Overview:
• Renowned beatboxer Doug E. Fresh, known for his influential contributions to hip-hop, will showcase his unique vocal stylings and command of audiences at the 36th annual Midwest Black Family Reunion on Aug. 17.
• His participation in the musical lineup is set to be a highlight for attendees.
Contributed
Known as the “Original Human Beatbox,” Doug E. Fresh is renowned for his innovative and influential contributions to the development of hip-hop music and culture. His high-energy performances and unique vocal stylings have made him a beloved figure in the genre, and his participation in the Black Family Reunion’s musical lineup is sure to be a highlight for attendees.
In the early 1980s Doug E. Fresh formed the Get Fresh Crew with DJs Chill Will and Barry B and later added rapper Slick Rick. Two of their songs “The Show” and “La Di Da Di” are considered early hip-hop classics. “La Di Da Di”, in particular, is one of the most sampled songs in music history.
Raised in Harlem, New York, Doug E. Fresh has amassed countless awards for his mesmerizing beatbox abilities, catchy rhymes, signature dance moves and masterful command of audiences. His popularity spans generations. Nearly a dozen millennial rappers have written songs in tribute to him, most notably the 2009 breakout hit “Teach Me How to Dougie,” which spawned the international “Dougie” dance craze, a nod to moves Fresh created in the 1980s.
Doug E. Fresh has a foundation called Hip Hop Public Health and has been the spokesperson for the Hip Hop Public Health Education Center at Harlem Hospital Center.
Doug E. Fresh will perform at the 36th annual Midwest Black Family Reunion on the Urban Stage, sponsored by Kroger, on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 5 p.m. ET at Sawyer Point. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.myblackfamilyreunion.org.