I don’t like to refer to myself in third person especially in bio’s. I am an artist, producer, educator, husband and father. I was born in Southeast DC at Cafritz Hospital which is now greater SE and I grew up in the SW quadrant of Washington DC. I have performed in over 35 countries. I was signed to BMG France in 1997 as part of Opus Akoben. Opus Akoben has released 2 albums, both to critical acclaim. The first “Art of War” is considered a hip hop classic. The second, Raw life was released on Label Bleu, also a French label.. (we get a lot of love in France).


In 2009 I was nominated for a Grammy for Best urban alternative performance for my work on “Lovin’ You (music) by Wayna featuring Kokayi” which I also co-produced. I have produced songs for: Tabi Bonney (Jet Setter, Go Hard) from his 2009 release entitled “dope”, Wayna’s Higher Ground-2008 (Moonlight Rendezvous, Lovin you (music)) with Moonlight Rendezvous spending 7 consecutive weeks in the Top 10 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop Singles Chart peaking at 3 and 7 consecutive weeks in the Top 50 on Billboard’s 100 Hot Singles Sales, peaking at 12. Tamara Wellons’ Life Is-2008(Let it Go, Times Ticking), a self release entitled “Mass Instructions”2007 which I produced, performed and engineered. I have tracks slated to be released for: Poem-cees (HBO def Poetry), Thaione Davis, A.P. the Prince, Sheeba and a childrens album entitled Mind Rhymes for rappercussionist Jali-D. I created the theme to web-series BeingEddieBlack(www.beingeddieblack.com), the theme to BET’s “How I’m Living”, various commercials for MTV/Nickelodeon. I'm currently in the studio working on my next hip hop record, and my first punk/electro record with my band theCaesarz (myspace.com/thecaesarz). I have also formed 2 groups with 2 uber super producers one with Sharkey (myspace.com/sharkey) entitled Dastardly(myspace.com/dastardly) for which an album is close to completion and FOTO with DJ RoddyRod (myspace.com/djroddyrod) which we will begin after he has completed his re-recording of Cuba After Market


I have been a clinician in: United States (Stanford University, Cal Arts, NYU, Eastman, the New School, George Mason, Howard University, SF State, Berkeley) South America (Brazil, Argentina), Europe (France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria) the Middle East (Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Alexandria, Bahrain) and Asia (China-Wuhan, Beijing, Xiamen, Guazhou) Mongolia (Ulan Bator, Darkhan) and Vladivostok Russia.


for collabs and verses email kokayi at kokayi@kokayi202.com production credits and discography-www.kokayi202.com For press go to: www.kokayi202.com for bookings email kokayi@kokayi202.com Less talk more walk.