Yo, my fellow heads!
I take it most of you are well. Now I know it’s been a minute since I last posted but only because I like to bring something nice to the table every time I can; to help make the heads bop of those in need; to bring a grin to the face of the lost; to change the world through hip hop! But enough explaining; I think it’s time that I cut to the chase.
The other day I was cruising around on the internet looking for music or any cool and interesting stuff… as usual, so I see this little header that says ” Beat Box Brilliance” on YouTube and at first I was reluctant to watch because these days “everyone” has something brilliant to bring, right? but I thought to myself well let’s give it a go and see what happens, so I landed up listening to this guy and I’m like “daaaaamn yo” this dude is too sick, like why the hell haven’t I of all people heard of him? Have I been lost for so long? Did I leap into another era? Like what just happened? And then I decided to find more and share it with those of you who haven’t heard Tom Thum… Here we go.
Only in his mid-twenties, Tom Thum has achieved and experienced more than a lot of artists could hope to achieve in a lifetime. From winning the team battles in the World Beatbox Championships in 2005, to performing on Broadway in New York with the Tom Tom Crew, He was raised on Brisbane hip hop scene, Tom started out as a graffiti writer and a B-boy but slowly rose to recognition through his ability to produce not so human sounds and his natural ability for performing and his presence on stage.
[youtube url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zronW6HcmU&w=854&h=480]
Following on from the 2005 victory in the world championships in Germany, 2006 saw Tom travelling to Ohio to grab a second place position in America’s most prestigious hip hop battle, Scribble Jam. he was invited to perform and exhibit in the 2010 world beatbox convention in Berlin, with and in front of many of the worlds most respected and revered beatboxers, blowing away even the most cynical of critics with his performance. It is not surprising with achievements such as these, he has been seen fit to share the stage with hip hop legends such as Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash. As a solo artist, in my opinion I would say Tom is a creative force to be reckoned with, whether using a mic or loop pedals, the chaos pad, spinning on his head whilst beatboxing or even playing weird instruments in obscure ways they were never intended to be played. He has played countless festival spots and supporting and impressing a range of Hip Hop heavyweights, from DJ Qbert and Mix Master Mike to the X-Ecutioners and Blackalicious. In 2007, Tom began touring extensively as the front man, beatboxer and break-dancer with the Tom Tom Crew: This has seen Tom and the crew perform with critical acclaim to sell out seasons In Brighton, Edinburgh, New York, London, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Berlin and Hamburg, culminating in a record breaking 23 sold out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 2011 / 2012 has been yet another exciting time for the Tom Tom Crew, after sell out seasons in Berlin, Ann Arbour, Montreal, Adelaide Fringe, Bahrain & Bogota and having just completed a 3-month German tour. Tom Thum is also a Producer of label Born Fresh Records, founded by himself and three established Aussie hip-hop artists. Spawned by the need for a label, which supplies management and promotion of quality music within the Australian Hip Hop scene Born Fresh came into being. Currently the label represents Tom’s own Tommy Illfigga as well as Crate Creeps, Eloquence and Truths, Enough Rope, Mr Hill, Prophet Rayza, Seven and Vegas Aces. Born Fresh Records has been a welcome addition to the Aussie flourishing Hip Hop scene and certainly well credited in the media as of recent.
[youtube url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlBKgRZiQsg&w=854&h=480]
TOM HAS PERFORMED, SUPPORTED OR COLLABORATED WITH: Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Rahzel, Redman & Method Man, Qbert ,The X-Ecutioners, Blackalicious, Michael Franti, Ugly Duckling, DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Hilltop Hoods, Beatnuts, Kool Keith, The Funkoars, Blue King Brown, Def Wish, Cast Brad Strut Horrorshow Sneaky Sound System Hermitude, Bliss and Eso, The Optimen, The Coalition, Rainman, Crate Creeps, Winnie Coopers…
[youtube url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O0MKN31iXk&w=854&h=480]
I hope you all enjoy this very talented beat boxer.
Peace
One Love
Immaculate Mentality