Fareez is Keningau first beatbox champion

KENINGAU: Sixteen-year-old Fareez Jeffry beatboxed his way to the top during the first Sabah Beatbox Battle 3 Keningau Selection held at the Keningau Mall on August 29.

Fareez beat 24 others teenage beatboxers to claim the RM300 cash, trophy and certificate, and earned the right to represent Keningau at the grand final to be held in Kota Kinabalu end of the year.

Brissco De Mercy, 17, was the first runner-up. He was a finalist in last year’s second season of the event while Ricoz Jung, also a finalist last year, came in a close third.

Leo Anthony, Aaron Fando Alfred (Eyon) and Jerry Donovan, all 16 years old, took the fourth, fifth and sixth positions respectively. All the six winners will represent Keningau in the grand final.

Held for the first time in Keningau to a packed crowd, this popular event has captured the imagination of all and sundry with its unique features. It is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines using one’s mouth, lips, tongue and voice. It may also involve vocal imitation of turntablism, basslines, and other musical instruments.

Beatboxing today is connected with hip-hop culture, being one of “the elements”, although it is not limited to hip-hop music. The term “beatboxing” is sometimes used to refer to vocal percussion in general.

Originating from the USA, the late Micheal Jackson also has included beatboxing in a few of his songs. Organizer/singer Peter Dicky Lee said beatboxing had taken Sabah by storm since five years ago. It had found its niche among the youths particularly in the 10 to 19 years bracket, a healthy development which would distract the youth from engaging in anti-social activities.

“Due to popular demand, we are going on a roadshow to a few towns in and around Sabah in search of talented beatboxers to represent their districts during the grand final. After Keningau the next destinations are Sandakan, Tuaran, Tenom, Kota Marudu, Tawau and Labuan.