Rahzel

RAHZEL has a longstanding relationship with the RED BULL BC ONE. The undisputed “Godfather of Noyze” hosted the first event in Switzerland in 2004 and also acted as the MC in the battles in Berlin in 2005. So this year, in Tokyo, he will host the RED BULL BC ONE for the third time and will surely electrify the audience with his unique talent again.

RAHZEL has re-defined beatboxing. Calling himself a “vocal percussionist,” he has perfectly mastered this Hip Hop art form and has emerged as a true virtuoso. He has expanded the art of beatboxing in a unique way by creating vocal beats while singing lyrics simultaneously, as in his famous a cappella performance of "If Your Mother Only Knew." Using just his lips, cheeks, gums, and Adam’s apple with amazing accuracy, he creates fascinating rhythms and his vast repertoire of instruments and other sounds leaves audiences captivated.

RAHZEL grew up in Queens, New York and recalls that “not having” was never an excuse for “not doing.” Just as the essence of Hip Hop is making something out of nothing, RAHZEL learned how to feed his need to be creative. “We didn’t have turntables inside the locker room and we couldn’t bring our boom box in there. Either we were banging on the locker, or somebody was making music with their mouth. I was the one who made the beats with my mouth. I worked hard so that if you closed your eyes you would swear that you were hearing a record, a radio, or a band.”

RAHZEL is best known as a member of The Roots, Hip Hop’s cutting-edge live band. His eagerly anticipated debut album on MCA Records, entitled “The Fifth Element: Make the Music 2000” boasted guest performances by several well-known artists, including Aaron Hall, Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, and members of The Roots. The project, a collage of almost every musical genre, is destined to become a classic. In 1995, RAHZEL contributed to the album “Lauschgift” by Die Fantastischen Vier, a German Hip Hop band. He also made many contributions to the SSX series of video games, including MCing for the first two games in the series and collaborating with Mixmaster Mike on the main theme of those games, “Slayboarder.”

In 2004, Sureshot Recordings released his album “RAHZEL's Greatest Knockouts” which featured RAHZEL working with many other artists including Slick Rick, RZA, and Cee-Lo. In the same year, along with beatboxers Shlomo and Dokaka, RAHZEL collaborated with Björk on her album Medúlla. RAHZEL's beatboxing skills are also featured on The Crystal Method's album “Legion of Boom,” in which he provided the vocals for the song "The American Way" and others on the album.

Lately RAHZEL has been performing live with musician and vocalist Mike Patton as "Patton & RAHZEL." Recently he recorded on Mike Patton's latest album “Peeping Tom.” And on May 26, 2006, they performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He is currently touring with “Peeping Tom.”

RAHZEL’s eclectic musical influences range from Doug E. Fresh/Biz Markie to Bobby McFerrin,to Al Jarreau. He explains: “With my vocal percussions, I want to bridge the gaps between various musical genres. I want the beatbox to be respected as a true art form.”

Though his tastes run far and wide, RAHZEL is quick to acknowledge his Hip Hop origins first and foremost. Growing up as a youngster in New York, RAHZEL especially admired his cousin Rahim, a founding member of the pioneering Furious Five. “I remember watching Grand Master Flash before I could even see over the gate,” recalls RAHZEL. “Having that influence alone was incredible.” Later, RAHZEL roadied for Ultramagnetic MCs. “In every important phase of Hip Hop, I was there,” he says, “absorbing everything that was going on.”

Asked how he feels about hosting the RED BULL BC ONE again RAHZEL says, “I truly believe the RED BULL BC ONE has helped elevate the element of B Boying to a level never imagined. It is now 2010 and being the original host of this event I can only expect greatness. The crème de la crème, the worlds greatest, competing on the world's supreme B-Boy stage—the RED BULL BC ONE!”