Boxcon09

5th International Human Beatbox Convention
Southbank Centre, London, UK. 10-12th April 2009

Open mics and showcases

Words by David Barros of Too Much Flavour

With the meet and greet behind, the jam was now open for public viewing in the Southbank Centre front room. Every year the venue reports inflated audiences numbers for Boxcon, and this year was no different. All of the seats were taken up, with the overflow packing around to get a view, or sitting on windowsills.

As a reporter taking note of everything going on, I only wish I knew who were beatboxers, who were fans, and who had turned up to find what all the racket was about! With the B.Supreme dance event taking place in the same venue, people coming for one event got added value, as dancers could be spotted coming and going too.

Hobbit kicked off the open mic sessions, introducing the audience to a history of the beatbox, before performing a set. It is safe to say, from the look on some people's faces, that they had never seen a beatboxer before or knew of its origins. Those who have seen Hobbit announce before would have already known this, but the aim was to educate, something important and universal at hip hop events.

There were 23 open mic sessions booked, but some appearances were cancelled due to beatboxers being unable to make the event. One name I was surprised that didn't turn up was Layth, the qualifier for the London Vauxhall Beatbox Championships. Thankfully there was a reserve list at hand, including members of the audience volunteering to stand in for the non-attendees.

Every beatboxer that performed gave a different and varied set from the other, with some sticking to simple beats and scratches, while others threw in vocals to wow the the crowd with their breathing manipulation. There was also variety in the genre of beats used, with jungle and grime pleasing the crowd respectively.

Particular performances that stood out the most from the rest were Azeem for using Bob Marley, Ram Z's mechanical themed set, Ball Zee for using two microphones, Pieman for singing, and the young Experimental for getting people's arms waving in the air to support his performance.

Open mic appearances:

• Primitiv
• P. Ditch
• Fat Tony
• Mr K
• BBR
• Subminor
• Alextybob
• Addy P
• Azeem
• Contrix
• Ram Z
• Minamus
• LuckeyMonkey
• Ball Zee
• Waxybox
• Pieman
• Hektic
• DJ Corden
• Experimental

Breaking up the sessions were showcases from various guest artists.

Marv-Ill performed a set demonstrating looping, building up layers of the beats one by one, until every instrument has been looped to complete the full instrumental before rapping over it, and with great effect too. Admitting to the audience he had never done it live, he came off hot each time, adding layers and harmonies, then taking them off others to create breaks in the music.

Humanism, a duet from Japan who joined us at the end of the flash jams yesterday were the second showcase, offering a completely different musical style, and the ability to 'tock' incredibly fast, entertaining everyone with a game of imaginary table tennis in the middle!

Reeps One, semi-finalist from the Beatbox Championships London heats was originally meant to do an open mic session, but stood in to do a show case, winning the support of the crowd with the diversity of his music styles, and breaking down his beats to the four samples he was using before mixing them all together.

Alien Dee was the second international showcase, this time from Italy, who used the basics of drum kit samples of a funk and jazz nature, and other instruments. What was particularly interesting is his long introduction, which started with him facing the back wall!

The open mic sessions drew to an end with a grand finale, bringing all the beatboxers on stage to jam with emcees stepping up to freestyle, before the final concert...

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