I was born at Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States on Sunday, November 21, 1982.
Then this was where I lived from the ages of one through three.
San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge
Then I moved back to the beautiful city of Honolulu.
I am grateful to the Hawaii Beatbox pioneers and innovators Radical Rob Onekea, Gizmo, Re-Run, and Joevon Brown of the 1980s for paving the way for me to perpetuate the fifth element of hip hop culture called “beatboxing” as Hawaii’s Human Beatbox.
Jason Tom Front Page Cover Story
Photo credit: Craig Kojima
Jason Tom & Jake Shimabukuro Jam!
Photo credit: Ayumi Yamamoto
Kamuela Kahoano & Jason Tom
Photo credit: Raul Soria, Awaken the Mosh
Makana & Jason Tom
Jason Tom & MC Jin Au-Yeung
Photo credit: Sandra Li
Jason Tom & Ronald McDonald
Photo credit: Matt Marquez
Michael Jackson “Bad” music short film directed by Martin Scorsese.
As a Kauluwela Tiger Cub Kindgergartner: I began beatboxing Michael Jackson “Bad” at four-years-old when I tuned into the world premiere of “Bad” .. the music short film directed by Martin Scorsese in CBS’ Michael Jackson: the Magic Returns on Monday, August 31st, 1987.
As a Liholiho Warrior First Grader: My sister audio engineered a 1989 music cassette recording of me beatboxing Michael Jackson “Bad” by memory; having been inspired by Michael Jackson “Bad,” Weird Al Yankovic “Fat,” and “Badder” from the Michael Jackson: Moonwalker musical movie film.
Michael Jackson: Moonwalker “Badder”
Michael Jackson: Moonwalker Musical Movie Film (1988)
As a Kauluwela Tiger Cub Fourth Grader: Thursday, February 10, 1993, it was my first time watching Michael Jackson beatbox in “Michael Jackson Talks … to Oprah.” It was mind blowing when Oprah asked Michael Jackson to beatbox “Who is It” live from his Dangerous album.
Michael Jackson Talks … to Oprah (1993):
Oprah Winfrey asks Michael Jackson to beatbox “Who is It” live from his Dangerous album (1991).
Human Beatbox Artist: Jason Tom
Outerwear: Michael Jackson Thriller Varsity Jacket
Rock the Mic: AKG BBB DFIVE, official BEATBOX BATTLE microphone, tool for world champions
Photo credit: Flynt Azama
On Wednesday, June 14, 1995, it was my second time watching Michael Jackson beatbox. Michael Jackson beatboxed “Tabloid Junkie” from his History album for Diane Sawyer. What a musical genius! This was the ABC Primetime Live Diane Sawyer interview with Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, and the world premiere for the Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson “Scream” music video.
ABC Primetime Live: Diane Sawyer interviews Michael Jackson & Lisa Marie Presley (1995)
Behind-the-scenes from the 1990s through the 2010s into the 2020s.. I worked on innovating a human beatbox “song and dance” routine with a Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly touch that pays homage to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” Motown 25 performance that was televised on Monday, May 16, 1983.
Photo Credits
Joe Marquez: 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Jeannemarie Kavanaugh: 2, 5
Matt Marquez: 3, 7
During the pre-YouTube era, I also grew up listening to Motown music, Bobby McFerrin, Doug E. Fresh, the Fat Boys, Biz Markie, Rahzel, and Kenny Muhammad. I was further inspired by Michael Winslow, Naturally 7; and Asian Pacific American beatboxers Leejay Abucayan, and Elaine Chao.
Jason Tom & Man of 10,000 Sound Effects Michael Winslow.
Photo credit: Raul Soria, Awaken the Mosh
Three-time Grammy Award Winner Rahzel & Jason Tom.
Photo credit: American Beatbox Championship
McKinley High School Class of 2001
On Friday, February 27, 2004, through the storm, a vehicle ran a red light and collided with me. As I laid unconscious on the wet asphalt, driver rendered help and prayed for me. Doctor revealed to my family that it was a “miracle” I survived the collision. The next day, I was taken to watch Mel Gibson’s the Passion of the Christ and it was in that moment I decided to go back to earn my college degree and pursue my career as a beatboxer.
