Doug E. Fresh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doug E. Fresh
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Fresh performing in Brooklyn, 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Douglas Davis |
| Born | September 17, 1966 Bridgetown, Barbados |
| Origin | Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Years active | 1983–present |
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| Associated acts | Slick Rick, Vicious, MC Hammer, Teddy Riley, Prince |
Douglas Davis (born September 17, 1966), known as Doug E. Fresh, is a famous Barbadian-American rapper, music producer, and beatboxer. He is often called the "Human Beat Box" because he can make amazing drum sounds and special effects using only his mouth, lips, and throat. He was a pioneer in beatboxing in the 1900s.
In the early 1980s, he started a group called the Lover Boy Crew. It included DJs Chill Will and Barry B, and later, rapper Slick Rick. Two of their songs, "The Show" and "La Di Da Di", are considered classic early hip hop songs. "La Di Da Di" is one of the most sampled songs in music history. This means many other artists have used parts of it in their own music.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Doug E. Fresh was born in Barbados. He grew up in Harlem with his grandfather and father. In school, he played drums, percussion, and the trumpet. When the school's music program lost its funding, he had to return his trumpet.
Fresh learned about rapping from his brother, who brought home tapes of famous artists like Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. He started rapping with friends in a basement, experimenting with microphones. He also enjoyed writing rhymes for poetry and was a big fan of Langston Hughes. He even won a local Langston Hughes award.
His stage name, Doug E. Fresh, came from a mistake. Someone was writing his name for an art piece and spelled "Dougie's Fresh" as "Doug E. Fresh." He liked it and kept the name. He used it when he went to other schools for rap battles.
How Doug E. Fresh Became a Beatboxer
Doug E. Fresh discovered beatboxing by accident. Walking home from school, he would pass a record shop that played music outside. He would hum along to the basslines of songs by artists like Grandmaster Flash. One day, he tried making drum sounds with his mouth between songs, and his friends loved it!
His beatboxing skills quickly became known. At a party in a park, he rapped and beatboxed live. Later, when famous producer Kurtis Blow needed music for a performance but had no turntables, he asked Fresh to beatbox for him. This helped Fresh become even more recognized.
Music Career Highlights
Doug E. Fresh started his recording career as a solo artist. He joined with a new team of DJs, Barry Bee and Chill Will, and MC Ricky D (who became Slick Rick). They recorded "The Show", which used a melody from the Inspector Gadget cartoon theme. They also made "La Di Da Di", where Slick Rick sang and Doug E. Fresh provided all the beats with his mouth.
These two songs, released as a single, made Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick famous. Both songs are still seen as important early hip-hop classics. "The Show" even reached number 7 on the music charts in the UK in 1985.
Albums and Collaborations
After "The Show" and "La Di Da Di", Slick Rick left the group. Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew continued, releasing the album Oh, My God! in 1986, which included the song "All the Way to Heaven." In 1988, they released The World's Greatest Entertainer.
In 1992, after a break, Fresh released the album Doin' What I Gotta Do. In 1993, he released a single with three songs, including "I-ight (Alright)" and "Freaks." "Freaks" became very popular, featuring a young rapper named Vicious and Doug E. Fresh's beatboxing.
In 1995, Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick worked together again on the album Play. This album was praised for bringing back the positive vibes of early hip hop. It also included "Freak It Out," which was on the soundtrack for the movie Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. Play sold well and was certified gold.
Recent Appearances and Awards
Doug E. Fresh has continued to perform and make an impact.
- In 2007, he performed on the TV show American Idol, which was the first hip-hop performance on the show.
- In 2010, the rap group Cali Swag District brought back some of his dance moves for their song "Teach Me How to Dougie." This song helped introduce the "Dougie" dance to a new generation. Doug E. Fresh performed with them at the BET Awards.
- He also appeared on ESPN First Take and the Soul Train Awards, where he taught CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer how to do the Dougie!
- In 2012, he was a judge on the TV show Apollo Live.
- From 2013 to 2016, he hosted a classic hip-hop and R&B radio show called "The Show" on New York's WBLS.
- In 2015, he was a guest mentor on the TV show I Can Do That.
- In 2019, Doug E. Fresh received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Beatbox Championships for his amazing contributions to music and beatboxing.
- In 2021, he released his first full album since 1995, called This One's for Chuck Brown: Doug E. Fresh Salutes The Godfather of Go-Go.
- He also appeared in the 2023 film World's Best.
- In September 2024, he was featured on a song called "Southern Soul Party."
Personal Life
Doug E. Fresh is a member of the Church of Scientology.
He once opened a restaurant in Harlem called Doug E.'s Chicken and Waffles, which operated for a few years before closing in 2015.
Fresh is also involved in community work. He has a foundation called Hip Hop Public Health and has been a spokesperson for the Hip Hop Public Health Education Center at Harlem Hospital Center. This foundation helps teach people about health through hip hop music.
Doug E. Fresh has six sons. He manages the hip-hop group Square Off, which includes his sons Dayquan "Slim" Davis and Solomon "Trips" Davis. Square Off released their first CD in 2011.
Discography
Studio albums
- Oh, My God! (1986)
- The World's Greatest Entertainer (1988)
- Doin' What I Gotta Do (1992)
- Play (1995)
See also
In Spanish: Doug E. Fresh para niños
