No need for Akai MPC when one could hire this guy

fmass · Post by **fmass** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:48 am

awesome ...

http://www.youtube.com/?v=TpuODlxSCh4

peeddrroo · Post by **peeddrroo** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:57 am

funny, yet pityful...

ocp · Post by **ocp** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:21 am

this one is even funnier: http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=eschT-v8aMU

kabuki · Post by **kabuki** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:04 pm

His name is Kenny Muhammed, and he is hardly "pityful". The man is widely concidered the best beatboxer of all time. I've seen him live (open for the X-ecutioners) and he stole the show. The symphony vid doesn't show his range or go into the complexity he is capable of. MUCH respect

http://www.humanbeatbox.com/

Look at the vids of him and others at the 2004 convention.

(There's also a tutorial about Live on this site.)

ishimaru · Post by **ishimaru** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:14 pm

kabuki wrote:His name is Kenny Muhammed, and he is hardly "pityful". The man is widely concidered the best beatboxer of all time. I've seen him live (open for the X-ecutioners) and he stole the show. The symphony vid doesn't show his range or go into the complexity he is capable of. MUCH respect

http://www.humanbeatbox.com/

Look at the vids of him and others at the 2004 convention.

(There's also a tutorial about Live on this site.)

Kenny is a fucking genius. He played with the London Symphony (I think this who he played with correct me if someone knows better).

peeddrroo · Post by **peeddrroo** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:27 pm

well, ok. i'm not into this kind of crossover, and the "classical" part of the performance just sucks. really poor.
this thing reminds me of louis armstrong when he was doing his "rolling the eyes" thing just to amuse the white folks. pityful.

and as far as beatboxing is concerned, this didn't impress me at all. any so called beatboxer can do that. i mean, look at the kid beyong video or razhel from the roots. that's something else.

and he's speaking about "catching the vibes of the audience" at the end. i mean he's joking. can you tell me what the vibe is? it's just ppl who don't understand anything about classical music or beatboxing having a laugh. well, at least that's how i felt it.

but i don't blame anyone, and you're allowed to appreciate it, no prob. i just express what i felt watching this vid.

forge · Post by **forge** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:37 pm

peeddrroo wrote:well, ok. i'm not into this kind of crossover, and the "classical" part of the performance just sucks. really poor.
this thing reminds me of louis armstrong when he was doing his "rolling the eyes" thing just to amuse the white folks. pityful.

and as far as beatboxing is concerned, this didn't impress me at all. any so called beatboxer can do that. i mean, look at the kid beyong video or razhel from the roots. that's something else.

and he's speaking about "catching the vibes of the audience" at the end. i mean he's joking. can you tell me what the vibe is? it's just ppl who don't understand anything about classical music or beatboxing having a laugh. well, at least that's how i felt it.

but i don't blame anyone, and you're allowed to appreciate it, no prob. i just express what i felt watching this vid.

you disappoint me there peeddro! I thought it was amazing, that was a fucking amazing display of skill and sense of rhythm, every bit in the league of classically trained musicians - it's the discipline required to keep to that rhythm and breathe like that and manage to sound like a real drummer with feel as well as play along with an orchestra is not something I could boast to be able to do. Could you?

forge · Post by **forge** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:40 pm

and I know what he means about vibing off the audience - using their energy to his advantage - that's the fun of performing, otherwise why bother?

peeddrroo · Post by **peeddrroo** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:58 pm

if it had been a real drummer, i would have found it as bad and distasteful. and i don't feel any "vibe" in it.

actually, i think what makes me dislike it is the classical part. i find it just poor. candenzas we've hear one zillion time since bach. what's the point?

ok, i don't want to sound like i'm saying "it's shit". different ppl, different taste, and good for you if you enjoyed it. (and good for me i didn't pay to see that!