Actor Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson’s the Passion of the Christ
Jason Tom Family Dinner
Photo credit: Robert Wester
University of Hawaiʻi: Kapiʻolani Community College
Beijing Foreign Studies University class of 2006
北京外国语大学 class of 2006
北京外國語大學 class of 2006
Jason Tom and Jake Shimabukuro Jam!
Photo credit: Grace Yee
I then developed and facilitated Hawaii Beatbox Workshops for an After School Program in Downtown Honolulu.
University of Hawaiʻi: Kapiʻolani Community College class of 2007
University of Hawaiʻi: Honolulu Community College; and Belmont University MELE
Jason Tom in the Hip-Hopalypse Production cast
Jason Tom China Beatbox Tour
Hawaiian Ryan & Jason Tom beatboxing duo LIVE at First Thursdays HawaiiSlam
Two of my music business classmates invited me to enter as a beatboxer at the Word of Life Emerge Statewide Talent Competition Semi-FInals. On Friday, October 24th, 2008, I prayed and I re-dedicated my life to- and my faith- in Jesus Christ. I got planted at Word of Life Christian Center as my home church and got water baptized as a born again Christian on Saturday, July 7, 2012.
I got invited by my audio engineering professor to facilitate Hawaii Beatbox Workshops at Word of Life Academy.
Jason Tom Metromix Front Page Cover Story
Photo credit: Andrew Shimabuku
Jason Tom TEDx Talks Shift Conference: Play
Photo credit: Grilled Cornbread
TEDx Talks Shift Conference: Angela Keen interviews Jason Tom
“Successful People Fail More” -Jason Tom
Photo credit: Grilled Cornbread
Jason Tom “Entertain Me” TV Show Taping
Mighty4 Arts Foundation
Photo credit: Lawrence Tabudlo
Jason Tom beatboxing for Puja Production: Love Letters
Photo credit: Joe Marquez
I filmed my human beatbox parts on location in New York City for the “American Beatboxer” documentary movie film that has been placed in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Harvard University’s hip hop archives.
Jason Tom Level 4
Photo credit: Art Solis
Jason Tom “Music With A Message: Not on Tobacco” Tour at McKinley Tigers
Photo credit: American Lung Association in Hawaii
Jason Tom “Music With A Message: Not on Tobacco” Tour at Kaimuki Middle School
Photo credit: American Lung Association in Hawaii
Jason Tom “Music With A Message” Assembly
Photo credit: Pearl City High School Chargers Yearbook
Jason Tom 17th Hawaii Children & Youth Day PG-13 Zone
Jason Tom Dance Crew member Yoda at 17th Hawaii Children & Youth Day PG-13 Zone.
Jason Tom Dance Crew member OloPop at 17th Hawaii Children & Youth Day PG-13 Zone.
Jason Tom Dance Crew member Remedee at 17th Hawaii Children & Youth Day PG-13 Zone.
Jason Tom Dance Crew member Andy Tran at 17th Hawaii Children & Youth Day PG-13 Zone.
Jason Tom Dance Crew member Impulse at 17th Hawaii Children & Youth Day PG-13 Zone.
Jason Tom [Re]Think Conference
HIFF: Hawaii International Film Festival
Jason Tom Apex Opener
Photo credit: Chris Cabjuan
Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii
Photo credit: Curators of Hip Hop
Jason Tom beatboxing in Puja Production: Fantastic Voyage
Photo credit: Michael Baxter
Jason Tom in William Shakespheare Festival’s Femme Capulet Production cast
Photo credit: Cheyne Gallarde
Jason Tom beatboxing at Hawaii State Art Museum (HiSAM)
Photo credit: Olivier Yoshitomi
Hawaii News Now: Kamuela Kahoano & Jason Tom performs Blood Bank of Hawaii Benefit Concert
Photo credit: Ryan Ozawa
Jason Tom beatboxing for the Japan Benefit Concert
Jason Tom & Friends performing for the Aloha Music For Japan Benefit Concert
Photo Credit: Chiyo Flynn
Jason Tom beatboxing at the Honolulu Museum of Art
Photo credit: Mark Susuico
TEDx Jason Tom
Jason Tom TEDx Talks “It’s About Time” Conference: Vocal Groove Presentation
Photo credit: Eugene Hopkins
Jason Tom “Music With A Message: Not on Tobacco” Tour at Pearl City High School Chargers
Photo credit: American Lung Association in Hawaii
Jason Tom behind-the-scenes taping of Gear Up’s Take Charge of Your Future: College is for Everyone PSA
Jason Tom RAW
Photo credit: Nathene Lynn Antonio
Jason Tom 20th Hawaii Children & Youth Day at Hawaii State Capitol Rotunda
Jill Kuramoto interviews Jason Tom on ABC’s KITV 4 NEWS
Local beatboxer shares his sounds: Jason Tom is a local beatboxer sharing his distinct sounds around the world, and to local keiki through his "music with a message".
