ABSTRACT
The Philly cut was a descendant of a 1930s style called the tapered cut. First employed by Philadelphia Black Muslims, it evolved into two lengths during the 1960s high "English" and low "English" both of which approximated the black crew cut, a style also popular at the time with non-Muslim blacks. The name was applied by Washington D. C. blacks who frequently visited the City of Brotherly Love for purposes of both work and play. When this percussive brand of dance funk attained worldwide popularity due to the recordings of Trouble Funk, Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers, Redds & The Boys, and other bands, the Philly cut reached a wider audience. The style continues to remain in favor thanks to the visibility provided by college basketball players, pop musicians, and notable celebrities like Olympian Carl Lewis and heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson.
