How The Harlem Shake Started

The Harlem shake originally called the “albee”, became main stream in 2001 when G Dep featured the Harlem shake in his music video Special delivery which was around the same time the cwalk became popular.
Although the dance came up around 2000 it started a few years back (in 1981) by an alcoholic named Sisqo in Harlem, New York. The man would do the Harlem Shake (Albee) for 50 cents or a beverage, for 50 cents or a dollar he would also be willing to teach you.
Resource: Harlemshake.Info (R.I.P 2005)