Oahu Beatboxer Jason Tom performs: He's performed for nearly a decade, and is educating many young and old about the art form of beatboxing.
Jason Tom Music With A Message Assembly at Pearl City High School Chargers
Photo credit: American Lung Association in Hawaii
Jason Tom with American Lung Association in Hawaii
Music With A Message: Not on Tobacco Assembly at Roosevelt High School Rough Riders Auditorium
Photo credit: American Lung Association in Hawaii
Jason Tom “Hawaii Meth Project: Not Even Once” Tour at Farrington High School Governors
Photo credit: American Lung Association in Hawaii
Jason Tom “Say Yes to Purpose” Tour at Castle High School Knights
Photo credit: American Lung Association in Hawaii
“Say Yes to Purpose” Tour: Jason Tom and Honoka Katayama
at Moanalua High School Menehunes’ Drug Free Assembly
Jason Tom Music With A Message: Not on Tobacco Tour at Moanalua High School Menehunes
Photo credit: American Lung Association in Hawaii
Miss Hawaii Crystal Montrone, Kimee Balmilero, and Jason Tom
at Mid-Pacific Institute Career Day
Jason Tom Music With A Message: Not on Tobacco Tour at Kamehameha Schools
Photo credit: American Lung Association in Hawaii
Guest speaker Jason Tom at McKinley High School Dance Club
Jason Tom Art + Flea Performance
Photo credit: Art + Flea
BEATBOX BATTLE TV, the World’s Largest Beatboxing Video Archive: Jason Tom
Jason Tom Art + Flea “Boom Bap” Hip Hop Performance
Photo credit: Art + Flea
Jason Tom Art After Dark at Honolulu Museum of Art
Photo credit: Joe Marquez
The Art of Life TV Show: Willow Chang interviews Jason Tom
Miss Hawaii Ellie Kakazu interviews Jason Tom
Jason Tom & Chaotic Five at 21st Hawaii Children Youth & Day PG-13 Zone
Pow Wow Worldwide: Jason Tom & Jeff Staple
Pow Wow Worldwide: Estevan Oriol “L.A. Fingers”
Pow Wow Worldwide
Jason Tom Music With A Message Tour at Nanakuli High School Hawks
Photo credit: American Lung Assocation in Hawaii
Jason Tom Innovative Sessions
Photo credit: Patrick Lau
Jason Tom and Hawaii Children & Youth Day LIVE at Ala Moana Centerstage
Photo credit: Sunny Aloha
Jason Tom beatboxing in Creation Production season 1
Photo credit: Albert Moreno
Jason Tom US Vets Barbers Point
Photo credit: Nicole Lam
Jason Tom US Vets Barbers Point
Photo credit: Brian Bat
Angela Keen and Jason Tom at Shriners Hospitals for Children
Jason Tom at Shriners Hospitals for Children
Photo credit: Prisma Dance
Jason Tom KS EdTech Conference: Disrupt “Let’s Do This!”
Photo credit: Kamehameha Schools
Jason Tom 25th Hawaii Children & Youth Day Main Stage at Hawaii State Capitol Rotunda
Jason Tom beatboxing in Creation Production season 2.
Photo credit: Albert Moreno
Jason Tom 26th Hawaii Children & Youth Day Main Stage at Hawaii State Capitol Rotunda
Photo credit: Hawaii Children & Youth Day
KALO TV UNSCRIPTED TALK STORY TV Show: David & Doug Interviews Jason Tom
Jason Tom named Detroit Lions Most Optimistic Fan… go Honolulu Blue and Silver!
Jason Tom beatboxing in Creation Production season 3
Photo credit: Albert Moreno