Biography

The mic

A Pilot's Dream, A Sound System Mic

During my senior year in high school, I went to the local US Air Force enrollment office trying to fulfill my dream of becoming a pilot, but God had other plans for me. I didn't meet the strict physical and medical requirements. After high school I had no direction in life. I said to myself, maybe I should try DJing and MCing.

During my youth I was fascinated with the dub culture. I became a young MC and started to test my lyrical skills for the Virgin Virgo sound system, where I first held the mic in public. One club stood out: The Musician Exchange. That's where I met Lee Milo of the reggae band Tishan, freestyled for him under a tree between sets, and got invited to jam on his last set. I met and befriended the great Jaco Pastorius there. He told me: don't ever stop polishing those skills, I love the fire in you kid.

Le Coup

A Room Full of Wailers Tour Cases

A few years later I became the resident reggae DJ at The Village Inn in Coconut Grove. One night the guest bass player was Anthony Booker. After a groovy jam session we spoke about joining forces. When I arrived at the rehearsal address he gave me, I saw a bunch of Bob Marley and The Wailers tour cases. His mother, an older Rasta woman, opened the door and asked if we wanted something to drink. It was Cedella Marley Booker. I almost passed out. Young Julian Marley joined the second half. That was the start of Le Coup.

Less than a year later Anthony was killed. After a year of soul searching, with the blessings of both Mother Booker and Brother Richard, I continued with the vision of Le Coup as its frontman. My first booking was at Reggae Rockers on South Beach. The owner asked how I would bring an audience. I called every friend and fan I had. The first show was a smash, and that's when Kēvens the promoter was born.

1997 · Florida Zen

The Night I Found My Voice

My last show with Le Coup was at the Florida Zen Music Festival, where I met the EDM group Rabbit in The Moon. Back then at most raves it was DJs and a few MCs, but there was no voice bringing spirituality to the audience. A major TV show had just exposed the rave scene to mainstream America as something bad, so the police presence was very heavy and the crowd was defiant. It was a pressure cooker.

I realized it was the perfect time to intervene. I picked up the mic while DJ Monk was spinning and got everyone to chant "Positivity is a Necessity." It created a positive and peaceful atmosphere and calmed the crowd down. There was no trouble and the party was a success. That was a very powerful and moving moment for me. I had found my voice.

The artist

We Are One

I used my first name as my artist's name with a new understanding and attitude. Always thinking out of the box, I took the words of Bob Marley personally: reggae will continue to get bigger and bigger. When I met Grammy-winning producer and engineer Bob Rosa, I knew I had found the perfect collaborator. He took my first album, We Are One, to the next level.

"In these dark times we're living in, people need conscious substance. They crave it, they demand it. We have to break old habits and make new self-discoveries. Expand our visions, pound through our animal state, and unite. This, without any apology, is an absolute necessity. I promise you."