Doug E. Fresh

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

Early Life

His parents originate from Barbados.

Davis is the fourth child and had 4 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

For a long time Doug E Fresh did not know who his biological father was. After his mother had died, he found out about six months later.

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

When he was about 14 he defeated 3 students in a rhyming battle in the lunch room of his High School (while skipping class). After that 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 legaly changed to his artist name.

In the late 1970s Davis 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.

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.

Beatboxing

According to Davis'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 Davis 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.

Doug E. Davis 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 Davis 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.

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

Albums

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

https://youtu.be/QHBSEH1JkQI