Collegiate Times

"In my perspective, the world of beatboxing is still in a small area waiting to be explored," Shin said. "Although it's not something you hear every day, it attracts ears, as Stein does walking to his next class."

Shin first heard about Stein after beatboxing at a party upon first arriving to Blacksburg.

"They asked me if I had heard of the 'campus beatboxer,' explaining to me how he's always got a pair of headphones on, walking to his next class beatboxing," Shin said. "I was intrigued to meet him, but was later told that he rarely ever encounters anyone publicly. Finding it an opportunity to test out my beats with his, I want to challenge and work with this campus beatboxer."

The two have never met, but there are those out there who have heard both Shin and Stein. In terms of talent, nothing is concrete.

"I've heard mixed opinions about the difference in our skills so if it happens, it'll be exciting," Shin said.

"I am trying to showcase a beatboxing supreme being," said senior De'Von Coleman. Coleman, an Aerospace Engineering major, is eager for Stein and Shin to go face-to-face for a beatboxing challenge. "Shin is ready to offer a challenge for the number one beatboxer here at Virginia Tech," Coleman said.

Surely this battle isn't unwarranted. Shin is hopeful to gain knowledge and absorb some methods from the opposition. As they say, keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer. But even more transcendental Ralph Waldo Emerson would note that men are respectable only as they respect - these gentlemen demonstrate the latter.

"I'm on a search to find other beatboxers and challenge them for the sake of experience," Shin said. "It's great for finding new influences and learning new techniques. I hope we can learn a lot from each other."

As Stein and Shin hope to exemplify their talents under D2 in the near future, both Justin "the beatbox guy" Stein and Peter "Petebox" Shin hope to be rank supreme. Perhaps it will have the rest of us asking, "Which beatboxing guy are you talking about again?"

"I feel like I can do a lot, but at the same time I still have a drive to learn more," Shin said. "I want to meet another experienced beatboxer, challenge and exchange techniques by listening and learning from each other. Now all I can do is hope he accepts it."

Continue Reading:  « Previous12