beat-boxing
Mouth-made drum sounds
Beat-boxing is a form of vocal percussion—using the mouth, lips, tongue, and voice to imitate drum machines, turntables, and other musical sounds.
It emerged from hip-hop culture in the 1980s and remains associated with freestyle rap and a cappella performance.
A beat-boxer can provide a full rhythmic backing track using only their voice: He started beat-boxing while his friend rapped.
Expressing views freely
- microphoneAudio input device
- freestyleWithout prescribed technique
- battleArmed military engagement
- cypherEncoded communication method
improvisation · stage · audience · crowd · concert · festival · live · solo
Rate of musical performance
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- pulseArterial blood throb
timing · flow · cadence · meter · swing · backbeat · polyrhythm · subdivision
Foot-operated percussion instrument
- snareDevice for catching prey
- hi-hatPedal-controlled cymbal pair
- bassDeep pitch or fish
- rimshotPercussive joke closer
humming · breathing · layering · looping · stacking · timbre · texture · vocalization
Vocal performer or host
- emceeCeremony host
- b-boyMale street dancer
- breakdanceAcrobatic street-style movement
- rapQuick sharp blow
flow · rhyme · turntablism · DJ · boombox · block party · underground · old school
vocal
Expressing views freely
- microphoneAudio input device
- freestyleWithout prescribed technique
- battleArmed military engagement
cypher · improvisation · stage · audience · crowd · concert · festival · live · solo · act
tempo
Rate of musical performance
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
pulse · timing · flow · cadence · meter · swing · backbeat · polyrhythm · subdivision · loop
kick drum
Foot-operated percussion instrument
rimshot · humming · breathing · layering · looping · stacking · timbre · texture · vocalization · mouth
MC
Vocal performer or host
- emceeCeremony host
- b-boyMale street dancer
- breakdanceAcrobatic street-style movement
rap · flow · rhyme · turntablism · DJ · boombox · block party · underground · old school · graffiti