Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat Box
Encyclopedia
Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat Box (2002) is a documentary exploring the world of beatboxing
, a form of music using the human mouth, throat and diaphragm to generate sounds that are usually produced by machines. Over 30 practitioners of this art form discuss their techniques and the evolution of their craft. The human beat box is one of the key elements in the development of Hip Hop culture
, alongside Dj-ing
, Graffiti
, Breakdancing, and MC-ing
. Unfortunately, its contribution has been largely overlooked, as has the fun, expressive, human, and spontaneous dimension of Hip Hop that it represents. As the first documentary of its kind, Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat Box uses interview's, live performances, archival footage, and animation to bring to light this important and neglected ingredient of Hip Hop's identity .
With the help of Beat Box pioneers Doug E. Fresh, Wise, Biz Markie, and The Fat Boys
, Breath Control traces this art form from its basic beat beginnings in the Eighties to its present day multi-layered, polyrhythmatic figurehead's Rahzel
and Skratch of the Hip Hop group The Roots
. But Breath Control isn't limited to Hip Hop. Musician Zap Mama
opens up the idea that human beat boxing is an art form practiced all over the world and has been refined by many different cultures. Breath Control is a half historical, half tutorial look at humans as actual instruments.
Beatboxing
Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving 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, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
, a form of music using the human mouth, throat and diaphragm to generate sounds that are usually produced by machines. Over 30 practitioners of this art form discuss their techniques and the evolution of their craft. The human beat box is one of the key elements in the development of Hip Hop culture
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
, alongside Dj-ing
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, Graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
, Breakdancing, and MC-ing
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
. Unfortunately, its contribution has been largely overlooked, as has the fun, expressive, human, and spontaneous dimension of Hip Hop that it represents. As the first documentary of its kind, Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat Box uses interview's, live performances, archival footage, and animation to bring to light this important and neglected ingredient of Hip Hop's identity .
With the help of Beat Box pioneers Doug E. Fresh, Wise, Biz Markie, and The Fat Boys
The Fat Boys
The Fat Boys are a successful African American hip-hop music trio from Brooklyn, New York City, that emerged in the early 1980s. Briefly, the group was known originally as the Disco 3.-Members:*Mark Morales a.k.a. "Prince Markie Dee"...
, Breath Control traces this art form from its basic beat beginnings in the Eighties to its present day multi-layered, polyrhythmatic figurehead's Rahzel
Rahzel
Rahzel M. Brown, also known as simply Rahzel, is an American musician and virtuoso beatboxer, formerly a member of The Roots.Nicknamed the "Godfather of Noyze," Rahzel is known for an ability to sing or rap while simultaneously beatboxing, as evidenced in his performances of "Iron Man" and his...
and Skratch of the Hip Hop group The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
. But Breath Control isn't limited to Hip Hop. Musician Zap Mama
Zap Mama
Zap Mama is a Belgian musical group founded and led by Marie Daulne. Daulne says her mission is to be a bridge between the European and the African and bring the two cultures together with her music...
opens up the idea that human beat boxing is an art form practiced all over the world and has been refined by many different cultures. Breath Control is a half historical, half tutorial look at humans as actual instruments.
External links
- iBeatBox.com
- Breath Control @ Yahoo Movies
- Breath Control @ Ghost Robot
- Breath Control @ NY Times
- Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat Box at Eye For FilmEye For FilmEye For Film is an online film magazine based in the United Kingdom. It launched in August 2006 and has been growing ever since. It is updated with new content on a daily basis.-Features:...
- Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat Box at the Yahoo!Xtra MoviesYahoo!XtraYahoo!Xtra was a New Zealand web portal that existed under that name from 2007 to 2011. It was a joint venture between Yahoo!7 and Telecom New Zealand. Yahoo!7 held a 51 percent stake in the company and Telecom NZ held 49 percent. Because Yahoo!7 is a 50/50 venture, Yahoo! proper was therefore a...
- Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat Box at Answers.comAnswers.comAnswers.com is an Internet-based knowledge exchange, which includes WikiAnswers, ReferenceAnswers, VideoAnswers, and five international language Q&A communities. The Answers.com domain name was purchased by Bill Gross and Henrik Jones at idealab in 1996. The domain name was acquired by NetShepard...