Marc Cancino AKA Smerk was born in the Bronx in 1978. It was not until the mid 80ís, that he, at the age of five, would discover his passion for b-boying (breaking). This passion would eventually follow him through a great portion of his life. During this time, Smerk was living in Cuba because his father was a Marine stationed on a naval base. While breaking as we know it, originated out of New York City, the dance had spread to many corners of the world. Smerk was the pain in the butt little brother that would continuously ask his older brother John D. Cancino AKA Mad-Cap to take him to every party he went to. Fortunately for Smerk, his parents gave his older brother the responsibility of baby sitting! Smerk took to the art form of b-boying. A few years after, this dance form saw its dark age, but Smerk had not lost his enthusiasm. It would be seven years before Smerk would return to his homeland in the Bronx.

Eventually Smerk began learning how to DJ from his brother, his brother's friend Jason, and his older Cousin Louie Aka Site. In Junior High School Marc adopted the name Smerk, a name given to him by girls because they said "it didn't matter if he was happy, mad, or sad; it always looked like he had a smerk on his face". Later that year, Smerk's brother introduced him to Mr. Wiggles and Pop Master Fabel. Smerk was immediately inspired by Mr. Wiggleís and Fabelís graffiti art. Before then, Smerk had only been interested in tagging.

Zulu Nation soon became an interest to Smerk. Soon after, he saw Crazy Legs, president of the Rock Steady Crew dance for the first time. Smerk began practicing for the RSC 16th Anniversary. With no skills and a lot of heart, Smerk decided to dance at that Anniversary in a circle with seasoned b-boys. What Smerk did not know was that the cipher was being recorded and later Legs would eventually ask, "Who's that young kid in the cipher?" At this time Smerk's brother was down with Rock Steady crew as a popper and Crazy Legs found out who that little kid was! Crazy Legs then offered Smerk the opportunity to formally learn how to b-boy. A year later Smerk became known as Crazy Legs' protÈgÈe and the youngest member of Rock Steady Crew.

Although the strongest influence on Smerk's style was from Crazy Legs, his style was also influenced by Mr. Wiggles, Ken Swift and Fabel. With little to no young b-boys at the time, Smerk would also become one of the few who bridged the gap between the old school and the new school dancers in New York City. As a young b-boy in Rock Steady, Smerk had no peers his own age. Smerk began influencing his friends within his graffiti crew (LSP) to start dancing. Because Smerk was lucky to be a member of the Rock Steady Crew, he knew that all his friends would not have the same chance; therefore, Smerk helped found a crew called "Ready to Rock." Crazy Legs continued mentoring and doing shows with Smerk throughout the 90's. In 1999 Smerk joined the United Stated Marine Corps. After a five year enlistment, Smerk has returned and continues to dance.