The Evolution of Music Part - XVII
/ 0
The Evolution of Music Part - XVII
Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion which primarily involves the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one’s mouth, lips, tongue and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments. Beatboxing today is connected with hip hop culture, being one of ‘the elements’, although it is not limited to hip hop music.
Vocal imitation of percussion sounds has existed for a very long time. One tradition is thought to have originated in India several thousand years ago: the tradition of bol, and the Chinese developed Kouji, a type of vocal performing arts. These had little or no relation with hip hop, however, and have no direct connection to modern Eastern Hip Hop. Some African traditions use performers’ bodies (clapping, stomping) to make musical sounds to maintain a steady musical pace. They made sounds using their mouths by loudly breathing in and out, which is done in beatboxing today.
Hip hop origins
Beatboxing in hip hop originated in the 1980s. Its early pioneers include Doug E. Fresh, Buffy from the Fat Boys, and Wise (Stetsasonic). Credits of the three include Doug E. Fresh for being the self proclaimed first ‘human beatbox’, Buffy for helping perfect the art & Wise for taking it to a level that inspired other individuals to want to be a human beatbox. Wise with his human turntable technique inspired a whole new fan base of human beatboxers. The term ‘beatboxing’ is derived from the mimicry of the first generation of drum machines, then known as beatboxes.
Modern beatboxing
Beatboxing’s current popularity is due in part to artists such as Rahzel, Kenny Muhammad, and Matisyahu, who have promoted the art form across the world. Websites also contribute substantially toward raising the profile of beatboxing.
Many a cappella singing groups have one or more members using this technique, especially when performing songs which have a heavy percussive element, in order to closely mimic or duplicate the original sound.
One of the modern singers and musicians who started to add his own sounds to his music was Michael Jackson in songs like Billie Jean, Tabloid Junkie, and Who Is It. Most of the time, he admitted that he needed a tape recorder to record the sounds that came to his mind just to not forget them and around that base built the rest of the tune.
Sometimes, artists will use their hand or another part of their body to extend the spectrum of sound effects and rhythm.
In 2001, Gavin Tyte developed the first audio and text tutorials on the Internet, then in 2002 he produced the first video tutorials on making beatboxing sounds and rhythms.
In 2005, the world championship of beatboxing was organised in Leipzig, Germany. The participants came from all over the world.
Also in 2005, Beatbox Battle TV was founded in September at the 1st Beatbox Battle World Championship event by Bee Low, B-Film and Philibox. Today, it has become the largest beatboxing film archive in the world.
