'Beatboxing' is the art of
vocal percussion. Although the term ''beatboxing'' derived from
hip hop culture, it is not limited to
hip hop music. It is primarily concerned with the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, voice, and more. It may also involve
singing, vocal imitation of
turntablism, the simulation of horns, strings, and other
musical instruments. It is a form of
vocal music, etymologically related to
scat singing and
puirt a beul.
The term beatboxing most likely refers to early
drum machines which came with pre-programmed musical patterns.
The simplest and stereotyped beatboxing pattern is as follows:
Beatbox stereotype.PNG
However, this pattern may be unrecognizable in more elaborated and skilled beatboxing.
History of Beatboxing
The technique and the art of replicating percussion sounds with one's voice is thought to be conceived in India several thousands years ago, and the Chinese developed
Kouji which was one kind of
vocal percussion performing arts. These had little relation with
hip hop, however, and are not related to modern Western beatboxing. This kind of sound-simulating technique is called humming and chanting.
Beatboxing is currently experiencing a second wind, thanks in part to the likes of artists like
Rahzel and
Kenny Muhammad, who have carried the artform across the world. In
2002, the
documentary ''Breath Control: The History of the Human Beatbox'' premiered. It is a history of the art form that includes interviews with
Doug E. Fresh,
Emanon,
Biz Markie,
Marie Daulne of
Zap Mama,
Kyle Faustino and others.
Beatboxing's early pioneers include
Doug E. Fresh, Biz Markie, and Buffy from the
Fat Boys. Doug E. Fresh is credited for being the first "human beatbox,"
[1] and
Barry B for coining the term along with Buffy perfecting the art.
[2] The term "beatboxing" is derived from the mimicry of the first generation of drum machines, then known as beatboxes.
Vocal percussionists
Throughout a series of concerts in 1969, most notably at The Fillmore East in NYC,
John Mayall (formerly the frontman for "The Bluesbreakers") with a new band introduced an acoustic style of the Blues. Without drums and, for the most part electric guitars, Mayall and the band included a tune called "Room to Move" which included a middle section of pure beatboxing predating and outdoing almost every other future attempt at this style short of
Bobby McFerrin's "Don't worry, be happy" almost twenty years later.
The Mayall concerts were recorded on an album called "Turning Point".
In 1970, British band
Mungo Jerry released
In the Summertime, eventually selling 23 million copies worldwide. An interesting quirk of the track is that no traditional percussion is used, with all rhythmic and incidental percussion generated by the vocalist(s).
Viv Fisher, a frustrated amateur British musician and sound engineer released a 7" vinyl single of multivocal work in 1978, entitled "Blaze Away," performing as "Me, Myself and Me Again," on which he performed all parts of a
brass band, additionally using
multitracking techniques to satisfy his desire for an accurate portrayal of the many instruments and depth of sound in a real brass band.
Mbube is a style of close harmony
choral singing, originating in
Africa. One of its components is the vocal representation of
percussion and
bass sounds by one or more members of a choir.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a well known group performing in this style and have been releasing music in this genre since
1973.
The early eighties
The art form enjoyed a strong presence in the
1980s. Many people's introduction to the art form came when Doug E. Fresh and
Slick Rick released "
La Di Da Di." However, the
Fat Boys "Stick Em" and the album on which it appeared, "The Fat Boys," was released in January 1984, one year before the "La Di Da Di" single, which appeared as a B-side to "The Show" in 1985. (The rap community and beyond celebrated Buffy's heavy-breathing style on "Stick Em.") The Fat Boys' movies (such as ''
Disorderlies'') introduced the art form to a wider audience as well.
The 90s
In many ways, beatboxing fell off the radar along with
breakdancing in the late '80s; it almost slipped even deeper than the underground. Though many people kept the art form alive on the streets, in ciphers, within B-boy circles, and in showers, it didn't re-emerge until
Rahzel "the Godfather of Noyze" released "Make the Music 2000," which is the first album focused primarily on beatboxing. The title is a reference to "Make the Music With Your Mouth," one of the first recorded beatboxing tracks by the hip hop sensation
Biz Markie. (Markie also achieved moderate success with his single "
Just A Friend.")
In the mid-'90s, Rahzel proved a versatile entertainer. He was formerly the vocal
DJ for
The Roots, a group that contributed to the popularity of live instrumentation in hip hop. Not only did he help put beatboxing back onto the stage, he introduced its modern form, an impressive if not awe-inspiring combination of polyrhythms, vocal scratching, and simultaneous lines of melody, rhythm, and singing. Rahzel himself acknowledges that he combined his influences of pioneer Doug E. Fresh,
jazz vocalist
Bobby McFerrin, and sound effect master
Michael Winslow (of ''
Police Academy'' fame) to give rise to his modern format.
On "If Your Mother Only Knew," a beatboxing sample of Rahzel, he wows an audience by singing and beatboxing simultaneously—a feat now considered easy by the growing young beatboxing community. On several tracks, he introduced the idea of simulating turntable scratches with his throat, something even underground beatboxers upholding the art form through the lean years hadn't even heard until the album's release.
Using his commercial appeal, Rahzel paved the way for beatboxing's migration to the center of the stage, both literally and metaphorically. In its beginning, beatboxing was relegated to a supporting role or gimmick, like a side show. With beatboxing's increased popularity, Rahzel began touring the country doing solo shows.
Many amateur beatboxers express frustration with Rahzel receiving most of the attention and being known as the best beatboxer in the world. Though many well-practiced amateur and professional beatboxers possess different levels of skill, each one brings something different to the form. As Carlo Aguirre (also known as Infinite), a beatboxer and MC from
San Francisco's famed
Felonious says, "Each person has a different instrument."
