Sung Lee, professionally known as SungBeats, is a beatboxer, live looper, and former busker based in New York City. He is best known for winning Amateur Night at the Apollo (2014), and the American Beatbox Championships, Loopstation (2018).[1]
SungBeats | |
|---|---|
 SungBeats in 2018 | |
| Born | Sung Lee October 25, 1989 |
| Occupation | Beatbox loop artist |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Known for | Apollo Night 2014, Kollaboration 2014, American Beatbox Championships 2018 |
| Style | pop, hip-hop, trap, dance |
| Website | www.sungbeats.com |
Background
editSungBeats was born in South Korea but immigrated to the United States when he was 9 years old. He first discovered the art of beatboxing by watching a video of Tampa's beatbox EFFEX when he was 13.[2] Despite being discouraged by his peers, he continued to pursue beatboxing and won the annual talent show at Leonia High School as a freshman. Sung studied Psychology at Rutgers University and performed at various open mics and social events on campus.[3] Prior to embarking on his music career, he worked as an office manager in Las Vegas.
Professional career
editSungBeats quit his job to perform in the subways of New York City when he was 23.[4][5] A year later, he won Amateur Night at the Apollo (2014) and Kollaboration, the premiere Asian American talent contest in the United States.[6][7][8] Since, SungBeats has been a vocal advocate for Asian-American representation in mainstream media.[9][10] In 2015, he shifted his musical focus from solo beatboxing to live vocal looping, recognizing that live instrumentation was the future of the art form. The same year, he became the first American to represent at the Grand Beatbox Battle, Loopstation category, placing 8th. In 2016, Sung partnered with Defy Ventures and toured maximum security prisons, including Solano State Prison and Riker's Island.[citation needed] In 2017, Sung's work as a busker in the New York City underground was featured in various news outlets.[4] In 2021, SungBeats appeared on several national commercials including Mars Wrigley's M&Ms Mix commercial.[11][12][13] He currently tours and performs his combination beatbox and looping show all over the United States.
Musical style
editSungBeats is best known for his live-looping and ability to layer precise vocals to replicate covers. Stylistically, he has embraced music of all genres ranging from hip hop, EDM, and house.[14] Sung has credited some of his early beatbox influences to be Rahzel, Kenny Muhammad, and FaithSFX.[2] In terms of equipment, he uses the Roland RC-505 MKI to layer and sample his vocals in real time, and is a frequent user of the IOS app Loopy HD for vocal production.[15]
Competitions
edit| Year | Competition | Final Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | American Beatbox Championships, Solo | 2 |
| 2014 | Kollaboration NY | 1 |
| 2014 | Kollaboration Star (Finals) | 1 |
| 2014 | Amateur Night at the Apollo (Season 80) | 1 |
| 2015 | American Beatbox Championships, Loopstation | 4 |
| 2015 | Grand Beatbox Battle, Loopstation | 8 |
| 2018 | American Beatbox Championships, Loopstation | 1 |
| 2021 | Grand Beatbox Battle, Loopstation | Elimination |
References
edit- ^ "Sung Lee". HUMAN BEATBOX. 2014-10-16. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ a b Cho, Diane J. (September 8, 2021). "What It's Really Like to Be ... a Professional Beatboxer". people.com. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ^ ""Amateur Night" at the Apollo, now 80 years young". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ a b "Underground Money: NYC Beatboxer Sung Beats". NowThis News. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ Tarantino, Christopher. "Music Under New York". Insomniac. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ^ "Beatboxer Sung Lee from NY wins Kollaboration Star 2014 – The Korea Times". The Korea Times USA. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ Yoo, Reera (2014-11-22). "Beatboxer Sung Lee Wins Kollaboration Star 2014". Character Media. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ "KollabCast: Episode 85 - That NYC Hustle w/ Sung Lee". kollaboration.libsyn.com. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ^ "Nonprofit Showcases Asian American Talent". HuffPost. 2014-08-29. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ "Sung Lee". KoreanAmericanStory.org. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ^ "M&M'S MIX | M&M'S". www.mms.com. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ "M&M's mixes three flavors in one bag in two varieties - classic and peanut". pennlive. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ "Mars Wrigley Asks Artists To Remix 'The Candy Man' As Part Of M&M's Mix Launch". NCA. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ Stanley, Adrienne. "Kollaboration Star Finalist Sung Lee Brings Beatboxing To The Apollo Theater & Beyond". Kpop Starz. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ^ SUNG BEATS | SBX Beyond the Beats 2021 | Episode 59, retrieved 2022-02-04