Who are Jabbawockeez members? History, photos, who died?

Jabbawockeez is a renowned dance group that attracted global attention after winning the first season of America's Best Dance Crew in 2008. The Jabbawockeez members have remained united and consistent over the years. They are known for their signature white masks and unique dance style. So, where are they now and who died in the group?

Key takeaways

• The Jabbawockeez was established in 2003 in San Diego, California, by dancers Kevin "KB" Brewer and Joe "Punkee" Larot.
• The group is inspired by the "Jabberwocky" poem from Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass,"
• They gained national recognition by winning the first season of MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew" in 2008.
• Original member Gary "Gee One" Kendell passed away on December 14, 2007.

Who are Jabbawockeez members in 2025?

Initially, the group was known as 3 Muskee. The members were Kevin "KB" Brewer, Phil "Swagger Boy" Tayag, and Joe "Punkee" Larot. Larot coined the name Jabbawockeez after drawing inspiration from the poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll.

Later, the trio decided to enlarge the singing group. The new lineup was made of Gary "Gee" Kendall, Randy "DJ Wish One" Bernal, Jeff "Phi" Nguyen, Phil "Swagger Boy" Tayag, Kevin “KB” Brewer, Joe "Punkee" Larot, Rynan Paguio, and Chris "Cristyle" Gatdula.

How many Jabbawockeez members are there?

​The Jabbawockeez dance crew has evolved. As of recent reports, it has over 20 active members who perform in their Las Vegas shows. The original founding members—Kevin "KB" Brewer, Joe "Punkee" Larot, Rynan "Kid Rainen" Paguio, and Jeff "Phi" Nguyen—now primarily serve as owners, producers, and mentors to the newer generation of dancers.

Sadly, the group lost one of its members, Gary "Gee" Kendall, to meningitis. Chris "Cristyle" Gatdula and Randy "DJ Wish One" Bernal have also left the group to pursue personal endeavours.

Jabbawockeez masks

The faces of the Jabbawockeez members have always been a topic of curiosity for fans around the world. Known for performing in white masks and gloves, the group intentionally hides their facial expressions to shift focus to their choreography's synchronization, movement, and unity.

However, while their on-stage presence is masked, the Jabbawockeez without masks are not completely hidden from the public. Over the years, various behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, social media posts, and public appearances have revealed the real faces behind the masks.

Who are Jabbawockeez members in real life?

The Jabbawockeez, renowned for their signature white masks and synchronized dance routines, have seen their lineup evolve since their inception in 2003. The original founding members were:

• Kevin "KB" Brewer​
• Joe "Punkee" Larot​
• Phil "Swagger Boy" Tayag

The following joined later;

• Rynan "Kid Rainen" Paguio​
• Jeff "Phi" Nguyen​
• Chris "Cristyle" Gatdula​
• Ben "B-Tek" Chung​
• Gary "Gee One" Kenda

While the founding members have taken on roles as mentors and producers, the current performing lineup of dancers is new members such as:

• Tony Tran​
• Gavin Pecson​
• Kris "Jujubeatz" Mangonon​
• TJ "True Justice" Lewis​

How many original Jabbawockeez are left?

Following Gee's demise and the exit of two others, five original members are left. In the past, some have joined and exited from the team. Here is a breakdown of each of the known members and their profiles.

Kevin “KB” Brewer

• Full name: Kevin Brewer
• Gender: Male
• Date of birth: 19th December 1976
• Age: 46 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Long Beach, California, United States of America
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: African-American
• Profession: Music producer, emcee, and dance coach

Kevin Brewer is one of the original members of the dance crew. He was born in Long Beach, California, United States of America, on 19th December 1976. His nationality is American, his ethnicity is African-American, and he started his dancing career in 1995.

The talented dancer/singer is married to Cherylynne Rubia-Brewer, a lady of Filipino descent. Together, the couple has four kids. Besides dancing, Kevin is the founder of Beat Kune Do and is also a music producer, emcee, and dance coach. He is an Apple-certified technician.

The dancer's inspiration comes from God, his family, Bruce Lee, and other members of the crew.

Joe "Punkee" Larot

• Full name: Joseph Larot, alias Joe "Punkee" Larot
• Gender: Male
• Date of birth: 29th June 1979
• Age: 43 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Sacramento, California, United States of America
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: Filipino-American
• Profession: Dancer, director, entrepreneur, and choreographer
• Instagram: @punkee_jbwkz

Joe "Punkee" Larot is one of the founding members of the dance crew. He was born in Sacramento, California, United States of America, on 29th June 1979.

The dancer's nationality is American, and he is of Filipino descent. Besides dancing, he is a talented choreographer, company director, and entrepreneur. Together with the crew, he runs the JBWKZ company, which does brand management and dance move creation. He is also a PRISM Co-Director and original cast member.

Away from work, he is married to Sofia Tabujara Larot. He is the father of three children, one of whom is a teenager.

