Biography
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 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.
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 (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.
Contact Info: Carl Walker at kokayi@kokayi202.com
MySpace www.myspace.com/kokayi
Phone: 202.821.7629
Publishing Information: Kokayi /Carl Walker for PHO13Myuzik (SESAC)
Instrumentation
KOKAYI & the Caesarz
Drums-JLaine
Bass-Ezra
Guitar-DP
DJ-CamJus
Vocals-kokayi
Discography
theCaesarz-All Hail (producer/performer/arranger/mixer)
Dope (Tabi Bonney) Sky republic 2009 - producer go hard, jet setter
Life Is (Tamara Wellons) Ocha Records 2008 -producer
Higher Ground (Wayna) -Quiet Power 2008 moonlight rendezvous, Loving You (music) producer/c-producer
Mass Instructions(11/2007)-artist producer
The new grease(k11)2007-artist producer
Monster Maker(babygrande)-back ground vocals
Art of War (BMG)1997-as part of Opus Akoben-artist producer
Raw Life(Label Bleu)2000 -as part of Opus Akoben artist producer
Tale of Three Cities-(w/Steve Coleman) 1994 artist
Live Hot Brass- Paris(w/Steve Coleman) 1995 artist
www.kokayi202.com for full discography
Links
| http://qn5.com/artists/kokayi |
| QN5 Music |
| KOKAYIWEB |
| MYSPACE |
| KOKAYI |