Your favorite #DCmusic podcast Hometown Sounds is back on Friday March 3rd at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage to present Grammy-nominated emcee and producer Kokayi.
Throughout his career he has garnered rave reviews and new fans, with over a decade in music industry experience and a catalog that reflects his prolific nature and ability to cross genres as both a vocalist and producer, Kokayi maintains the mantra, “5. 500. 5,000 or 50,000. I give the same show, with the same intensity.” Adhering to this ethos has afforded him the opportunity to collaborate and share stages with: MacArthur Fellows; Steve Coleman, Vijay Iyer and Dafnis Prieto, as well as, Yael Naim, Little Dragon, Meshelle Ndgeocello, Janelle Monae, Pharoahe Monch, Ravi Coltrane, Jean Grae, Black Milk, Wale and The Roots.
With his exploration of soundscapes his work has ranged from the interpretation of social subtexts surrounding, race, religion and patriotism and their affects on the human psyche (Pro Deo et Patria), voted as one of the best records of 2012 by the Washington City Paper, Bold As Love.us and RoxFontaine.com, Pro Deo et Patria’s lead single Birdus Ghetti was featured on MTV’s Hive.com. His reflections on ageism and the changed landscape of the music industry were made present in Robots and Dinosaurs whose songs found their way into Kevin Hart’s “Laugh at my Pain”.
Kokayi is a recipient of the Sister Cities Grant for his work in Senegal with Nomadic Wax, has served as Artist in Residence in Nijmegen, Netherlands, collaborates with both Nomadic Wax and 1beat Music fellowship to mentor artists, continues to work as music emissary with the US State Department, serves as DC Grammy Chapter President and as adjunct faculty with the School of Improvisational Music at NY all while functioning as the Co-Creator and Chief Curator of BeatsNBeans: a study in creative spaces and their effects on creativity and ideation. Kokayi was featured on Bandcamp.com for his BeatsNBeans series. Kokayi has been a featured speaker and panelist for events presented by The State Department, Music Cities Conference, DCTV, and the Congressional Black Caucus.
RSVP here and come to the free performance at 6 PM on Friday March 3rd!
Hometown Sounds 