Tommy The Clown

Thomas Johnson, known professionally as Tommy the Clown, was born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in South Central Los Angeles, California. After experiencing a period of incarceration, Johnson sought a positive change in his life. His career began in 1992 when a coworker requested him to perform as a clown at a child’s birthday party due to his engaging personality. This event marked the inception of the ‘clowning’ dance style, a form of street dance characterized by expressive, energetic movements. This style addressed a need for positive recreational activities in the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots among inner-city youth.

Johnson’s performances incorporated contemporary music and dance, encouraging audience participation. He developed a following and formed the Hip Hop Clowns, a dance crew that performed at parties. He established strict guidelines for his crew, emphasizing abstention from gang involvement and drug use, academic achievement, and maintaining a positive lifestyle as role models. By the year 2000, the ‘clowning’ movement expanded, leading to over 60 clown crews in Los Angeles. To manage this growth, Tommy the Clown organized weekly dance battles at his former academy, culminating in the official ‘Battle Zone’ event, which featured community dancers and celebrity guests.

His work gained wider recognition through David LaChapelle’s 2005 documentary, “Rize,” which focused on the ‘clowning’ and krumping dance phenomenon. Tommy the Clown also danced with Ray Ray of Mindless Behavior. His commitment to providing constructive outlets for youth is further demonstrated by the Tommy the Clown Hip Hop Academy, which offers classes in various hip hop dance styles, with a particular emphasis on krumping. His Dance Academy’s Cheer Team achieved First Place at the JAMZ National Competition in Las Vegas. In 2024, Tommy the Clown appeared in Kendrick Lamar’s “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” and his “Not Like Us” music video, underscoring his ongoing influence in popular culture.