Doug E. Fresh

Doug E. Fresh, born as Douglas Davis, is a Barbados-born American rapper, record producer, and beatboxer, known as the "Human Beat Box" and a pioneer of beatboxing in the 20th century. He can accurately imitate drum machines and various special effects using only his mouth, lips, gums, throat, tongue, and a microphone.

Doug E. Fresh was born in Barbados, with family roots also in Trinidad and Tobago. His grandfather brought him to Harlem, where he was raised alongside his mother. Initially interested in music, Fresh attended a school with a music program, playing drums, percussion, and trumpet. However, due to budget cuts in the music department, he had to return the trumpet.

He was introduced to rap by his brother, who brought tapes of Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five and DJ Hollywood into the house. He started participating in rap sessions with a group called D & D Express, where he experimented with beatboxing. Fresh was also a fan of Langston Hughes and won the local Langston Hughes award.

His interest in beatboxing grew as he listened to records from artists like Grandmaster Flash, Spoonie Gee, and Funky 4 + 1. He stood out at a party in the Lincoln Projects in East Harlem, where he rapped and beatboxed live. Eventually, Kurtis Blow recruited him to beatbox in his performances.

In his musical career, Doug E. Fresh released "The Show" and "La Di Da Di" with the Get Fresh Crew, two of the early hip-hop classics. "La Di Da Di" is one of the most sampled songs in music history.

After a few successful albums, Doug E. Fresh faced a hiatus and returned in 1992 with the album "Doin' What I Gotta Do." Over the years, he continued to contribute to hip-hop music, collaborating with other artists and, more recently, releasing the album "This One's for Chuck Brown: Doug E. Fresh Salutes The Godfather of Go-Go" in 2021.

Apart from music, Fresh is also known for his appearance on American Idol, his participation in award events, and his role as a celebrity judge on the Apollo Live TV show. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Beatbox Championships in 2019.

Doug E. Fresh is a member of the Church of Scientology and performed at events of the church. He also opened a store called Doug E.'s Chicken and Waffles in Harlem, inspired by Sylvia's.

In his personal life, he faced financial challenges, including foreclosure and IRS tax liens. He has a foundation called Hip Hop Public Health and six sons. Additionally, he manages the hip-hop group Square Off, consisting of his sons Slim and Trips.

Doug E. Fresh continues to be an influential figure in the hip-hop scene, recognized not only for his impact on music but also for his contributions to the community and public health.

Discography:

Oh, My God! (1986)
The World's Greatest Entertainer (1988)
Doin' What I Gotta Do (1992)
Play (1995)