Phil "Swagger Boy" Tayag

• Full name: Phil "Swagger Boy" Tayag
• Gender: Male
• Date of birth: 9th October
• Place of birth: Sacramento, California, United States of America
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: Filipino
• Instagram: @swagpitt

Phil "Swagger Boy" Tayag was born on 9th October in Sacramento, California, United States of America. His year of birth is yet to be disclosed, but it is presumed that he is in his forties. His nationality is American, and his Zodiac sign is Libra. He is of Filipino descent.

Besides dancing, Phil is a choreographer. Away from his dancing career, he is a family man. He is married and has three children. His oldest daughter, Peach, will be turning 21 in December 2023.

Jeff “Phi” Nguyen

• Full name: Jeff “Phi” Nguyen
• Gender: Male
• Date of birth: 15th September 1981
• Age: 41 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
• Current residence: Los Angeles, California, United States of America
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: Filipino
• Profession: Dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor
• Twitter: @PHI_JBWKZ

On 15th September 2021, Jeff “Phi” Nguyen celebrated his 40th birthday. The dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor was born on 15th September 1981 in Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America. He resides in Los Angeles, California, United States of America.

His nationality is American, and he is of Filipino descent. He is the last child in a family of four. The talented artist started dancing at the age of 15, and he normally draws inspiration from other members of the Jabbawockeez crew.

Rynan Shawn Paguio, alias Kid Rainen

• Full name: Rynan Shawn Paguio, alias Kid Rainen
• Gender: Male
• Date of birth: 26th March 1981
• Age: 41 years (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Inglewood, California, United States of America
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: Filipino
• Profession: Dancer and choreographer
• Instagram: @kidrainen_

Rynan Shawn Paguio, alias Kid Rainen, was born on 26th March 1981 in Inglewood, California, United States of America. The American nationality has his ancestry in Filipino. His Zodiac sign is Aries. Kid Rainen is married to Belle Abuyo, a gifted break-dancer. Together, the couple has a son.

Gary "Gee" Kendall

• Full name: Gary "Gee" Kendall
• Gender: Male
• Date of birth: 7th November 1970
• Date of death: 14th December 2007
• Cause of death: Pneumonia and meningitis
• Age at time of demise: 37 years
• Place of birth: California, United States of America
• Place of demise: Denver, Colorado, United States of America
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: African-American
• Profession: Dancer, teacher, director, producer, and entertainer

Gary "Gee" Kendall, one of the initial eight members of the Jabbawockeez, died on 14th December 2007. Gary was born on 7th November 1970 and was raised in Seaside, California, United States of America. His nationality was American, and he was of African-American descent.

Besides dancing, he taught hip-hop music at All The Right Moves in Santa Cruz. He also organised workshops at DanceCenter and DanceSynergy.

The dancer was 37 years old at the time of his demise. He lost his life in Denver, Colorado, United States of America, after battling pneumonia and meningitis. He is fondly remembered by the rest of the Jabbawockeez crew.

What is the nationality of Jabbawockeez?

The group is made up of members of Asian and/or American nationality. The members are drawn from different ethnic backgrounds, including Asian-American (Filipino-American, Korean American, and Vietnamese American), African-American, and Mexican-American.

How much are Jabbawockeez worth?

The dancers have a combined net worth of $25 million. Read on to learn more about the different group members.

Are the Jabbawockeez all male?

Initially, the group was made up of all-male dancers. In 2014, the crew welcomed its first female member, Ariah Tsukada-Aka. Ariah had a great desire to join the crew since she was three years old.

She spotted the crew on the reality show American Best Dance Crew and started practising the moves she saw. When she was five, Kevin Brewer invited her to perform on the finale of season six of the same show. She was nicknamed Little Babywockee. Years later, she joined the crew as an official member.

Why is Jabbawockeez so famous?

The Jabbawockeez rose to fame after winning the first season of America’s Best Dance Crew in 2008, capturing global attention with their creative, synchronized choreography and iconic white masks. Their performances on major platforms like commercials, award shows, and NBA games further cemented their status as dance pioneers.

Beyond their television success, the Jabbawockeez became the first dance crew to land a Las Vegas residency—an achievement that showcased their commercial and artistic appeal. They also broke cultural barriers as a predominantly Asian-American crew, inspiring countless aspiring dancers from diverse backgrounds.

Do the original Jabbawockeez still perform?

While they occasionally make on-stage appearances, the majority of live performances are now carried out by a newer generation of dancers whom the founders have mentored.

Where are the Jabbawockeez members now?

The Jabbawockeez, now a full-fledged business with a large staff, continue to perform their "Timeless" show at the MGM Grand Hotel and in Las Vegas, with original members like Kevin "Kb" Brewer, Joe "Punkee" Larot, Jeff "Phi" Nguyen, and Rynan "Kid Rainen" Paguio acting as owners, producers, and mentors.

Jabbawockeez members are known for their insane choreography, perfect synchronisation, and unique dance style. The crew normally appears on stage in white ski masks and gloves, its signature look.

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