Sónar pays its respects to the sounds created by our own bodies, including beatboxing, one of the basic building blocks of hip-hop.

This year's programming includes some of its outstanding figures, such as North America's Rahzel & DJ JS-One and Japan's Afra & Incredible Beatbox Band, the creators of imaginative beats, breaks and loops; and one of today's most interesting home-grown representatives, Beatmaster G.

Advanced music is not necessarily always related to new technologies. Beatboxing is considered by many to be the fifth element of hip-hop (the others are rap, breakdance, graffiti and turntablism). It appeared in the 1980s in the large cities of the United States and became famous thanks to figures like Buffy, Doug E. Fresh, Biz Markie and even the Fat Boys.

Razhel is one of today's major figures, and his skill gives him mastery of both rhythm and melody; he is even able to imitate the music and sounds of video games. Due to a lack of finances for buying drum machines, samplers and instruments, many artists of the genre used the resources they found in their own bodies as a replacement. They simulated the drum machine sounds with their mouths, to produce melodies, beats and rhythms to rap over. At least one person in each group was responsible for setting the rhythms and thus creating the basis for rappers to provide the lyrics over the top.

Beatmaster G
Thursday 15 June, 16.00
SonarVillage
Without any special effects or papier mâché, Beatmaster G will show off his mastery of his ribcage in a beatboxing session, while he prepares for his LP debut and first international tour. A show with the special participation of the Spanish breakdancing champions and the Barcelona turntablist DJ Jet-eye.

Rahzel & DJ JS-One
Friday 16 June, 23.45
SonarClub
The world's most charismatic beatboxer, accompanied by his inseparable DJ. Taken together, Rahzel and Js-One are a spectacle of cutting edge hip-hop in the true sense of the word, with limitless talent and tireless entertainment. They return to their roots to open up new paths towards the future of hip-hop.

Afra & Incredible Beatbox Band
Saturday 17 June, 00.30
SonarPark
A beatboxing star in Japan and all around the world. Both solo, and accompanied by the Incredible Beatbox Band (Kei and K-Moon), Afra uses everything the mike, his vocal cords and ribcage have to offer to make his breathing into beats, funk and old school magic. On his latest release, he even tackles the Mills Brothers classic “Say Si Si.”

More info: www.sonar.es