breaking career which spanned for more than 15 years, Ramos, along with the NYC Breakers, had the opportunity to perform for President Ronald Reagan twice, including a performance at the White House in 1984 along with Frank Sinatra and NYC Breakers’ member Mr. Wave.
At around the same time, Ramos also performed for the King and Queen of Norway as well as Prince Andrew of the British royal family. Ramos’ first gig with the NYC Breakers was performing on the Merv Griffin Show in the early 1980s.
Throughout his career, he met iconic visual artist, Andy Warhol at Warhol’s Manhattan studio, “The Factory.”
He even made an appearance as a Christmas elf in the Holman-directed music video of Run DMC’s 1987 single, “Christmas in Hollis,” from their “A Very Special Christmas” album. It was the first of a ten-album series released between 1987 and 2013, created to benefit the Special Olympics.
Ramos also appeared in the battle scene of the 1984 dance drama film, “Beat Street.” Based in the South Bronx, the movie highlighted the culture of hip hop in the area during the ‘80s.
Following a renowned breaking career, which lasted throughout the 1990s, Ramos needed to have one of his fingers amputated following a horrific bike accident and hospital negligence in the mid-2000s.
According to multiple sources, Ramos allegedly spent several hours in the emergency room following the injury, and received little medical attention before doctors sent him home. After experiencing more pain and throbbing in his hand, Ramos went back to the hospital the next day and was told by doctors that his finger needed amputation.
Following the loss of his finger, Ramos’ childhood friend, Lewis Martell, said Lil’ Lep’ began suffering from depression and turned to alcohol.
“It’s just a shame, you know — I mean, I’ve cried a couple of times because we were really close,” Martell added.
According to Alexander, Ramos had an infection that resulted in complications to his organs, including his lungs and kidneys and his body rejected the dialysis treatment he was on. He eventually succumbed to his illness.
To celebrate his life and legacy, a service will take place at Williams Funeral Home at 5628 Broadway on Saturday, November 23 from 3 to 8 p.m.
