{{Short description|American singer and rapper (born 1991)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Kamauu | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Kamau Mbonisi Kwame Agyeman | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|2|2}} | birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S. | origin = Brooklyn, New York City | genre = {{flat list| *Hip hop *rap *R&B *soul *funk }} | occupation = {{flat list| *Rapper *singer }} | instrument = | years_active = 2014–present | label = {{flat list| *Atlantic *Invisible Firm }} | website = [https://www.kamauu.world/ www.kamauu.world] | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}
'''Kamau Mbonisi Kwame Agyeman''', known professionally by his stage name, '''Kamauu''' (stylized as '''KAMAUU''', and formerly '''KAMAU''' and '''brother KAMAU'''), is an American singer and rapper. He released his debut EP, ''A Gorgeous Fortune'', in 2016.
==Early life and education==
Kamau Mbonisi Kwame Agyeman was born on February 2, 1991, in Washington, D.C.<ref name="Ozy">{{cite news | last=Coleman| first=Libby| title =Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello – It's Kamau| work =OZY| date =April 5, 2017 | url =https://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/hello-hello-hello-hello-hello-its-kamau/76310| accessdate =September 24, 2019 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314170823/https://www.ozy.com/the-new-and-the-next/hello-hello-hello-hello-hello-its-kamau/76310 | archive-date=2021-03-14}}</ref> and grew up in Prince George's County, Maryland.<ref name="VibeNext">{{cite news | last=Thompson| first=Desire| title =NEXT: KAMAU's Presence Is A Present To Creative Expression| work =Vibe| date =March 23, 2017 | url =https://www.vibe.com/2017/03/next-kamau-interview| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> His parents introduced him and his two siblings to music at a young age.<ref name="Ozy"/> His older brother is a fellow musician who goes by the stage name, Nkō Khélí.<ref name="ComplexGra">{{cite news | last=Skelton| first=Eric| title =KAMAU Previews New EP With Powerful Video for "GRā" Featuring Nkō Khélí| work =Pigeons & Planes| date =September 5, 2017 | url =https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2017/09/kamau-gra-kko-kheli| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> As a child, Agyeman attended school at the Ujamaa Shule in Washington which is described as the "oldest completely independent Afrikan-centered school in the United States". While at the school, he was exposed to a variety of traditional African instruments like the djembe, and he studied African music, history, and culture.<ref name="Ozy"/><ref name="Essence">{{cite news | last=Scott| first=Sydney| title =New & Next: KAMAU Is An Artist Creating A Lane Of His Own| work =Essence| date =April 11, 2017 | url =https://www.essence.com/entertainment/new-next-kamau/| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> In 2009, he moved to Brooklyn, New York where he began attending the Pratt Institute to study film. While at Pratt, he met other musicians and artists and was introduced to the artist collective, BiGCiTYBiGCiTY. Members of the collective helped him hone his musical skills.<ref name="VibeNext"/> He later graduated from Pratt in 2014 with a BA in Film.<ref name="Essence"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=na7ureblog |first=Author |date=2016-06-09 |title=A Gorgeous Fortune |url=https://nature7blog.com/2016/06/09/a-gorgeous-fortune-the-new-ep-by-kamau/ |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=nature7blog |language=en}}</ref>
==Career==
In February 2014, Kamauu released a mixtape called ''TheKAMAU-CASSETTE''.<ref name="VibeNext"/> In 2015,<ref name="Soul">{{cite news | last=Hamm| first=Ken| title =KAMAU, Lion Babe & No Wyld Are Doing This Refix 'Jusfayu'| work =SoulBounce| date =July 8, 2016 | url =http://www.soulbounce.com/2016/07/kamau-lion-babe-no-wyld-are-doing-this-refix-jusfayu/| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> Agyeman received recognition for his song covers including those for Outkast's "Hey Ya!" and Adele's "Hometown Glory".<ref name="Atwood">{{cite news | last=Payano| first=Brandon| title =Our Take: KAMAU'S Personal and Electrifying Fortune| work =Atwood Magazine| date =September 20, 2016 | url =http://atwoodmagazine.com/gorgeous-fortune-kamau-review/| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> In May 2016, he released a video for his song, "Jambo". The video was the first in a six-part series of films that would be made for each song on his ''A Gorgeous Fortune'' EP.<ref name="ID">{{cite news | title =video premiere: kamau, 'jambo'| work =i-D| date =May 24, 2016 | url =https://i-d.co/article/video-premiere-kamau-jambo/| access-date =September 24, 2019}}</ref> Another single (and its accompanying video) from that collection called "Jusfayu" (featuring No Wyld) was released in June 2016.