Harlan Champoux practices his beatboxing skills oustide of the Alumni Dining Commons. He strives to share the gospel with his talent. Gray Bell | Banner
The art of beatboxing is one that requires a significant amount of patience and practice. Harlan Champoux, freshman applied theology major, also known as H-Dog, is becoming increasingly popular around California Baptist University for beatboxing.
Born in Connecticut, his family relocated to the desert town of Hesperia, California, when he was five years old. It was in high school where he found a love for the arts.
He sang and played various instruments in high school, such as the french horn and trumpet.
While he had a love for play- ing instruments, having to carry his instruments with him all of the time took a toll on him, so he sought other options.
Champoux was also in drama and would make sound effects for many of the scenes.
“I could make all of these weird noises, so why don’t I learn how to beat box?” Champoux said.
When another student challenged Champoux to a beatboxing battle in 10th grade, he was inspired to learn the craft. After practicing, he took the student up on his challenge and won.
“He got beat by my beats,” Champoux said.
As he became more passionate about beatboxing, he started performing regularly at his high school.
“In high school I would perform whenever,” Champoux said. “Usually, whenever there was a stage and a mic, I would go up there and beatbox.”
Growing up in a small town with not very much to do, Champoux used beatboxing as a way to do something positive, instead of allowing the negativity around him to influence him.
“I guess beatboxing was my alternative to other things,” Champoux said.
His first time performing at CBU was at the freshman orientation.
“It kind of gave me confidence that people at CBU like beatboxing, so it made me want to go do more things,” he said.
Since then, he has performed at the university’s open mic night and was most recently seen at Woo Fest, where he performed alongside a group of his friends.
“Woo Fest was by far the most fun to do,” he said.
Omar Lara, freshman kine- siology major, has performed with Champoux and said the experience was one to remember.
“It was plenty of fun, and I look forward to performing with him in the future,” Lara said. “I think H-Dog is a talented and amazing beatboxer and his skills progress every time I rap with him.”
A friend and hallmate of Champoux’s, Devon Emans, freshman liberal studies major, said he is not only amazed by Champoux’s beatboxing skills but also his character.
“I admire his compassion for his brothers in Christ,” Emans said. “He has a really great heart for people and will just want to sit and talk with you for as long as you need.”
While Champoux enjoys showcasing his beat boxing skills for entertainment, he ultimately intends to use it for Christ.
“I’m trying to find ways to serve God through beatboxing,” Champoux said. “It is a great way to relate to people and share my testimony with them.”
“Share the gospel through beatboxing, reach the youth,” he continued. “I feel like most of the youth like it.”
