Sholmo (Foreign Beggars)
Sholmo (Foreign Beggars)
Shlomo is one of the country's finest human beatboxers, which means all the sounds you are hearing are made solely using the mouth and vocal chords, no effects, processing or layers, it's all done in one take.
Shlomo remarkable ability to re-create all manner of sounds, including complex hip hop, trance, drum n bass and garage beats, regularly wows clubbers in his home town of Leeds and in clubs all over the UK.
Working with Icelandic superstar Bjork has put him firmly on the map for international stardom. He features on Oceania, the Grammy-nominated tune that appears on her all-vocal album. The tune was performed at the Olympics opening ceremony in Athens, which was broadcast to 4.5 billion people, making Shlomo the most heard beatboxer in history. The album also features world-respected vocalists including Rahzel, Mike Patton and Dokaka.
Shlomo musical career dates back to childhood. He is a talented multi-percussionist, competent behind the kit, timpani or even Brazilian samba drums and first cut his teeth on the UK jazz scene as the drummer with his fathers quartet. His first drum-kit was a present for his 8th birthday, but it was 10 years later that he realised he could transfer all his rhythmic energy to his vocal chords.
Shlos first ever performance was back in 2002, at the album launch of world beatbox pioneer Killa Kela. After playing a typically jaw-dropping set, Kela called Shlo up to the mic and gave him his first taste of stage glory. After that there was no looking back: professional
performance was the only way for Shlomo.
His career was kick-started by winning the 2002 'King of the Jam・/b> outdoor beatbox tournament where he met Arro, then of Miniature Heroes fame. A couple of months later and Shlomo had moved to Leeds
where he started getting on the mic with the crew, playing all over the North and starting to get a reputation.
It was then that Shlo met Orifice Vulgatron, founder of Dented Records and front man of multi-national award-winning hip-hop act Foreign Beggars. They met at a cipher outside a jungle rave in Leeds, where a fresh-faced-but-mildly-inebriated Shlomo was blasting out full speed drum and bass from his mouth. A month later Shlomo performed with the Foreign Beggars at Kung Fu in London and was made a full time crew member that night.
After an appearance on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, where Shlomo gave Jo Whiley a 2 minute crash course in beatboxing, he was invited back to perform a full showcase of his skills, alongside Nitin Sawnhey and DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill. Now starting to gain some national status as a performer he began to start touring heavily playing 2 or 3 shows a week up and down the country.
In 2003 Foreign Beggars・debut album Asylum Speakers, which features UK heavyweight rappers Skinnyman, Taskforce, Kashmere and Tommy Evans, won cult status among the UK Hip Hop faithful. The strength of the album, combined with the unrivalled energy of their live show, has won the crew multiple awards including 'Best Group 'Best Newcomers and 'Best Single at the UK Hip Hop awards. They have released four 12・singles alongside the album, and their latest offering, the Crypt Drawl EP, led to a massive 27-date UK tour. The Beggars are now keeping busy with a summer of European festival dates along with recording the new album (due out early 2006).
In the last 2 years Shlomo has shot to fame having supported hip-hop heroes such as Grandmaster Flash, Wu Tang, The Gza, Guru of Gangstarr and Public Enemy, and shared the stage with a whole host of UK hip hop stars including Ty, Skinnyman and Rodney P. He has even made a cameo beatbox appearance on Eastenders!
Determined not to be just a straight up performer, Shlo is an active member of the world beatbox scene. He was a key player in setting up the UK
first ever beatbox-specific artist agency AllFromTheMouth.com, and is also a board member of HumanBeatbox.com heading up their events team. After the success of the first World Beatbox Convention back in 2003, where Shlomo was a featured artist, he became a founder member of the World Beatbox Federeration (WBBF), which is a global body working for the greater good of the beatboxing community worldwide.
With the promise of a beatbox recording and yet more touring, things are looking good for the young mouth musician so watch this space!
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