<ref name="NPR2016">{{cite news | last=Ramirez| first=Erika| title =Songs We Love: KAMAU, 'Jusfayu (Feat. No Wyld)'| publisher =NPR| date =June 8, 2016 | url =https://www.npr.org/2016/06/08/481123153/songs-we-love-kamau-jusfayu-feat-no-wyld| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> It would go on to be featured on an episode of the HBO series, ''Insecure''<ref name="ComplexInsecure">{{cite news | title =All of the Music Played During 'Insecure' Season 1| work =Complex| date =July 31, 2018 | url =https://www.complex.com/music/2018/07/insecure-season-one-songs/| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> and on the soundtrack for ''FIFA 17''.<ref name="VibeMint">{{cite news | last=Thompson| first=Desire| title =KAMAU Explores The Paradigms Of Blissful Love With Talibah Safiya On "MĭNT"| work =Vibe| date =January 24, 2017 | url =https://www.vibe.com/2017/01/kamau-talibah-safiya-mint| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> It has also accumulated over 10 million streams on various platforms as of August 2019.<ref name="Vibe2019">{{cite news | last=Thompson| first=Desire| title=Premiere: Discover KAMAUU's Lyrical Gems In "bamboo" Visual| work =Vibe| date =August 23, 2019 | url =https://www.vibe.com/2019/08/premiere-kamauu-bamboo-video| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> A remix of the song by Lion Babe was released later in June 2016.<ref name="Bill2016">{{cite magazine | last=Ramirez| first=Erika| title =KAMAU Recruits Lion Babe For 'Jusfayu' Remix: Exclusive Song Premiere| magazine =Billboard| date =June 27, 2016 | url =https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kamau-lion-babe-jusfayu-remix-exclusive-song-premiere-7416643/| access-date =September 24, 2019}}</ref> ''A Gorgeous Fortune'' itself came out in July 2016 on Invisible Firm and was followed by a Kamauu summer tour with Lion Babe.<ref name="NPR2016"/><ref name="Complex2016">{{cite news | last=Black| first=Adrienne| title =Stream KAMAU's 'A Gorgeous Fortune' EP| work =Pigeons & Planes| date =July 1, 2016 | url =https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2016/07/stream-kamaus-a-gorgeous-fortune-ep| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref>
In 2016, Kamauu helped co-found "DoloBhana", a multi-disciplinary artist collective that was based in an apartment in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.<ref name="VibeNext"/> In October 2016, Kamauu was featured on the soundtrack for the film, ''The Birth of a Nation'', with the song, "The Icarus".<ref name="Ozy"/> The following month, he released the single, "MĭNT" featuring Talibah Safiya.<ref name="FaderMint">{{cite news | last=Akinlana| first=Sola| title =N.Y.C. Artist KAMAU Sings About Rock Bottom's Silver Lining On "MINT"| work =The Fader| date =November 28, 2016 | url =https://www.thefader.com/2016/11/28/kamau-mint-premiere| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> The music video for that song came out in January 2017.<ref name="VibeMint"/> It would serve as the lead single for his second mixtape entitled ''TheKAMAU-CASSETTE: ŭRTH GōLD'' which was released in September 2017.<ref name="VibeUrth">{{cite news | last=Ellis| first=Stacy-Ann| title =Close Your Eyes And Vibe To KAMAU's New Project, 'TheKAMAU-CASSETTE: ŭRTH GōLD'| work =Vibe| date =September 18, 2017 | url =https://www.vibe.com/2017/09/kamau-cassette-urth-gold| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> In February 2018, he was featured on the Kota the Friend song, "Black Sheep".<ref name="GeniusKota">{{cite news | title =Black Sheep – Kota the Friend| work =Genius| date =February 20, 2018 | url =https://genius.com/Kota-the-friend-black-sheep-lyrics| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> In March of that year, Kamauu was featured on the Topaz Jones track, "Pleasure Pain Passion".<ref name="PitchTopaz">{{cite news | last=Buerger| first=Megan| title = Topaz Jones – "Pleasure Pain Passion" (ft. KAMAU)| work =Pitchfork| date =March 6, 2018 | url =https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/topaz-jones-pleasure-pain-passion-ft-kamau/| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> Later that month, he played a show in Nairobi, Kenya at the Thrift Social installation.<ref name="Star">{{cite news | last=Ndolo| first=Davies| title =Brother KAMAU set to rock Nairobians at Thrift Social| newspaper =The Star| date =March 13, 2018 | url =https://www.the-star.co.ke/sasa/word-is/2018-03-13-brother-kamau-set-to-rock-nairobians-at-thrift-social/| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref>
