You know that feeling when you see a kid on screen who just is the culture? That was Robert Taylor in 1984. He played Lee, the high-energy, backflipping younger brother in the hip-hop classic Beat Street. If you grew up in the 80s, you probably spent hours trying to mimic his footwork on a piece of cardboard in your driveway.
But here’s the thing. Most people think Robert Taylor just vanished into the New York subway system after the credits rolled.
It’s actually a bit of a mystery for casual fans. Unlike his co-star Rae Dawn Chong or Guy Davis, Robert didn't become a Hollywood staple. He didn't chase the blockbuster dragon. Instead, he became a bit of a legendary ghost in the hip-hop world—a guy who shaped how millions of people saw b-boying and then just... went back to living.
The Kid Who Defined the B-Boy Aesthetic
When Robert Taylor stepped onto the set of Beat Street, he wasn't just some actor they taught to dance. He was the real deal. In the movie, his character, Lee Kirkland, is the heartbeat of the street-level scenes. While the older characters are dealing with "adult" problems like record deals and burning buildings, Lee is out there battling the Rock Steady Crew in the Roxy.
People often confuse the actor Robert Taylor with the famous 1930s MGM star of the same name. They couldn't be more different. Our Robert Taylor was a Brooklyn-born powerhouse who brought a raw, unpolished energy to the screen.
Honestly, he looked like a young Run from Run-DMC. The bucket hat, the Puma sweats, the attitude—it wasn't a costume. It was the uniform of the era.
That Newsweek Cover
In July 1984, Robert Taylor didn't just have a movie out; he was literally the face of a movement. He landed the cover of Newsweek. The headline was about the "Breakdance" craze sweeping America.
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Think about that for a second.
Before the internet, before TikTok, the way you knew something was "big" was by looking at the magazine rack at the grocery store. Seeing a young Black kid from the Bronx (or Brooklyn, in Robert’s real-life case) on a national news magazine was a massive cultural shift. It validated hip-hop as something more than a "fad."
Why the Character of Lee Still Resonates
Lee wasn't a perfect kid. He was a bit of a hothead. Remember the scene where he almost gets into a brawl at the Roxy? Or when he gets arrested in the subway during a battle that the cops mistake for a fight?
That was the reality.
Beat Street did something a lot of modern movies fail at: it showed the friction between the art and the law. To the kids, they were expressing themselves. To the NYPD, they were a public nuisance. Robert Taylor played that frustration perfectly. He wasn't "acting" like a misunderstood teenager; he was living it.
The New York City Breakers Connection
Robert wasn't just a solo act. He was part of the New York City Breakers, one of the most influential dance crews in history. When you watch those battle scenes in the movie, you aren't watching choreographed Hollywood fluff. You're watching a legitimate athletic competition.
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They were rivals with the Rock Steady Crew in real life. That tension you see on screen? Most of it was genuine competitive fire. Robert brought a level of "power moves" to the screen that most people had never seen outside of a New York City sidewalk.
Where is Robert Taylor Now?
If you search for him today, you’ll find a lot of "Where are they now?" threads on Reddit. The rumors have been wild over the years. Some people thought he passed away; others thought he just quit the industry entirely.
The truth is way more grounded.
Robert Taylor stayed in New York. He didn't move to LA to try and be the next Will Smith. He stayed connected to the dance world, occasionally showing up at "Pro-Am" dance expos and hip-hop anniversaries.
- He’s a father.
- He’s a businessman.
- He’s a mentor to younger dancers.
Basically, he lived a normal life while carrying the weight of being a "reluctant icon." In recent interviews—which are rare, by the way—he’s talked about how fans still recognize him 40 years later. They show him tattoos of his face. They recite his lines from the movie.
It’s gotta be weird, right? To have your 15-year-old self frozen in time as the representative of an entire global culture.
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The Legacy of a B-Boy Pioneer
It’s easy to dismiss Beat Street as a "dated" movie. The music is very 80s, and the fashion is... well, it’s a choice. But the physical talent of Robert Taylor is timeless.
If you watch his footwork today, it still holds up. He had a fluidity that influenced everyone from Michael Jackson to the kids dancing on Instagram today. He wasn't just "Robert Taylor from the movie Beat Street"; he was a architect of the b-boy style.
How to Appreciate His Work Today
If you want to really "get" what Robert Taylor did, don't just watch the movie. Look for the raw footage of the New York City Breakers.
- Watch the Subway Battle: Notice how Robert uses the limited space. It’s not just about the tricks; it’s about the "burns" (the insults thrown through movement).
- Check out the 1984 Newsweek Archive: If you can find a physical copy or a digital scan, read how they described him. It’s a fascinating look at how the mainstream media struggled to understand hip-hop.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: Robert’s character is the reason "Beat Street Breakdown" by Grandmaster Melle Mel feels so heavy. The stakes of the movie are tied to Lee’s survival and success.
Final Insights on the Legend of Lee
Robert Taylor represents a specific moment in time when hip-hop was transitioning from the streets to the screen. He didn't need a massive filmography to leave a mark. One role was enough.
He proved that you didn't have to be a "trained" actor to command the screen. You just had to be authentic.
Today, Robert seems content with his legacy. He doesn't seem bitter about the fame or the fact that he isn't a household name like other 80s stars. He knows he was there at the beginning. He knows he’s the reason a kid in Germany or Japan or Brazil decided to start spinning on their head in 1985.
Next Steps for Fans: If you want to support the legacy of the original b-boys, look into the current New York dance scene. Many of the original members of the NYC Breakers and Rock Steady Crew still teach or judge competitions. Watching the documentary Style Wars is also a great way to see the real-world environment that Robert Taylor helped bring to the big screen.