A MAN has battled to be crowned the number one beatboxer in the country.

Reeps One, real name Harry Yeff, 20, of Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, beat 12 others in the final of the Vauxhall UK Beatbox Championship 2010.

He was awarded a Vauxhall Corsa Sxi from Browns in Loughton.

He has been beatboxing, which involves using drum beats and making musical sounds using the mouth, lips, tongue and voice, since he was a child.

He said: “I am pleased to have won. It shows that from something that was a small hobby years ago I have now become one of the best.

“My dad was a musician and I picked it up from him. I would start beatboxing when I was out and became addicted to it. My style is dance, drum and bass and dubstep. I perform to high-energy crowds.”

Mr Yeff has travelled the world beatboxing, and has recently toured with the Prodigy.

He said: “It was an amazing experience. I am lucky that I have been able to travel with it. I have performed in Tokyo, New York, Dubai, Switzerland, Sweden, and Glastonbury for the last three years.”

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter