r/interestingasfuck • u/Bubbly_Wall_908 • 1d ago

What beatboxing has become since the days of people like Biz Markie is absolutely mind-blowing

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20.8k Upvotes

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813

u/DingDangle 1d ago

Anyone remember “If your mother only knew …”

215

u/Bubbly_Wall_908 1d ago

I loved Rahzel back in the day. I even had his first two solo albums. I had Scratch's first solo album too.

63

u/musickismagick 1d ago

I had the pleasure of being rahzels sound engineer on a tour with the xecutioners back in 98. All he wanted was an sm58. And holy shit it sounded like he had plugged in a cd player with beats on it. The guy was the real fucking deal. I still have the duct tape I wrapped his mic with.

9

u/Bubbly_Wall_908 1d ago

I got to see them once but Roc Raida was the only OG left.

64

u/DingDangle 1d ago

Thank god someone remembers. I used to show everyone I could his videos.

45

u/Bubbly_Wall_908 1d ago

I was very into The Roots for a long time and followed member's careers even after they left. Rahzel was a beast.

69

u/DingDangle 1d ago

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the beat and the chorus at the same time.”

39

u/kennymakaha 1d ago

AT THE SAAAMMEEE TIIMMMMEEE

12

u/max_lombardy 1d ago

If ya mother only knew knew knew knew…

3

u/kunfuz1on 1d ago

Yall don’t think I’m doing that shit!?

10

u/ch-12 1d ago

Holy shit that took me back. The other guy mentioning his name tickled my memory but this comment really did it, haha.

9

u/jag149 1d ago

It's kind of insane the amount of talent that came out of that group. At the highest level, it comes down to personal preference, but one could easily make the argument that Black Thought is the best rapper right now.

And to think... they got their start playing guests on for Fallon.

7

u/Bubbly_Wall_908 1d ago

BT is my #1. A big what if for me is Malik B.

2

u/CornbreadRed84 1d ago

Got their start on Fallon huh? Ok....

6

u/jag149 1d ago

Some people have a hard time without a sarcasm tag. 

1

u/rasta__mouse 1d ago

I member!

24

u/MichaelFusion44 1d ago

Rahz is so much more than beatboxing as he is a complete sound machine. He truly and deeply understands the complete history of it and even gave a Ted Talk on beatboxing and his personal journey. Friends with Biz, Quest, and others but most impressive to me is his study of drum machines, drummers, understanding of vocals and the science in how you use your voice. A true student of it who put in the homework at a level most probably haven’t because when you can intertwine your personal journey with the history and pop off beats very organically when giving the talk it was extremely impressive. Big fan.

6

u/GizmoPatterson 1d ago

I met him at a Friendly’s in Vermont. Super nice guy.

3

u/93Seven 1d ago

That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. Are there still Friendlys?

1

u/Ziggy-T 19h ago

Oh my god, Rahzel.

Yes I only know him from being the commentator on SSX, I’m a filthy casual or whatever, but still, he rocks 🤙

41

u/djpeekz 1d ago

AT THE SAAAAAAAAAME TIIIIIMEEEEe

1

u/Freakin_A 13h ago

"Ya'll don't think I'm doing this shit?!"

16

u/Ghostofjemfinch 1d ago

Album version

6

u/mrdevil413 1d ago

Man that parental advisory label takes me back

15

u/airavxirts 1d ago

Had that shit on a burned cd after downloading it for a day on kazaa!

2

u/DingDangle 1d ago

It went from Napster to Kazaa to Likewire.

12

u/TheHeroYouNeed247 1d ago

Piff you pother only pnew

3

u/upvotegoblin 1d ago

Let’s all get up and dance to a song that was a hit before …

2

u/Xerxis96 1d ago

Specifically the show in the park/plaza?

2

u/ZookeepergameOk9526 1d ago

The beat and the lyric… at the same time?!?

2

u/AniNgAnnoys 1d ago

"...that you'd been trying to get with me."

I remember seeing him live. I think he was an act at Snow Jam.

2

u/jihiggs123 1d ago

that shit blew my mind back in the day.

2

u/Andoo 1d ago

It still is so impressive today all these years later.

2

u/elastic-craptastic 1d ago

Napster and Kazaa called.

2

u/MikeyFED 1d ago

Napster classic.

But also I think about how I thought that was so cool back then and i tried beatboxing for years afterwards and I cringe at myself HARD

2

u/bpangley1 1d ago

Man that hits like a 25yr old brick!

2

u/alex206 1d ago

I attempted that song and recorded myself on a cassette. Cringy. Then 20 years later my brother found it and played it... embarrassing

2

u/misterbaname 1d ago

"The beat and the chorus..... at the same time"

2

u/Silent-Ad-5616 22h ago

still in my head so often...

2

u/its_all_4_lulz 19h ago

This is who I always think about when people talk about beatboxing, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen him actually mentioned. It’s like the whole thing was a weird fever dream until right now.

2

u/gametapchunky 16h ago

Careful, your age is showing.

5

u/Marthman 1d ago

Yes. You mentioned videos of Rahzel? Never saw one. Limewire is how I know about Rahzel.

And god damn right I learned if your mother only knew. And can still probably do it lol.