Read more in Music at Boing Boing

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

  • Jack Daniel

    If you’re reading this, awesome job Andrew!

    Now get back to your math homework. 

    • http://disqus.com/Kimmoth/ Kimmo

      Most folks have learnt all the maths they’ll ever use by sixth grade, and I’d wager his beatboxing talent will put more food on the table ; )

      …But maths is the way and the light, of course

  • unit_1421

    Notice the detention hall tattoo on his arm? That’s real SG! (Sixth Grader). 

  • aperturehead

    At the very least, this kid can entertain himself if he’s ever trapped alone in an elevator or mineshaft.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=8834925 Chauncey Scott

    Instead of being a troll. I’ll just say good job. 

  • Donald Petersen

    My buddies and I all looked and dressed exactly like that, back in 1982 or so.  We each had to develop some kind of talent to avoid getting beaten up, or stuffed into trash cans and lockers.  Bobby used to turn his eyelids inside out.  Marcus just ran real fast.  Lenny was a fast-talking class clown.  And I used to help everyone out with their homework.

    This kid, however, rules.

    • Kelly M

      Those are people who died, died
      Those are people who died, died
      They were all my friends and they…

      wait, did I misread this?

  • mtdna

    Needs more cow bell.

  • aliktren

    awesome

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/W7RHFJZISREGXKJLPDOXG3NX2U Steve Pan

    White boy? This post is reverse racist!!!!
    /s

    • Antinous / Moderator

      And your comment is whatever the reverse of humor is called.

      • awjt

        unlike.

  • bo1n6bo1n6

    I’ve been watching all this kids videos for months (he’s pretty amazing), Now that all his videos have hundreds of thousands of views, kids are trying to post the next “viral” video and I think people in his class are forcing him to perform at times, I would hate to see him burn out…Also, on a sidenote this kid is a ladies man… 

    • bwcbwc

      I was noticing he did seem to have quite a bit of attention from the young ladies in the background of the shot. And he obviously knows how to make ‘em laugh.

      Nice to be that age and have a hook.

  • http://theladyfingers.blogspot.com/ Ladyfingers

    No ironic response here, this kid is pretty great.

  • http://twitter.com/HubrisSonic HubrisSonic

    Boy, kids today…

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YDTN7MUIUZNGTVOYR7ZJSXZAN4 kid_a_ok_com…

    The spit!

  • Steve Taylor

    I’m not normally into beat boxing but he’s a bit magic. Nice stuff.

    He looks a bit like a geeky young David Tennant. maybe he should have a go at doing the Doctor Who theme?

  • chgoliz

    Excellent skills!

    I sincerely hope those kids aren’t just being polite for the video; I’d hate to think he was the victim of bullying whenever the camera wasn’t turned on.

    (I’ve had a few kids go through this age so I recognize some of the unspoken behaviors.)

  • MatthewBrauer

    It’s Gerald McBoingBoing!

    • benenglish

      Oh, God, don’t make me cry.  My dad has been gone for over 30 years but I repeatedly begged him to read that to me when I was little.  Just thinking about those wonderful times with him and I’m getting misty.  It’s “Thanks for the reminder” and “Why did you have to remind me?” at the same time.  But mostly…thanks.

  • Matthew Callan

    I wonder how the teacher responded.

  • tubacat

    All he needs to do now is to learn circular breathing…

    • http://twitter.com/trempls tré

       As a vocalist, I looked into this, and apparently you need something to be pushing air into. This is because circular breathing basically relies on the ability to keep air in one’s cheeks and use one’s cheek muscles to push the air out while using one’s throat, lungs, and nose to breathe in.

      As a beatboxer, I’ll tell you that there are tricks to make it seem like you’re circularly breathing (one main one is to use hi-hat sounds ["ts" or "t"] as moments to inhale as the sound is effected very little).

      • tubacat

         Ah, so that’s why digeridoo players can do it, but not beat boxers… thanks!

    • benenglish

      Circular breathing might help (within the limitations and workarounds already noted by other posters) but what this kid could really use is a listen to all of the drum rudiments.  (Say http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.php or any of a dozen other sources.)  I really think he’s re-inventing the wheel in some of the stuff he’s doing and I’ll bet he could develop faster, further, and be more creative if he’d unabashedly stand on the shoulders of those who came before.

      Or maybe he’s already a drummer, knows the rudiments, and is consciously doing what I think I’m hearing.  If so, even bigger kudos to the kid for translating them to another medium with such panache.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jorge.villamizar.7 Jorge Villamizar

    That Harry Potter drops a mean beat.