Beatboxing

Beatboxing is a fascinating part of hip-hop; it is a person replicating the sounds of a beatbox using only their mouths. I find beatboxing very intriguing, and have always wished that I was skilled with being able to beatbox really well. It may seem easy but once you actually attempt it you just end up with spit flying everywhere and no actual beatbox sounds coming out. It requires a lot of skill and practice, which many of the pros have mastered and made use of in their careers. The art of beatboxing has left a huge impression on hip-hop culture, it creates and unrefined raw sound that can't be reproduced in today's music using computer software produced beats.


Since actual beat machines were expensive and MC's couldn't afford them they improvised, thus beatboxing came into being. Some of my favorite beatboxers are Rahzel, Biz Markie, and Doug E Fresh; I believe they cultivated the foundation of a whole new era of hip-hop, back when beatboxing was still in its prime. According to Mary Elizabeth:  “beatboxing is the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, voice, nasal passage and throat"(Elizabeth). Watching pro beatboxers is so interesting because it actually does sound like they're using some type of beat machine but all of the sound is produced vocally.  

Not many people know where and when beatboxing began specifically, like many other aspects of hip-hop. However, most would say beatboxing originated from 'The Fat Boys', a group made up of: Mark "Prince Markie Dee" Morales, Darren "The Human Beat Box" Robinson, and Damon "Kool Rock-ski" Wimbley. Since Robinson couldn't afford a drum set he would replicate the sounds that would normally emit from a drum set (The Fat Boys). It's astounding how The Fat Boys utilized not having something and creating a completely new hip-hop subculture. 


Beatboxing is a class of its own, just as other subdivisions of hip-hop it plays and important role. It gives people room to create raw music, without anything except them mouths. Beatboxing just proves how creative people can be; when they don't have the resources necessary to make music they create it themselves. These days, however, beatboxing isn’t very popular anymore. Human beatboxers have been replaced with free computer programs that anyone can use. Although there is probably still an entire community of people who revolve their lives around beatboxing who probably still appreciate the art. I hope one day beatboxing will make a comeback, maybe in some post-apocalyptic era where all people have is their mouths to create beautiful music.  

           "Amazing Human Beatbox." YouTube. YouTube, 03 Oct. 2006. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Elizabeth, Mary, and Bronwyn Harris. WiseGeek. Conjecture, n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

"Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh - La Di Da Di (Full Version)." YouTube. YouTube, 04 May 2009. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

"The Fat Boys." The Fat Boys. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Graffiti

One reason I like hip-hop so much is because of its versatility and how adaptable it is. There are many different aspects of hip-hop, which accommodate so many of your senses. The vocal part of hip-hop is the rapping or emceeing, the visual aspect of hip-hop is graffiti, and then there's the music itself, consorted with dancing, being the physical aspect. I've always wish I could graffiti, with spray paint it’s so cool. I believe it is human nature to enjoy beautiful things, I wouldn't mind walking down the street and seeing other people's works of art on the sides of every building. 

I think graffiti is really fascinating and beautiful, it turns the world from boring to colorful and vibrant. According to Wikipedia graffiti is writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place (Wikipedia). However people generally disregard graffiti because of how it is portrayed in the media and talked down upon by people who don't fully understand its roots or meanings.

Vandalism is considered a crime and since most graffiti are on places where the owners did not give them consent to be graffiti is considered vandalism, which is punishable by law. This can discourage many 'offenders' from displaying their talent or being able to express themselves visually to others.  Another reason graffiti is looked down upon is because gangs use graffiti to, make their name be known, or threaten other gangs. This causes people to associate graffiti with gang violence, and look at it with disdain. To some people graffiti is considered vandalism, but it is art, a form of self-expression.

Young under privileged teens and young adults who don't really have a voice from where they grew up use graffiti to tell the world about themselves. The whole world is their canvas, as opposed to being limited to creating a small piece of art. They use entire buildings to voice their opinions on political subject matters, or create a mural to uplift the community.

"Graffiti." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Jan. 2013. Web. 30 Jan. 2013.

Why I prefer underground rappers

Many rappers fall victim to commercialization. They put out one good song and gain some publicity, and then once they make enough money they lose focus. They don't work as hard to make hits trying to gain more fans and fame. Eventually all their songs begin to sound the same and they don't put any real effort into making good music. That is what most mainstream artists are, in my opinion. Just putting out songs with no real substance or meaning, just to make money from the song or album they put out.

I feel as though if you want to be a really good artist you would be more selfless and put out songs your fans can relate to. Once mainstream artists make enough money they stop hustling to get recognition and lose all the fans that got them famous in the first place. Too much success can change an artist, the more famous the artist the more people will expect from them. They are pressured to make songs that are going to apply to the status quo.

Although underground rappers probably strive for fame and fortune as well as mainstream artists, the ones with good intentions don't sell out to the music industry. They continue to work hard for what they want, instead of changing their entire image to gain more fans. Rappers who have fallen victim to commercialization are often seen as sell outs to true hip-hop lovers. A commercial rapper is someone who  Not only do they sell themselves, they change their entire style and the substance of their music. This is probably because once they become rich and famous they don't put in as much effort to gain the recognition they once sought. One rapper that is an example of this that is currently famous is Wiz Khalifa. You can really notice the difference in his music, from when he first started out in the rap game, to when he became a celebrity. 

I prefer to listen to underground artists because they give off a more real, raw vibe. Their songs actually tell a story because the artist is really passionate about their music; they see it as a form of expression and focus on getting their message across. I'm not completely ruling out mainstream artists, there are plenty of musicians who have worked hard for what they have, but most mainstream music lacks the unrestrained music I crave.

One underground artist I'm particularly interested in is Blu:

He just gives off a really refreshing, mellow vibe. I also like his lyrics and his flow, just the way he puts his songs together, it's amazing. His style is really jazzy and unique, something many other rappers can't pull off.

Real Hip Hop

             For my blog I have decided to write about hip-hop, the part of the hip-hop culture that usually goes unrecognized. I feel as though most mainstream rap songs tarnish the name of good revolutionary rap. A lot of people hear one rap song and automatically rule out hip-hop as being violent and degrading. They don't really get the sense of what hip hop really means, how and why it began, and what it did for our society. 

Someone once told me that the hip in hip hop stands for the knowledge it brings, and hop is the movement, the revolution itself. Many famous artists that get all the recognition do not actually live by this meaning. Which is the reason why so many people rule it out, it just adds to the prejudice that all hip-hop music is bad or irrelevant.

I've picked this as my research topic because I love music, I'm really passionate about what I listen to. Not just the lyrics either, the instrumentals as well. However, I do not have a full understanding of this topic which is the reason why I want to research hip-hop and expand my knowledge of it.  Maybe I'll learn about something I had no idea existed, I just want to be completely open minded about this subject.  

There are also many other aspects of hip-hop such as clothing, hair styles, dances, graffiti, etc. I want to go into every detail and I’ll occasionally posts songs by my favorite artists/producers. And other experiences I have with hip-hop, my favorite things to do are watch people freestyle or battle each other, and beat boxing fascinates me as well.