Generik, performing.
Generik, performing.

MC Generik’s History Of Beatboxing

Decades after the Appalachian vocal technique known as “eefing” hit its peak…

By MC Generik

Hey, this is Generik, providing you with a brief history and insight on the art of beatboxing. Some consider it the lost 5th-element of hip-hop but, trust me, the art is far from lost.

Decades after the Appalachian vocal technique known as “eefing” hit its peak, a new sound called hip-hop emerged. Amongst all the MCs, DJs, graff-writers and bboys lurked the infamous beatboxers. These were the guys keeping the music alive after the party was over and the cops shut down your show.

Beatboxers provided funky music mimicking the sounds of various instruments using nothing but their mouths. Through time the world has been exposed to the likes of Bobby Mcferrin, Doug E. Fresh, The Fat Boys, Rahzel, Scratch, Killa Kela and Kenny Muhammad, all of whom are masters of the craft.

Being a young music lover whose aspirations of becoming a drummer faded, I instinctively began imitating drums with my mouth. I’ve been beatboxing nearly all my life as a natural way to battle boredom and insanity. This form became a constant source of entertainment/annoyance to myself and those around me. I found immense enjoyment creating a variety of face-sounds and oftentimes would perform my own renditions of popular songs.

I’ve been performing the beatbox around Southern Cali for almost a decade now and it’s definitely a crowd pleaser. I have found beatboxing to be quite meditative and healthy considering the amount of breath control and energy required. It often gets me in touch with the ancients who expressed themselves with nothing but the power of the human voice.

If you are interested in learning the Tao of the beatbox, I would consider starting with the “boots and cats” mantra. To do this, simply build pressure in your mouth and say, without vocalizing, “boots and cats”. This is to be done almost angrily and with as much force as possible.

Seeing as this is the summer issue of Reviewer Magazine, I highly recommend you go check out my most recent album “Sweaters in the Summer”, which is written and produced by myself. This summer-themed album will take you on a journey from the depths of the ocean to the beaches of San Diego, where art is abundant but originality is sparse. I’m going to take this opportunity to say I might go by the name Generik, but my music is anything but. The throat, tongue and lips are my instruments of choice when creating music.

Here is the link to my album as well as other links..

Download/ Stream my newest album, “Sweaters in the Summer” here:
generiklnc.bandcamp.com/album/sweaters-in-the-summer

reverbnation.com/generiklnc

Bandcamp: generiklnc.bandcamp.com(Albums)
Youtube: youtube.com/user/GENERIK1111 (Watch)
Facebook: facebook.com/GenerikLNC (Like)
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/generik-lnc (Singles, Beatbox)
Twitter: @LEFTINCOMPANY (Follow)

DJ Generik, master of the beatbox.
MC Generik, master of the beatbox.

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