Grand Beatbox Battle
The Grand Beatbox Battle (commonly abbreviated GBB) is an annual international beatboxing competition hosted by Swissbeatbox. Along with the triennial Beatbox Battle World Championship, it is considered one of the pre-eminent beatboxing events. The competition holds multiple tournaments for different forms and categories of beatboxing which include: Solo (or Showcase), Loopstation, Tag Team, Tag Team Loopstation, and Crew.
Grand Beatbox Battle | |
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![]() 2019 GBB Poster | |
Status | Active |
Genre | Tournament |
Date(s) | October 22, 2021 |
Ends | October 24, 2021 |
Frequency | Annually |
Venue | EXPO XXI (2021) |
Location(s) | Warsaw, Poland (2019-present) Basel, Switzerland |
Years active | 13 years |
Inaugurated | 2009 |
Founder |
|
Most recent | 29 March 2020 |
Attendance | ~2,000 (2020) |
Area | Worldwide |
Activity | Beatboxing |
Organised by | Swissbeatbox |
People | Scott Jackson (MC) |
Website | grandbeatboxbattle |
The event follows a traditional tournament format, where competitors take turns performing on a stage, and a panel of judges vote on the winner. To qualify for the tournament portion, beatboxers from around the world must submit "wildcards" online for an invitation or by winning another national and international competition, as well as pass an "elimination" round during the competition.[2]
History
The Grand Beatbox Battle (originally abbreviated as GBB) was first held in Switzerland in 2009 by Swissbeatbox, a beatbox organization with a YouTube channel run by Andreas “Pepouni” Fraefel. In 2011 the event became international.[3]
The event is streamed live on YouTube and edited versions of the battles and eliminations are uploaded periodically after the event. In addition to battles, the Swissbeatbox YouTube channel showcases beatboxing talent from around the world.[4]
Fraefel announced that the 2020 edition would be postponed from April to August,[5] and then from August to December.[6] The edition for 2020 was officially cancelled and postponed to October 22nd 2021 after concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Format
Wildcards and Eliminations
In order to be invited to the GBB to compete, beatboxers must record a video of themselves performing an unedited beatbox routine and submit it to Swissbeatbox for judging. Anyone can submit a wildcard, but there are a limited number of spots in the "elimination" round. Usually, the two finalists (or 4, including semi-finalists in the Solo category) are automatically qualified for the next year's event.[7]
Alternatively, competitors can win other beatboxing competitions for an invitation. Some examples are the Grand Beatbox Battle 7 to Smoke, the Asia Beatbox Championships, and the Great North Battle.
During the first phase of the event, each beatboxer participates in an “Elimination” round, where they perform a routine without an opponent. The panel of judges then decide whom to place in the top 8 to compete tournament-style for the GBB champion title.[8]
Judges
The judges for the battles are usually past winners of the GBB or another beatboxing competition, or esteemed individuals within the beatbox community. There are usually an odd number of judges to minimize tie battles. Judges will frequently perform “showcases” to entertain during the event and showcase their beatboxing ability.
Solo
The most traditional of the beatbox battles, a Solo battle follows the formula of a battle rap, where each competitor takes two turns beatboxing. The judges will then vote on who moves on to the next round.
Loopstation
A Loopstation battle is a type of battle where a beatboxer uses the loop machine usually the Boss RC-505, along with other hardware, to loop and add effects and other modifications to their beatboxing to create live music.
Tag Team
A Tag Team battle is when two beatboxers perform a routine at the same time, against another Tag Team.
Tag Team Loopstation and Crew
In 2020, Swissbeatbox announced a new Tag Team Loopstation category, a combination of Tag Team and Loopstation, where two beatboxers use two loopstations at the same time. They also announced Crew battles, where teams of 3-6 beatboxers battle on stage.
7 to Smoke
After the GBB is held, a smaller series of battles called a "7toSmoke" is held, where eight beatboxers repeatedly battle, taking one turn each. The first beatboxer to win seven rounds is declared the winner and sometimes given a guaranteed spot in the elimination round of the next year's GBB.[9]
Competitions
GBB 2009
Event date(s)
Venue / held |
Categories | Judges | Champion | Runner-up | Knock-out rounds | Participants |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 31
BCScene Center (Basel, Switzerland) |
Solo | ![]() |
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GBB 2010
Event date(s)
Venue / held |
Categories | Judges | Champion | Runner-up | Knock-out rounds | Participants |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 3
BCScene Center (Basel, Switzerland) |
Solo | ![]() |
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GBB 2011
Event date(s)
Venue / held |
Categories | Judges | Champion | Runner-up | Knock-out rounds | Participants |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 2
Kaserne Rossstall (Basel, Switzerland) |
Solo | ![]() |
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Top 4 :
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GBB 2012
Event date(s)
Venue / held |
Categories | Judges | Champion | Runner-up | Knock-out rounds | Participants |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 3
Kaserne Rossstall (Basel, Switzerland) |
Solo | ![]() |
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Top 4 :
Top 8 : |
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GBB 2013
Event date(s)
Venue / held |
Categories | Judges | Champion | Runner-up | Knock-out rounds | Participants |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 15
Kaserne Rossstall (Basel, Switzerland) |
Solo | ![]() |
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3rd - ![]() |
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March 16
Kuppel (Basel, Switzerland) |
Loopstation | ![]() |
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3rd - ![]() |
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GBB 2014
Event date(s)
Venue / held |
Categories | Judges | Champion | Runner-up | Knock-out rounds | Participants |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 28
Kaserne Rossstall (Basel, Switzerland) |
Solo | ![]() |
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3rd - ![]() |
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March 1
Kuppel (Basel, Switzerland) |
Loopstation | ![]() |
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Top 4 :
Top 8 : |
|
7toSmoke
(10 battles) |
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GBB 2015
Event date(s)
Venue / held |
Categories | Judges | Champion | Runner-up | Knock-out rounds | Participants |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 6
Sommercasino (Basel, Switzerland) |
Solo | ![]() |
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3rd - ![]() |
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March 7
Volkshaus (Basel, Switzerland) |
Loopstation | ![]() |
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2nd - ![]() |
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|
7toSmoke
(28 battles) |
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GBB 2016
Event date(s)
Venue / held |
Categories | Judges | Champion | Runner-up | Knock-out rounds | Participants |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 4 - 5
Volkshaus (Basel, Switzerland) |
Solo | ![]() |
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3rd - ![]() |
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Loopstation | ![]() |
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2nd - ![]() |
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Tag team | ![]() |
![]() (Wawad and Beatness) |
![]() (Alexinho and Efaybee) |
3rd - ![]() (Pash and Jayton) (Gene Shinozaki and Chris Celiz) |
![]() (Kenny Urban and NaPoM) (Kaila Mullady and Mark Martin) (B-Art and Timmeh) Shadow Sumo Special Team | |
7toSmoke
(20 battles) |
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GBB 2017
Event date(s)
Venue / held |
Categories | Judges | Champion | Runner-up | Knock-out rounds | Participants |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 17 - 18
Voltahalle (Basel, Switzerland) |
Solo | ![]() |
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2nd - ![]() |
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Loopstation | ![]() |
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2nd - ![]() |
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||
Tag team | ![]() |
![]() (Pash and Jayton) |
![]() (Ah Xin and Zhang Ze) |
3rd - ![]() (Gene Shinozaki and Chris Celiz) (Alexinho and Efaybee) |
![]() (Kenny Urban and NaPoM) (Eon and Georgy) (Hiss and Two.H) (Nin'oz and Andro) (Ettoman and Tatsuaki) | |
7toSmoke
(13 battles) |
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March 2 - 3
Volkshaus (Basel, Switzerland) |
Solo | ![]() |
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2nd - ![]() |
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Loopstation | ![]() |
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2nd - ![]() |
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Tag team | ![]() |
![]() (Gene Shinozaki and Chris Celiz) |
![]() (D-Low and Frosty) |
3rd - ![]() (NaPoM and Kenny Urban) (Beatness and Rythmind) |
![]() (Samy Try and Bronix) (Akam and Graycloud) (B-Art and Voxel) (Hiss and Huckle) (Scott Jackson and BBK) | |
7toSmoke
(12 battles) |
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GBB 2019
Event date(s)
Venue / held |
Categories | Judges | Champion | Runner-up | Knock-out rounds | Participants |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 12 - 14
Club Stodola (Warsaw, Poland) |
Solo | ![]() |
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2nd - ![]() |
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Loopstation | ![]() |
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2nd - ![]() 4th - |
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||
Tag team | ![]() |
![]() (Alem and Alexinho) |
![]() (FootboxG and Supernova) |
3rd - ![]() (D-Low and Frosty) (Hobbit and Ball-Zee) |
![]() (Kaila Mullady and Mark Martin) (Akindé and Kenôzen) (Tomazacre and Mr. Androide) Shadow Sumo (Elisii and Simon) (Akam and Graycloud) | |
7toSmoke
(23 battles) |
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GBBWL 2020 Online [6]
GBBWL 2020 (Cancelled)
GBBWL 2021
Winners
GBB Champions, Vice Champions, 3rd Place & 4th Place
See also
References
- "Swissbeatbox - World's largest Beatbox Platform". Swissbeatbox. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
- "About Grand Beatbox Battle". HUMAN BEATBOX. 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "About Grand Beatbox Battle". HUMAN BEATBOX. 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "Beatboxing Gets a Formidable Ally in the Shape of DPA Microphones - ETNow.com". www.etnow.com. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "GBB 2020 POSTPONED". youtube.com. Swissbeatbox. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
- "GBB 2020 RESCHEDULED". facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
- "The Complete Guide to Beatbox Battles". HUMAN BEATBOX. 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "Swissbeatbox - World's largest Beatbox Platform". Swissbeatbox. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- "Everything you need to know about 7 to Smoke beatbox battles". HUMAN BEATBOX. 2017-02-27. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
External links
- Swissbeatbox.com - World's largest Beatbox Platform.
- Humanbeatbox.com - An online beatbox community.