Tommy The Clown

Thomas Johnson, famously known as Tommy the Clown, is the creator of “krumping,” a high-energy, expressive dance style blending hip-hop and street dance. Tommy’s “Hip Hop Clowns” grew rapidly from a party act into a cultural movement, performing for celebrities like Madonna, Snoop Dogg, and Pamela Anderson, and reaching global audiences in David LaChapelle’s 2005 documentary, Rize, which chronicled the krumping phenomenon Tommy started in Los Angeles.

Born in Detroit and raised in L.A., Tommy experienced a troubled youth that led to prison time. Upon his release, he focused on turning his life around and eventually found an unexpected path in entertainment. In 1992, a colleague’s request to entertain at a child’s birthday party led to the creation of “Tommy the Clown.” Following the Rodney King riots, he developed krumping as a powerful outlet for community expression and launched the Hip Hop Clowns crew.

Over time, his influence expanded, spurring over 60 clown dance crews across Los Angeles by 2000. To provide young people a creative outlet, Tommy founded the TThomas Johnson, famously known as Tommy the Clown, is the creator of “krumping,” a high-energy, expressive dance style blending hip-hop and street dance. Tommy’s “Hip Hop Clowns” grew rapidly from a party act into a cultural movement, performing for celebrities like Madonna, Snoop Dogg, and Pamela Anderson, and reaching global audiences in David LaChapelle’s 2005 documentary, Rize, which chronicled the krumping phenomenon Tommy started in Los Angeles.

Born in Detroit and raised in L.A., Tommy experienced a troubled youth that led to prison time. Upon his release, he focused on turning his life around and eventually found an unexpected path in entertainment. In 1992, a colleague’s request to entertain at a child’s birthday party led to the creation of “Tommy the Clown.” Following the Rodney King riots, he developed krumping as a powerful outlet for community expression and launched the Hip Hop Clowns crew.

Over time, his influence expanded, spurring over 60 clown dance crews across Los Angeles by 2000. To provide young people a creative outlet, Tommy founded the Tommy the Clown Academy, hosting weekly dance battles that attracted national attention. Recently, he has expanded his impact through collaborations with brands like Nike and TikTok to inspire youth globally. His academy’s battles now draw dancers from across the country, and Tommy’s performances at major events continue to grow his following.

Today, Tommy stays connected with nearly a million fans across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, engaging followers with updates and videos on Cameo, YouTube (OfficialTsquadTV), and his website, tommytheclown.com.