MC Kato

Kato is a musician, actor, artist, and performer; a description that describes majority of new entertainers today. What sets Kato apart is his unique life experiences that inspires his art. Born in Chicago into a lineage of public servants, his Asian-American roots influenced his understanding of the American dream. Classically trained in cello from a young age and excelling in academics and sports, Kato checked every box for the model minority. In 2001 Kato volunteered for the Army and attended West Point. After graduating he was honorable discharge. Saddened by a medically shortened Army career but looking forward to a new challenge, Kato worked at a hedge fun while his alter ego pursued music at night. Word grew about his talent and soon Kato’s hobby had him writing music for Grammy winners. With a passion for music and a desire to be heard, Kato up and quit his job when most were struggling to hold on to theirs. With original music Kato opened for acts like the Wu-Tang, KRS One and Keith Murray, finding himself in the midst of the hip hop industry. Performing around the country at festivals like SXSW and appearing at multiple MTV awards shows and events, Kato started gaining recognition from fans and industry insiders. Increasing his artistic range, Kato started to act, eventually landing a lead theater role in Chicago. While hip hop accepted his uniqueness it also placed pressure on Kato to conform in style and stiffed creativity. Reaching a breaking point, Kato took a step back to create a whole new sound: Glissando