Many beatboxers dream of being the very best, like no-one ever was...

To practice is their real test, to win champs is their cause. They will travel across the land, coming from far and wide. They want the judges to understand the power that’s inside…. BEATBOX CHAMPS! Gotta win them all!

But should you be able to win them all? With the many national championships behind us and the World Championships announced, we wanted to take the liberty of discussing a slightly controversial topic many are afraid to bring up: if you have already won one championship, should you compete again the next year? HBB’s most button-pushing writers, Kevin and Kazu, decided to sit down and discuss the pros and cons of both sides.

So should prior champs be allowed to battle yearly and potentially win multiple championships?

A Wild Kevin Appeared!

Let’s start on a statement we can both agree on: beatboxing is music. Now, imagine a world where rock lovers only got to listen to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and dubstep enthusiasts only get Bassnectar and Skrillex. Imagine a world where we never get to see the likes of Eminem, Kanye, Kendrick, Chance, etc. I know what you’re thinking: “But Kevin! No one stepped aside so these artists could succeed!” That’s because each of these artists had established outlets to grow through. Let me explain a little more.

The outlet for growing beatboxers to gain popular traction right now is limited to the battle scene. It’s also arguably the best outlet for growing beatboxers to improve. Unfortunately, it’s absolutely the only outlet where beatboxers can perform live and receive feedback from other experienced beatboxers. Many beatboxers claim that stage time has helped them improve, and fueled their drive to get better, even through failure. We can encourage innovation and growth in the scene by letting more beatboxers have stage time.

2017 American Beatbox Champions and East Coast Champion, Wunknown

And that title tho? Established beatboxers have shown that they can easily get performances, showcase opportunities and cameos in large part due to the title they can throw around. Being able to mention you are the best in the nation at something is quite the door-opener! Ask Kaila Mullady! She mentions that due to her success at the world championships, she has used the title of World Champion to secure herself opportunities! Many champions get to use their titles to grow and open doors for many other possibilities. They have plenty more options than other beatboxers, so why should they get to strip these growing beatboxers from their chance to break out?

Among the opportunities awarded with a title is admittance to the World Beatbox Championship, the most prestigious and arguably most important competition in the world. This only happens once every THREE years, which only provides a possible THREE slots from each country! What’s the use of the same beatboxer gaining the slot multiple times over? I say we have more attendance at the most highly coveted tournament of all time; what better way to REALLY decide who’s the best?

Trainer Brought Out Kazu

Beatbox battlers are what push the scene. Yes, beatbox is music and we would never argue otherwise. But battles are a competition. And through this blend of music and battling comes innovation. Online beatboxers level up so fast because they battle DAILY. Remember the days when some doing throat bass was considered difficult? Some of you may remember the days before liprolls too. Guess what? The techniques that are being developed today are constantly evolving. New school battlers have already combed over the world's vocal techniques exhaustively. They are innovating techniques, combining techniques, creating a whole new genre of music.

Winners don’t retire. If that was the case, we would have fewer sports teams and athletes. No, “Insert famous sportsperson,” you can’t make millions this year, you already won last year.” Good luck with that argument. And yes, I am comparing a beatbox battle to sports. Both have seeding rounds, brackets, and a winner. To tell a winner “you need to move on from what you love to do” is insulting. Some beatboxers love to battle. They improve to battle. That’s it. Come Monday, they go back to their 9-5 job. But come battle day, they kill it. Why take that away the minute they win?

2x Canadian Champ, BBK, going for his 3rd title

And lastly, the most important group to think about, the audience. Why pay to watch a battle when you don’t know anyone on stage. Yes, we beatboxers support all who are brave enough to get up on stage. But as organizers, who have to have the best turnout, big name beatboxers matter. Even if you don’t care who is on stage, no one wants to see sixteen poorly executed battles. We want the best battle ever, every time, no matter how ridiculous that sounds. We want to see beatboxers absolutely killing it. Even if no one improves over the year, at least they can count on the previous champ to kill it.

Kevin Used Counter!

Wouldn’t it be amazing if there was a way to get more of these innovative, creative online battlers more integrated into the scene? It would be spectacular if they could get more exposure so we can hear all the different styles and unique techniques they have. This showcasing could even spark creativity and inspire some of the veterans, and the exposure could encourage newer beatboxers to try harder to compete and grow, even FURTHER pushing the innovation.

All I’m saying is Apple Music doesn’t limit what I hear to the Grammy winners. Spotify doesn’t stop me from adding new artists to my summertime playlists. And it’s not like underground rap battlers stick around after winning competitions. Many try to break into the mainstream scene. Dancers tend to gravitate towards judging, gigs, and traveling when they win big battles. There are more options for veterans. Let them explore those options.

And as far as the audience is concerned, I have an alternative solution. Whether or not you think it’s a good or bad thing, more beatboxers are encouraged to compete if they think they have a better chance at winning. More beatboxers = more attendance. More attendance = more $$$. The best part about that? We can have the best of both worlds. We can pay for big named beatboxers (or even music artists!) to return and perform. Beatbox House decided not to compete this year, and are instead performing. We didn’t lose any of the enjoyment of watching them, and we don’t lose any of the benefits of having more stage exposure for non-veterans. It was a win-win.

2x UK Beatbox Champion, Reeps One Showcase at Grand Beatbox Battle

Just because a beatboxer or two doesn’t return the following year doesn’t mean the battles will lose their luster. The battles will still rock your socks off, and personally I always prefer to hear something new to something old. But maybe that’s just me.

Kazu Uses Firestorm

Let’s get one thing straight. It’s a battle. Not a take turnsie. You want the title as the National champ? Take it! Beat last year’s champ. Hell, line all of the champs up, and battle every one of them!

If you are ok with winning because the previous champ retired, you are not the champ. You are a fill in. Not to insult the many who won their championships when the prior retired, but if you are relieved by the thought that you won’t face the 2017 champ, then how can you call yourself the champ? You are taking the title of THE best beatboxer in your country. Prove it.

A title is great to have, I agree. But Kaila didn’t get to where she is because she won a title. She is working because she went out and got it. Nothing is ever given to you. Countless battles, countless hours busking, and countless times being told “you are not good enough” is what drives people to level up.

And as for the argument that fewer people can enter the world championships, GOOD.
The second World Championships had about 50 beatboxers competing, the third had about 75, and the last one had over 100 beatboxers competing. Take into account the number of countries that have introduced a national championship in the past three years, and the next world champs could easily see over 150 beatboxer competing.

Beatbox Battle World Champion, Alem, accepting his 2015 win

And while its an honor to compete in this stage, it’s too many people. Let me explain it this way. The highest viewed elimination round is 2.2 million views. The lowest ones don’t pass 10k views. Why? Many of the competitors at worlds had retired from battling. The people that made it into the battles were battlers. They are the innovators. They are the top-shelf, black label, overdriven battlers who don’t know what losing means.

If you are worried that the guys who are too good in your country are at the top too long, then Worlds is but a dream. Do not sully the dream of a true world champ.

The final Boss in the Beatbox World has Appeared!

The 5th Beatbox Battle World Championships has been announced and all national champs are gearing up. And each country has been gathering their champions to send to the biggest beatbox tournament, set to be the biggest yet!
[LEARN HOW YOU CAN ATTEND HERE]

Train hard and you, too, can be the very best! 

So what are your thoughts? What points did we miss? Let us know in the comments!