Kokayi (pronounced Koh-Kai-Yee) summons the people with an incredible performance ability. This MC has mastered rhyming in the spirit of the way of the Tao...he goes with his flow. Crowds ride his river of life (life being hip-hop) and find themselves entranced by the rhythm of his rhyme.
The law of attraction has created this intense love affair between Kokayi and the crowds who see/hear him. They love Kokayi because he loves the stage. He is multi-talented -- singing, playing piano and drums, writing poetry and creating visual art (graffiti). His phenomenal freestyle ability earned him a spot on the board of the Freestyle Union, an organization based in Washington, DC dedicated to the art of hip-hop.
Kokayi is a respected mic master -- the ultimate entertainer. Steve Coleman (BMG recording artist) recognized Kokayi's talent and quickly added him to the Steve Coleman and Metrics recording project called A Tale of 3 Cities. Kokayi is also featured on the latest Steve Coleman and Metrics recording The Way of the Cipher as well as the latest Steve Coleman and The Mystic Rhythm Society recording Myths, Modes and Means. He makes a guest appearence on the last track of the latest Steve Coleman and Five Elements recording Curves of Life. All of the last three recordings are available from BMG as a three CD box set. Kokayi has been recording and touring with Steve Coleman and Metrics in over 11 European countries playing at internationally respected music festivals and clubs. He has gained international notoriety and acclaim from performing not only in Europe but New York, Atlanta, DC and California, all giving Kokayi the seasoning needed to be a successful artist.
On the intellectual tip, Kokayi co-facilitated workshops with Sub-Zero (a fellow lyricist who can also be heard on A Tale of 3 Cities, The Way of the Cipher and as a guest on Curves of Life) as well as with other musicians of the Steve Coleman and Metrics group, as a part of the world reknown Stanford Jazz Workshop which takes place at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. The two have also presented workshops with Toni Blackmon for the Washington Performing Arts Society, NuYorican Poets' Residency and at George Mason University, educating audiences about the basic principles of our hip-hop culture.
"Too many heads in hip-hop are clinging to the banks of the river, fearful of letting go and going with the flow" says Kokayi. "It's now time for the true hip-hop head to simply let go, trust the river to take them to what's next with the most important destination -- to be yourself."
For Kokayi, hip-hop is not only a part of his life, its a way of life. He plans to make a significant contribution to the culture through music, lyrics and preserving the art, all while going with the flow.
M-Base explanation
The M-Base Collective (participants)