At the 2nd American Beatbox Championships, NYC had one of it’s heaviest single day downpours in it’s history and in true NYC fashion the club was packed. Over 500 people came out to see the beatboxers rock it out to the fullest, globally others watched online. The scene in house was an eclectic mix of NY, many of whom had never seen such a battle.
The American Beatbox Championships is emerging as a must see event in New York City. The birthplace of what we know today as BEATBOX. The 3rd American Beatbox Championships is gearing up to go NEXT level. SIGN UP NOW to get updates and specials for the big summer weekend. We will be announcing details very shortly. If you have never been to the AMERICAN BEATBOX CHAMPIONSHIPS, start making your plans.
Kenny Muhammad is one of the planet’s most inspiring and legendary vocal percussionists. Co-Founder of the World Beatbox Association and without question a father of modern human beatboxing/vocal percussion Kenny Muhammad is the Human Orchestra! This wizard of sound possesses an astounding ingenuity that enables him to construct an unlimited array of musical composition all without the use of instrumentation or influences.
Kenny Muhammad (The Human Orchestra) has expanded the range of art that some immediately call the human beat box. He redefined the human body as the first instrument, through an awesome manipulation of his own body. Kenny summons Afro Cuban, Jazz, Rock, Reggae, Salsa, House, Techno, Jungle, Trance, Hip Hop, Drum and Base rhythms from the depths of his soul to create amazing array of human orchestrations.
This neo-musical expression gave rise and living experiences to a message in not just his name, The Human Orchestra, but to the expanse of the art form he represents.
History:
Kenny began his extraordinary march to becoming the Human Orchestra in the summer of 1980 in his Mother’s house in Far Rockaway, New York. He grew up listening to bands like Earth Wind & Fire, James Brown and the JB’s. He followed along with this music as he grew. Upon hearing the Fat Boysfrom Jamaica, Queens, a name was given to sounds rising from his soul. That sound was called the human beat box.
Kenny began to perform for his friends; he was beat boxing in school, on the corner, in the park, in the halls of building he lived in. Anywhere people would listen, he did his thing. Nowhere was off limits. What was important were the sounds he summoned from his soul.
Kenny’s first gig was a Bar Mitzvah he did with his twin brother Keith. They formed a group called the K Connection. From that point forward the Human Orchestra began to take shape as a living entity. Even after a near death experience in which his left lung was punctured in a car accident, Kenny was still blessed to be able to continue to master his craft on a much higher level.
Career:
Kenny 1st major performance came as a 3 time consecutive winner of Showtime at the Apollo in 1991. From there he began a rigorous touring schedule beginning in Japan, Korea, Europe, Africa and all across the United States.
He has developed a worldwide fan base, captivating thousands as he shared the stage with Public Enemy, Mindless Self Indulgence, Matisyahu, Squarepusher, The X-ecutioners, Regina Bell, The Gap Band, Maxwell, Angie Stone, India Arie, Stevie Wonder, Vernon Reid, Take 6, and a cameo with Patti La Belle just to name a few.
In addition to his work with Hip Hop, R&B, and Jazz artists, Kenny’s musical background includes incredible performances with The New York Symphony Orchestra at Manhattan Center, conducted by David Eaton, with Violin virtuoso Eugene Park at The King Sey Jung Hall in Seoul Korea and at Carnegie Hall. He has appeared on the show CBS This Morning, and Good Day New York. Variety Magazine’s Mar. 21, 2000 edition touted “Kenny Muhammad, whose uncanny vocal percussion- imagine a P-Funk version of Bobby McFerrin- was other worldly in scope”, after a performance with Vernon Reid of Living Colour fame. He was also blessed to give a Human Beat Box serenade for Elvin Jones and late great Max Roach at the Blue Note Jazz Club.
The Human Orchestra has also been seen and heard in several nationwide television and radio advertisement campaigns, all of which he wrote and created. Advertising endorsements include the VH-1 Hip Hop Honors Awards, Gatorade, as well as Burger King, a spot that was nominated for a Cleo award. Kenny has performed on Much Music, MTV, 30 Seconds of Fame and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, amongst others. Kenny muhammad also made his debut appearence as one of the Superhumans on the History channels “Stan Lee’s SuperHumans”as the SuperHuman human Beat box Vocal Percussionist!
When you get the opportunity, take a melodious ride of sight, sound, and imagination with Kenny Muhammad, The Human Orchestra.
Two time Juno-nominated and widely considered one of Canada’s foremost lyricists, Eternia continues to knock down barriers & trail-blaze across the globe for Canadian Hip Hop music. She will be co-hosting the American Beatbox Championships alongside NJ’s Hasan Salaam. Eternia has toured extensively in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, & Europe; those that are lucky enough to catch her on stage credit her as one of the best live performers they have witnessed. She has been billed with superstars such as Nas, Damian Marley, Wu-tang Clan, Missy, Snoop Dogg, Big Daddy Kane, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, EPMD, KRS One, Common, Joell Ortiz, Blackthought, Pharoahe Monch, Black Sheep, Immortal Technique, MC Lyte, Ras Kass, Ice-T, Jay Electronica, Bahamadia, Roxanne Shante, Necro, Saukrates, Jully Black & many more.In 2010, Eternia released her 5th full-length recording on Fat Beats Recordswith “DJ Premier affiliated Canadian super-producer MoSS” (NOW Magazine). The Juno-nominated “AT LAST” was met with critical acclaim, featured guest appearances by some of Hip Hop’s elite – Ras Kass, Rah Digga, Lady of Rage, Jean Grae, Joell Ortiz, Termanology, Reef the Lost Cauze & more – and was named one of the Top 25 Albums of 2010 by the legendary DJ Premier.From The Source Magazine to Hot 97, from the NY Daily News to NPR, from Toronto to Berlin, from NXNW to SXSW, from the Juno Awards to Paid Dues: 2011 is undeniably the year of Eternia… AT LAST.
The powerhouse duo will be sure to bring us an unforgettable evening of Hip Hop’s 5th Element. The BEATBOX!!!!
