Spencer X

Spencer Polanco Knight, professionally recognized as Spencer X, is an American beatboxer and digital content creator. Born on April 20, 1992, he gained widespread public attention on TikTok starting in 2019, eventually becoming one of the most-followed figures on the platform. Beyond his online presence, he has expanded into film voice work and entertainment performances.

Raised in Manhattan, New York City, Knight is the son of an Ecuadorian father and a Chinese mother, both of whom were first-generation immigrants. His musical background began in middle school, where he played the drums, flute, and trumpet. He discovered beatboxing during his sophomore year of high school after a friend demonstrated the skill during a tennis practice, prompting him to study 1980s hip-hop and internet video tutorials. Although his parents encouraged him to pursue higher education, Knight left college after a year and a half—having studied science at Purchase College and mathematics at the City University of New York—to pursue a career as a professional beatboxer.

Knight initially gained performance experience busking in Union Square and working with diverse musical acts, including a Russian rock band, an a cappella quintet, and a bluegrass ensemble. He launched a YouTube channel in 2012 to refine his technique and began entering competitive events that same year. His early competitive accomplishments include finishing in the Top 16 at the American Beatbox Championships and securing second place at The Midwest Beatbox Battle.

In February 2019, Knight launched his TikTok account. His popularity grew rapidly, reaching ten million followers by the autumn of that year. He subsequently relocated to Los Angeles with minimal financial resources, temporarily couch surfing before securing corporate brand sponsorships with companies such as Sony, Oreo, and Uno. His financial stability solidified after earning several thousand dollars in a single night through TikTok's live streaming functionality in August 2019. By May 2020, he established a residence and studio facility in Hollywood, where he recorded over one hundred tracks to feature across his social channels.

Throughout his career, Knight has showcased his beatboxing skills at major music events, including Bumbershoot, the Warped Tour, and the 116th Street Festival. He has also taken on acting projects, making a cameo appearance as Karaoke DJ Bryson in the 2021 feature film He's All That. Later, he provided the voice for the character Sound Effects Smurf in the 2025 animated movie Smurfs.