Hello, I am Andy Brooks aka Testament, I am an MC/rapper and Guinness World Record holding human beatboxer. As a performer my credits also include performances on BBC TV, MTV, BBC Radio 1, Radio 3 and BBC 1txra.
I have been facilitating workshops since 1998 in the UK and further a field in Europe, Asia and the US. Clients have ranged from Universities, the BBC, The Princes Trust, Education Authorities, Libraries, BAC London, Science museums, YMCA and Young Offender’s institutions as well as in Schools and Community Groups.
Corporate Clients include Google, The Co-operative Bank, Capital One, Brother and Kantar World Panel.
I have Beatboxing since I was 11 and rapping since I was 14. After kicking off my career as ‘Testament ‘ I went on to win the BBC Urban Music Talent Award in 2007. Since then I have gone onto work with a diverse range of artists from Grammy winner Corinne Bailey Rae, MOBO winner Soweto Kinch, soul superstar Ray Parker Jnr, Mercury Winner Ty to the progenitor of Hip-Hop himself, US legend DJ KoolHerc.
In 2009 I released my debut album ‘No Freedom Without Sacrifice’ under my ‘Homecut’ pseudonym to widespread critical acclaim and reaching Top 10 in the iTunes Hip-Hop chart. Following this, I successfully toured the UK with both my full live band and one-man beatbox loop show.
I am currently a member of the world’s greatest beatbox choir “Shlomo & The Lip Factory” based at the Southbank Centre, London. I was also part of the original line-up of Shlomo’s other group project ‘The Vocal Orchestra’ over the last 3 years as we have toured the UK, rocked Glastonbury and shared a stage with Jarvis Cocker, Imogen Heap, members of The Sugababes and many others.
I have over a decade of experience, from busking on park benches the New York’s Washington Square, rocking the bars of Kuala Lumpur, headlining London’s Jazz Café to being invited to perform in front of Presidents and Nobel Peace Prize Winners. In 2011 I became a Guinness World Record holder for leading the largest ever Beatbox Ensemble piece with Shlomo at Google. Television work includes being playlisted on MTV Base and doing a live freestyle rap and beatbox recording for BBC 1. Recent credits include a trip to Mumbai to train India’s first ever beatbox orchestra for Sony Music and the British Council.
I am also a published author and a guest tutor at the world’s only Beatbox Academy at The BAC, London.
I am currently creating my first theatre show “Blake Remixed”, due for premier in 2015. This project is co-produced by West Yorkshire Playhouse and acclaimed theatre company Little Mighty. It is a semi-autobiographical piece exploring the link between of the poetry and art of William Blake and Hip-Hop.
For bookings email info@hiphopclinic.co.uk