Beardyman

Hirsute cult musician Beardyman first gained widespread attention on YouTube through a series of clips that highlighted his singular mix of spontaneous beatboxing, hip-hop, and humor. Born Darren Foreman in Stanmore, North London, in 1982, he began developing his abilities early on; after relocating to Brighton for studies at the University of Sussex, a Roots concert featuring Rahzel convinced him that beatboxing alone could anchor an entire performance, prompting his entry into professional music. Crowned U.K. Beatbox Champion in 2006, he defended the title successfully the following year and launched the innovative Battlejam club nights, which grew into one of the capital’s most sought-after events after shifting to Cargo. Global recognition arrived once he posted The Kitchen Diaries—a satirical cookery program that treated beats as its raw ingredients—on multiple video platforms; the exposure yielded guest spots on Lily Allen’s BBC3 talk show, an opening slot for Groove Armada across the U.K., and sets at Glastonbury, Leeds/Reading, and Bestival. He later presented a BBC Radio 4 documentary on lyrebirds, the Australian mimic species that had shaped his approach, served as MC for Fatboy Slim’s Big Beach Boutique 4, and collaborated on a Radio 1 single with Chipmunk and Labrinth. His first album, I Done a Album, appeared in 2011.