Amazing sounds with their mouths

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Sweet reward: (From left) First runner-up Low, (standing behind) second runner-up Shazet, champion Cheng and third runner-up Han posing for a photography photo during the 'Underground Beatbox Battle 2011' in 1st Avenue mall.

FIFTEEN beatboxers wowed shoppers with their amazing display of vocal percussion in their attempt to win the ‘Underground Beatbox Battle 2011’ at 1st Avenue, Penang.

Only four acts were selected by the judging panel for the finals of the contest organised by the mall.

As the four finalists returned to the stage, they were all geared up to deliver even more incredible performances, by imitating the sounds of bass, drum, robot and helicopter.

Shoppers continued to cheer the finalists who provided fantastic entertainment from start to finish, and even had the crowd in stitches.

Champion Cheng Yun Hao, 18, from Kuala Lumpur, had the audience gasping in awe with his mind-blowing vocal imitation of musical instruments.

Thrilled: (From left) Judges Coex and Koujee enjoying the performances of the finalists.

“I started learning the skills at age 14 by watching YouTube videos and practising at home,” he said after the battle recently.

Cheng walked away with RM500, an Everlast voucher and a trophy.

First runner-up Low U Shane, who won RM300, an Everlast voucher and a trophy, said the win came as a pleasant surprise.

“I joined the battle hoping to gain experience, make new friends and have fun with other beatboxers.

“Most of them are strong con- tenders, and I did not expect to win something,” said the 19-year-old student.

The second runner-up, who wished to be identified only as Shazet, 20, said it was a tough battle as other talented beatboxers simply blew away the audience with the variety of sounds they made.

“To deliver a good performance, I always listen to music and try to imitate different sounds such as vortex, intercooler, and laser sound effects,” he said.

Shazet, who is also the champion for Melbourne Beatbox 2008 and Malaysia Beatbox 2010, walked away with RM100, an Everlast voucher and a trophy.

Third runner-up Han Bang Ding walked away with an Everlast voucher and a trophy.