Other well-known, seminal beatboxers whose work is well known throughout the international beatboxing community include
Queens's
Kenny Muhammad (also known as Kenny X, The Human Orchestra);
Philadelphia's Scratch, beatboxer for the Roots;
Killa Kela, one of
Europe's finest; Click Tha Supah Latin, an MC and beatboxer located in
Los Angeles;
Shlomo, who has collaborated with
Björk; MC Squared, an internationally renowned 5-time winner of Showtime at the Apollo; RoxorLoops from Beatoxic Crew;
Each who is a key organiser with the Vowel Movement located in California; "mouthdrummer"
Wes Carroll of The House Jacks, also located in California; and Canada's own scratch pioneer Poizunus. Others have played important roles in bringing the artform to large communities outside of hip hop including Radioactive wformerly of Spearhead and Kid Beyond.
The Four Elements
The last track on Rahzel's CD 'Make The Music 2000' is a track with his "If Your Mother Only Knew" routine. But it contains a hidden bonus track, which is a 'Man vs. Machine' which he and Kenny Muhammad (Human Orchestra) vs. turntablists DJ Skribble and DJ Slinky.
The song is widely referred to by most beatboxers as The Four Elements.
★ The first element is 'Earth' (performed by Rahzel), using basic beatboxing techniques with a dry 'taste,' in a fairly simple beat pattern.
★ The second element is 'Wind' (performed by Kenny Muhammad), a complex and fast beat with words in it said in a very low voice. It has a stormy character. Wind is probably the most popular beatbox routine. It is a cover of the song "Nummern" ("Numbers") by the German group
Kraftwerk.
★ The third element is 'Fire' (performed by Rahzel). It is the only element containing sounds that were not produced by the human mouth. Fire is a cover of "Rock The Bells" by
LL Cool J.
★ The fourth and last element is 'Water' (performed by Kenny Muhammad). It is one of the most popular amongst beatboxers after the wind. The sounds are punchy and fast. Water is a cover of a tune called "Funky Drummer" by
James Brown.
Increasingly, The Four Elements is becoming a very popular concept within the beatboxing community.
Major centers
New York City
New York City is the birthplace of the art and still home to many of the world's most original and impressive beatboxers. These include Buffy of
The Fat Boys,
Doug E. Fresh, Rahzel,
Kenny Muhammad, MC Squared,
Matisyahu,
DOA, Masai Electro Baba Israel, Yo-yo Beats, D-Cross and many others. In 2002 Kid Lucky created Beatboxer Entertainment, an organization to unite NYC's beatboxers, which has since grown to include beatboxers nationally. New York City is arguably an epicenter for beatboxing culture as the New York scene continues to produce some of the best talents in the world. Quite notable are Adam Matta, Shockwave (Chris Sullivan) and Chesney Snow. Adam Matta who is currently an "Artist in Residence" at Cornell University, is noted for his vocal instrumentals including brass, beats, vocal scratches/turntablism, and mechanical sound effects, Matta references blues, rock, rap, heavy metal, drum-and-bass, freestyle jazz, and Middle Eastern styles of music. Chris Sullivan better known as Shockwave attained critical acclaim for his work in the hit theatrical show "''Freestyle Love Supreme''" including "Shockwave bowls the audience over with his breakneck beatboxing ability" 'AOL City Guide' just to cite one. Chesney Snow featured on the '''MTV Unplugged''' Series with Polish superstar Kayah in 2006 which has since become a bestseller. His live beatboxing sound is captivating and unique for its realism to an actual drum machine.
Other centers
Although most world-renowned beatboxers emerge from US, other countries should not be overlooked. In Turkey, for example, former
Chamber Choir' chorister Selim Öncel's outstanding performance in the album titled ''10'' is an example of "not missing a single beat" and the usage of beatboxing in choral music.
''American Idol''
In
2003 Joel Turner, an auditionee on the Australian version of Australian Idol, was selected by judge
Mark Holden to make the Beat Box Alliance, a group of the best beatboxers from across the country to perform at the Australian Idol grand final. Turner has since made his own mark, with his group the
Modern Day Poets.
In
2007,
Blake Lewis, the runner-up on the
sixth season of ''
American Idol'', brought beatboxing into the mainstream spotlight by performing it in several of his songs during the competition. Some of the songs that he performed in which he incorporated beatboxing elements were
Jamiroquai's "
Virtual Insanity",
311's "
All Mixed Up",
The Zombies's
Time of the Season and
Bon Jovi's "
You Give Love a Bad Name." In the competition's finale he performed a beatboxing routine with
Doug E. Fresh.
References
1. http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/doug_e_fresh/artist.jhtml
2. http://www.penduluminc.com/MM/articles/fresh.html
See also
★
List of beatboxers
★
Hip hop music
★
Scat singing
★
Puirt a beul
External links
★
BEATBOXING.com - WORLDWIDE
★
TheBeatboxer.com - The Beatboxers MySpace Community
★
International Beatbox Database / Forum
★
humanbeatbox.COM Online Beatboxing Community, complete with tutorials teaching the art.
★
Beatbox Battle® International Beatbox Magazine, Founder of the Beatbox World Championship and BBBTV
★
The International Beatbox Association (IBA)
★
Beatbox Malaysia - Beatbox Malaysia Community
Note
1. http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/doug_e_fresh/artist.jhtml
2. http://www.penduluminc.com/MM/articles/fresh.html
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