Kae Wun

Most people correlate Kansas with red shoes that instantaneously teleport and a yellow brick road. Hip hop and anything remotely related is unsurprisingly the last thing that comes to mind when the mid-western state is mentioned. Nevertheless, for KaeWun, hip hop was always inescapable. He was doused in the foundation of the movement since his older brothers introduced him to the styles of Big Daddy Kane, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, EPMD, Snoop Dogg, and LL Cool J. While his dad lectured him on the musicianship of Bootsy Collins, Funkadelic, and Marvin Gaye. KaeWun’s early love for music gave him the audacity to state, “I didn’t invent hip hop, but I was there.”

Born and raised on the south side of Wichita in 1986, the 23 year old began tarnishing doubts at birth. The future Kanye West fan had to overcome a heart problem that had a much bigger impact than an 808 drum. Doctors found a hole in KaeWun’s heart, causing constant dismissal of what the rapper would be capable of. However, the hole completely closed without surgery, which led to people labeling him as, “Born Lucky.” Consequently, he knew at an early age that he had to live life to the fullest, chasing his dreams wholeheartedly.

The Jay-Z influenced rapper started rapping in second grade. He first laid vocals down in a studio at age 16. Since then, he has earned radio play in not only Kansas, but also Colorado and even the NY tri-state area and d.j.’s have played his music in clubs from Vegas to New York. He has also performed all over Kansas, opening for acts such as Bow Wow, T.I., Mike Jones, Tech 9, Akon, Ne-yo, Chris Brown, Bun-B, and Naughty by Nature to name a few. Kansas State University’s football coach became a fan after the Wichita Eagle featured KaeWun in a “Top Ten to Watch” list, which resulted in the team listening to the rapper’s songs before each game. With a passion for making good music and the east coast as his new scenery, KaeWun is on a mission to waver the fastidiousness music industry in his favor. But more importantly, the songwriter/artist is ready to reopen his sealed heart to give listeners non-fictional music. When asked what sets his hustle apart from the rest he says, “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” KaeWun released his feverishly-awaited, DJ Doo Wop & DJ Entyce present: “I Didn’t Invent Hip Hop But I Was There” mixtape on May 19, 2010.