After a year, he returned with the track "Patiently" as part of the collaborative project, Splash Brothers, which also features Allan Kingdom, Topaz Jones, Haile Supreme, and SIIMBA SELASSIIE.<ref name="Complex11">{{cite news | last1=Moore| first1=Jacob| last2=Gardner| first2=Alex| title =11 Rising Artists Who Defy Genre| work =Pigeons & Planes| date =March 25, 2019 | url =https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2019/03/new-rising-artists-who-defy-genre| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> In May 2019 he began using his current stage name, Kamauu, and was featured on the Marques Martin song, "Dinner Date".<ref name="ComplexDinner">{{cite news | last=Bishop| first=Aaron| title =Premiere: Marques Martin Brings His Laid-Back Flow To "Dinner Date" With KAMAUU| work =Complex| date =May 9, 2019 | url =https://www.complex.com/music/2019/05/premiere-marques-martin-dinner-date-feat-kamauu| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> The following month he was featured on the Stella Santana song, "Tell The Truth".<ref name="NylonStella">{{cite news | last=Stubblebine| first=Allison| title =Stella Santana Wants You To 'Tell The Truth'| work =Nylon| date =June 13, 2019 | url =https://nylon.com/stella-santana-tell-the-truth| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> In July of that year, he released a four-track EP entitled ''TheKAMAUU-CASSETTE: MíXD GRēēNS''.<ref name="Lemonade">{{cite news | last=Garrison| first=Lucas| title =TheKAMAUU-CASSETTE: MíXD GRēēNS – (KAMAUU)| work =Lyrical Lemonade| date =July 31, 2019 | url =https://www.lyricallemonade.com/p/thekamauu-cassette-mixd-greens-kamauu| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> Music videos for two of the EP's songs ("clover" and "bamboo") were released the following month.<ref name="Vibe2019"/><ref name="AP2019">{{cite news | last=Gueye| first=Awa| title =Kamauu Is Back and In Love| work =AfroPunk| date =August 9, 2019 | url =https://afropunk.com/2019/08/kamauu-is-back-and-in-love/| accessdate =September 24, 2019}}</ref> In 2020, Kamauu released many singles.
After a long break that saw little activity from Kamauu, he returned in April 2023 with Atlantic Recording Corporation to release his second album, "LACUNA in The House of Mirrors", featuring 11 tracks, including 2 songs released earlier as singles, "Flings" and "Antidote". He finished the year collaborating with Mike Schultz to release "Where There Are Dreams There Are Dragons, Vol. 1", an instrumental Afrobeats-inspired album released by Upside Records. They followed up on this album with a single in March 2024.{{cn |date=October 2024}}
Earlier in the year, Kamauu released two other singles, named "Danger" and "Garden", in January and February, respectively. A dance mix of the latter song was released in June, along with a fourth single of the year, "WEIDAMINEH", with TrapCellist and Siimbiie Lakew.{{cn |date=October 2024}}
==Discography==
===Mixtapes===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ List of mixtapes with selected details ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''TheKAMAU-CASSETTE'' | * Released: February 15, 2014 <small>(US)</small> * Label: Self-released * Formats: Digital download |- ! scope="row"| ''TheKAMAU-CASSETTE: ŭRTH GōLD'' | * Released: September 12, 2017 <small>(US)</small> * Label: Invisible Firm * Formats: Digital download |- ! scope="row"| ''LACUNA in The House of Mirrors'' | * Released: April 28, 2023 <small>(US)</small> * Label: Atlantic * Formats: Digital download |- ! scope="row"| ''Where There Are Dreams There Are Dragons'', Vol. 1 | * Released: December 31, 2023 <small>(US)</small> * Label: Upside Records * Formats: Digital download |}
===EPs===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ List of EPs with selected details ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''A Gorgeous Fortune'' | * Released: July 1, 2016 <small>(US)</small> * Label: Invisible Firm * Formats: Digital download |- ! scope="row"| ''TheKAMAUU-CASSETTE: MíXD GRēēNS'' | * Released: July 30, 2019 <small>(US)</small> * Label: Atlantic * Formats: Digital download |- |}
===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles with selected details ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Album |- ! scope="row"| "Jambo" | rowspan="4"| 2016 | rowspan="2"| ''A Gorgeous Fortune'' |- ! scope="row"| "Jusfayu" (feat. No Wyld) |- ! scope="row"| "The Icarus" | ''The Birth of a Nation: The Inspired By Album'' |- ! scope="row"| "MĭNT" (feat. Talibah Safiya) | rowspan="2"| ''TheKAMAU-CASSETTE: ŭRTH GōLD'' |- ! scope="row"| "GRā" (feat. Nkō Khélí) | 2017 |- ! scope="row"| "clover" | rowspan="2"| 2019 | rowspan="2"| ''TheKAMAUU-CASSETTE: MíXD GRēēNS'' |- ! scope="row"| "bamboo" |- ! scope="row"| "flings" | rowspan="2"| 2023 | rowspan="2"| ''LACUNA in The House of Mirrors'' |- ! scope="row"| "antidote" |- !scope="row"| "Garden" |2024 |- !scope="row"| “Danger” |2024 |- !scope="row"| “Where There Are Dreams There Are Dragons” |2024 |- !scope="row"| “WEIDAMINEH” |2024 |}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.kamauu.world/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Living people Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Rappers from Washington, D.C. Category:Singers from Maryland Category:Rappers from Maryland Category:Pratt Institute alumni Category:Rappers from Brooklyn Category:American hip-hop record producers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)