)

i'll watch it again, all this is based on the impressions i had on first sight.

peeddrroo · Post by **peeddrroo** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:13 pm

forge wrote:...is not something I could boast to be able to do. Could you?

ok, richard cleyderman probably plays piano much better than i do. i still find his music shit.

i mean the "performance" (as meant in a sports performance) of doing that is of no interest if the result sounds bad. i've seen to many guitar players or jazz musicians playing amazingly fast but with no heart or feeling in their music. i'm over it now. and i'd put this performance in this category.

i wrtie this because i rewatched the video and it just confirmed my first impressions.

excuse me for insisting, i know it's pointless as it's really a matter of taste. and how could i blame you to have yours (especially since you're not the only one).

and don't be disappointed forge, we're still budies.

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:47 pm

I've seen some incredible beatboxing. This certainly wasn't it! To me, it was so tacky as to be cringeworthy. I couldn't watch all of it.

To put this guy in the same league as Rahzel or MC Squared is like putting me in the same category as Mike Portnoy or Neil Peart.

LOFA · Post by **LOFA** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:14 pm

Rhazel has demonstrated quite the incredible range, but to I really feel that
in many ways what this gent is doing is more in tune with the general eletronic music thing.

There was so much repetition, but it was consitant ini pitch, volume, timing, etc. Rhazel is quite amazing with his use of dynamics, as is Kid what's his name (like him- but forgot his name) but to actually create a consistant, improvisational beat that doesn't stray from, detract, or overshadow the rest of the musicians takes incredible strength, creativity, discipline, and perhaps genius.

I will add that at first I felt embarassed watching a full-grown man of hip-hhop background be exploited by a generally snobbish, elitet audience/forum, but eventually I felt a certain paradigm shift, where I realized that I was not in the know, that this gent was pulling back, and that the real challenge was restraining himself from going all out for the sake of true art, and in honor of collaborating with others.

The real problem here it seems is that people are so used to hip-hop musicians posturing, hamming, and feeding into the generialized stereotype, that we don't at first recognize true strength.

Great site btw!

kabuki · Post by **kabuki** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:33 pm

This could start an entire debate on what "exploit" means. (Just becase he is black? - The man is quite capable of making decisions and I'm sure this one was along the lines of "A chance to perform with an orchestra? Sound cool since I've never done something like this before..." Not "Damn. Whitey is gonna make me perform my urban art and I have no control over it... I have to do what The Man says."

Mr. Mohammed (sp?) was just looking to take part in something different. For the fun and experience. He's a really nice guy and Is prolly up for anything new and different to him. I'm quite sure.

Oh, and BTW. Mr Mohammed and Rahzel are old friends and Rahzel has been quoted saying Mr. Mohammed is the best at the art. If that means anything. I've seen both of them live and up close, and I tend to agree with Rahzel.

I suggest, to get a differnt picture of Mr. Mohammed going off, watch him represent Kraftwerk's seminal "Numbers" (including lyrics bassline and beat) here

http://www.humanbeatbox.com/videos/con0 ... xCon04.mov

(He gives a few shout-outs then he goes off...

Once again: MUCH RESPECT to Mr. Muhammed

LOFA · Post by **LOFA** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:57 pm

I was definately not trying to start anything, but I have enough friends from my short life that have feared certain classifications (ie: uncle tom, etc) that were quite proficient in numerous mediums, and many of them have a hard time with the political dynamic, and how it can effect things.
Beat boxing is a result of the streets- not very academic.
Orchestras are rather academic.

If you shave off the element of street from the performance and then apply the performance to academic standards you may have unfamiliar results.

That's all.

leisuremuffin · Post by **leisuremuffin** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:52 pm

hambone1 wrote:To put this guy in the same league as Rahzel or MC Squared is like putting me in the same category as Mike Portnoy or Neil Peart.

fuck, he ain't even doug e fresh.

however, please remember that anyone who holds Neil Peart up as an example of "great musicianship" instantly disqualifies their opinion.

.lm.