Beatboxing
 

So for the past six months or so I've really been interested in beatboxing. For those who don't know, this is the art of vocal percussion used to create beats. Some call it the "Fifth Element of Hip-Hop" but lately it's been making a surge worldwide and is becoming a stand-alone artform.

I'm sure most of you have heard Rahzel's "If Your Mother Only Knew" and were damn impressed with it - I was too, this is actually what first got me interested - but now I've come to realize that it's not really that hard to do. I guess I want to show you guys a little bit about beatbox and the different top beatboxers and ask if anyone here likes the artform like I do. :)

Of course, there is Rahzel.

If Your Mother Only Knew
V.S. Lord Sear
Tribute to Sean Paul

However, there aren't many people left who feel that he is the best beatboxer in the world. Most think Kenny Muhammed is the best. Here's why:

Drum 'n Bass
FAMOUS Wind Technique
At Columbia University (Video)

Kenny and Rahzel are more old-school. There is now a guy in the UK who is absolutely revolutionizing the art of beatbox. In fact, he doesn't refer to himself as a beatboxer. He likes to call it multivocalism. His name is Killa Kela.

[url=http://216.17.105.144/~hbc/media/killa_kela_i_jego_beatbox.mp3I Jego Beatbox[/url]
Video Clip (Quicktime)
Beatbox Party
I've much more of him on my computer but I'm having trouble finding you the links. Sorry. He's damn good, trust me! :p

There are a lot of other great beatboxers out there, but so as not to make this post too long, I'll keep it short. Other ones I enjoy listening to are:

Shlomo
aRRo
aRczi
Mouthmaster Murf (SICK scratching)

So that's my peace. Just wanted to give you guys a nice sample of beatboxing that continuously blows my mind with every time I listen to a clip. Check out HumanBeatbox.Com for everything you'll ever need in beatboxing, and be sure to check out the forums where we post new audio and video clips multiple times per day. :thumbsup:

there's also http://www.beatbox.tv

they have tutorials.

I'm more interested in mouth drumming than beatboxing, but I'm downloading those tracks now to check them out. There's supposed to be some interesting beatbox on Bjork's new album (Medulla?), which is almost entirely a cappella.

Yup, I know of two that are on for sure.

Aforementioned Rahzel and Shlomo. Here's a little clip of Rahzel in studio

I've heard a few beatboxers (mainly Rahzel) and I agree that they're simply amazing. These guys have an incredible talent.

-Lasereth

Forgot to ask a question in my previous post.

What is mouth drumming and how is it different from beatboxing?

Rahzel and Kenny Muhammed are simply the best, no doubts about it. All the others are pale in comparison.

as was stated, Bjork's new album uses no instruments. other than mouths. and if I hadn't just told you that, I swear you would of never known by listening to it.

didn't Bobby McFerrin (don't worry, be happy) do this already?

wow. just went to the rahzel studio video link and bjork's webpage for the album. mike patton and dokaka are also on the album. i'll most likely pick this one up then....

mike patton does crazy vocal only shit. he's got two albums of him making the weirdest noises.

BTW, here's a link to listen to some of the new bjork.
http://artist.peoplesound.com/art/ne...672&country=en

(uses real player, though...)

They are both forms of vocal percussion. The goal of mouth drumming is to sound like an actual drum kit, and is what you usually hear in the 'vocal band' subgenre of a cappella. Beatboxing tends to be a solo art, instead of part of a group, and has what is sometimes described as a "wet" or "organic" sound, rather than a drum kit. Obviously, there's overlap.

I can't find any clips quickly, but good groups with mouth drummers include The House Jacks, Spiralmouth, Boyz Nite Out, and Toxic Audio.

kenny muhamed is amazing. i saw a human beat box show in philadelphia a copule years ago that included scratch and rahzel--kenny blew them off the stage. just amazing.
to get an idea of how good any of these people are, though, you really shold try to check them out live. something about recordings diminishes it, like there is a part of your brain that decides that the sounds are being done otherwise.

thanks for the killer kela tip..looking forward to checking him out.

*pokes thread to wake it up*

I just saw a new release people might be interested in: Human Element - The World's First Human Beatbox Compilation, available from Mainely A Cappella (the link goes there). Here's the track listing:

I think almost all of the links in the original post are dead =(

Mike Patton and Rahzel actually toured together a while ago.

I have a bunch of the live MP3s and videos. Pretty good stuff.