The envoy beatboxers from the Beatbox House in New York – Gene Shinozaki, NaPoM (Neil Meadows), and Bangladeshi-American Amit Bhomick– judged and performed at the US Embassy Dhaka-sponsored ‘BattleBoxBD 2019: National Beatbox Championship’ on December 20 at the Jamuna Future Park.
Thousands of fans attended the four-hour competition that saw Beat Fizz (Khandaker Shams) crowned national champion, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Sunday.
Beat Fizz will go on to represent Bangladesh at a major international beatbox championship in 2020.
BattleBoxBD 2019
The National Beatbox Championship saw 16 Bangladeshi beatboxers compete for the national title. Beat Fizz won the event with Rafte Knix (Rafiun Nabi Nahin) as the vice champion.
Following the event, US Arts Envoy and beatboxer Gene Shinozaki said Bangladeshi beatboxers can compete with the best in the world and expressed his optimism for the future of beatboxing in Bangladesh.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller attended the December 20 championship and December 21 reception hosted by Beatbox Bangladesh to celebrate the successful conclusion of the event.
He said the US Embassy has been a friend of the beatbox and hip-hop community in Bangladesh since 2014. “Music and the arts have a unique ability to connect people and tear down barriers.”
While in Bangladesh the three US Arts Envoy beatboxers collaborated with several Bangladeshi musicians and on December 19 led a masterclass for 70 Bangladeshi hip-hop and beatbox enthusiasts at the Edward M. Kennedy Center for Public Services and the Arts (EMK Center).
Beatboxing, also known as vocal percussion, is a musical style that uses the mouth, tongue, and voice to mimic traditional musical instruments, drums, and other sounds.
Beatboxing began in New York City and rose to prominence as a pillar of hip-hop in the 1980s. This musical style remains closely connected with hip-hop culture and is a fundamental element of a capella singing.
The US Arts Envoy Programme shares the best of the US arts community with the world to foster cross-cultural understanding and collaboration and to demonstrate shared values and aspirations.
Under the programme, US arts professionals - including performing artists, visual artists, poets, playwrights, theatrical and film directors, curators, and others - travel overseas to conduct workshops, give performances, and mentor young people.
The programme seeks to connect with international publics who might not otherwise have the opportunity to engage with US arts professionals.
The visit by the three ‘US Arts Envoys’ is just one of the many initiatives by the US government to promote greater cooperation, dialogue, and mutual understanding between the people of Bangladesh and the United States.