DESCRIPTION:
We're very pleased to offer something different at TEDxCardiff, with a five minute showcase of beatboxing and rapping offered by Cardiff's own Ruffstylz and Beatbox Fozzy, both from the local Associated Minds stable.

After originally honing his craft in London, Ruffstylz's primary claim to fame is as the world record holder for the longest freestyle rap. Clocking in at a throat-lacerating17 hours, in aid of Oxfam, he said, "It was more difficult than I thought it would be, I hit a wall early on but it actually got easier as time went on."

A sometime hip-hop journalist with Hip-Hop Connection magazine, the spoken word represents Ruffstylz's true lifeblood, describing himself as "an MC who's out to use words in the best ways possible".

Initially inspired to pick up the microphone (and abuse it) by the work of pioneering US mouth manipulation master and former The Roots member Rahzel, Beatbox Fozzy may barely be out of his teens but has crammed much into a promising career to date.

Able to replicate the lowest bass thump right through to the highest sweet soul sample, often at the same time with considerable vocal dexterity, Fozzy was crowned champion of the Vauxhall UK Beatbox Championships in 2007, and went on to tour with Dizzee Rascal.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)