World's First Beatboxing Champion From 1938 (VIDEO)

Modern beatboxing, as most know it, can be found in hiphop music. However, the style of vocal percussion has a much longer history. A video released Feb. 24 by the media company British Pathe reveals a 1938 barbershop quartet utilizing the technique.

The video is of The Radio Revellers whose lead singer is the World's First Beatboxing Champion. The kitschy music and performance is typical of the era, until the leading man pulls out a beat not often utilized by the genre. Instead of imitating the beats of a hip hop song, though, the bow-tie clad man uses his mouth to make the rhythm and blues of another kind; an upright bass.

Watch below for The Radio Revellers' beatboxing skills:

Watch below for a modern sample of beatboxing by Mr. Scratch: