The Beat Keeper
Hip-Hop Humanitarian Scott Pausal was born in Albany, Georgia on Groundhog Day in 1972. At a time where funk and soul was unknowingly preparing the break beats for future turntabalists, Scott’s parents were mellowing out to the likes of KC and the Sunshine Band, Elvis Presley, Nat King Cole and Neil Diamond. Everyone played a number of instruments. Scott learned to play piano, saxophone and harmonica. He also received his singing gift from his father. His house would be the musical mecca that would mold Scott into the beatboxer we call Rubox Cube. After watching a 1-hour documentary on a new genre of music called “Urban Street Music,” it influenced Rubox to dig deeper into the hip hop culture. His never ending research into the vinyl driven underground society gave way to influential beatboxers such as Doug E. Fresh and Biz Markie as well as groups that paved the way like Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince featuring Ready Rock C, Fat Boys and the Skinny Boys. At 15 years old, Rubox would take a four mile bike ride to Specs Record Shop to buy a new single for which he skipped lunch to save his money to buy. “$8 for a 12 inch, $10 for an entire album,” says Rubox.
Fast-forward to 1992 and a performance on Apollo of a beatboxer allowed the muse to awaken Rubox’s passion to make music with his mouth. He bought a beat machine soon after and began to recreate the sounds of drums. In 1994, Rubox moved to Ohio. This move would be start of new friendships that married him to hip hop forever. He would link up with Mr. Dibbs, the resident tour DJ for Atmosphere, who got him back into the world of breakdancing. He became a b-boy that performed during Mr. Dibbs’ set. At the same time he met Jon Doe who started the DJ crew 1200 HoBos. In Ohio, Rubox witness the birth of Scribble Jam, the largest battle grounds in the country and experienced the community that existed in hip hop. He then decided to come back home where he found himself a part of the hip hop trio Andromeda and was given a new name. Andromeda consisted of Sinomon – the emcee, Speed (later to be known as SPS) – the DJ and Rubox Cube - the beatboxer. Rubox received his name for being able to solve the 80’s toy craze, the Rubix Cube, in less than 50 seconds while beatboxing at the same time. They opened for LL Cool J, Scratch formerly of the Roots and Mars Ill. In 2002 Andromeda won the Orlando Music Award for Best Hip Hop Group. The group stayed together until 2004.
Rubox is now the host of Orlando’s first beatboxer night called Vokusin’, a member of the a cappella group R4pture, a representative of the southeastern beatboxers for Beatboxing Entertainment and is the historian/writer for Deepvision-an underground online connection to the hip hop and import car cultures. He currently holds the 2006 Champion Beatboxer title for Lounge Battles #4 and also placed 2nd in the 2005 Lounge Battle #3. In 2005 he opened for MinaMina Goodsong during their fall tour. He is now working on a beatboxing album and a mega mix album.
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