Doug E. Fresh

Doug E. Fresh (born September 17, 1966 in Christ Church, Barbados), born Douglas Davis, is a beatboxer from Harlem, New York.

Early Life

His parents originate from Barbados. He was named after his biological father, whom he did not know for a very long time.

Fresh is the fourth child and had four siblings, a younger brother, an older brother and two older sisters. Davis is father of six kids himself.

Doug E Fresh lived on the West Side of Harlem and his school was on the East Side. (min. 14:20)

https://youtu.be/5npSjFdu-O4?si=ken8-S8HubLQd06H

In the late 1970s Fresh attended Charles Evans Hughes Junior High School on 351 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011, which was renamed Bayard Rustin Educational Complex in 1983.

https://youtu.be/IfQtRNZECUc?si=EzyaTyu2WQXUo9yX

He got his artist name by chance in High School when he was about 14. After defeating three students in a rhyming battle in the lunch room (while skipping class), a graffiti artist wanted to put his name on a wall of the school and asked him what to write. Fresh told him to write "Dougy's fresh". The graffiti artist obviously misunderstood him and spelled it out "Doug E. Fresh".

When in his 20s, Fresh had his original name legally changed to his artist name.

Norman Thomas High School 111 East 33rd Street, Manhattan, New York City, NY 10016

In the early 1980s Davis attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx.

Musical Career

Fresh's first public rap performance was on Harlem Stage in 1981. (min. 8)

https://www.essence.com/news/watch-doug-e-fresh-chats-with-rocsi-diaz-and-wallo/

Beatboxing

According to Fresh's own statements, he started beatboxing in 1982. When he was practicing rhymes and the music stopped, he started just doing some beatbox sounds. His DJ Barry B liked it and suggested to call it "The Human Beatbox" and encouraged him to pursue it further.

Even though Fresh has continually claimed to be and even named himself "The Original Human Beatbox", he is not the inventor of the art form of beatboxing in general. According to his own satement in an interview with Beatbox Battle TV he started beatboxing in 1982, whereas Buffy, Tyte, Yoyobeats and possibly Michael Winslow were already beatboxing in the 1970s.

Fresh is generally considered the inventor of the clicks and clickrolls, which have also become his trademark sounds.

Beatbox Style

Fresh Clicks, Fresh Clickrolls

Later Live

From 2007 to 2012 Fresh ran his own restaurant "Doug E.'s Chicken and Waffles" at 2245 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. in Harlem from 2007 to 2012. The establishment was known for its soul food and was a popular spot in the Harlem community during its run.

Entrance to the Church of Scientology in Harlem

Fresh is a member of the Church of Scientology, which has an opulent building on 220 East 125th Street in Harlem.

In an interview with Essence Magazine Fresh stated he has been practicing the faith since 2015 years after being introduced to it through his former girlfriend and Hot 97 radio personality Miss Jones.

Six months after his mother had died, he found out about his biological father.

Albums

• Doug E. Fresh – The Show & La Di Da Di (1985)

https://youtu.be/QHBSEH1JkQI