kadesh flow
"A propulsive emcee, a bold songwriter, a skilled trombonist, an auspicious producer and an enterprising artist" - 90.9 The Bridge
Kadesh Flow is a rapper with an MBA, a trombone Super Saiyan, and a Billboard Charting recording/ performing artist. He brings all of the above together, both on tracks and on stage, in riveting form as he actively blends his jazz and hip hop backgrounds, blending personal, candid lyrical moments and storytelling with call-outs to history, social issues, anime, video games, and anything else that may inspire him at the time.
At age 11, 'Desh, as many of his listeners call him, began rapping and playing trombone within two weeks of one another. Now, his playing can be heard on records with hip hop stars like Jidenna and underground stalwarts like Ubiquitous and JL. He also boasts performances supporting artists such as Rakim, Janelle Monae, Dave East, The Revivalists, Tech N9ne, and numerous other prolific acts.
Kadesh is a member of the NPC (Nerdy People of Color) Collective, through which he is working with Founding Member Mega Ran and fellow NPCs such as EyeQ and Creative Mind Frame to both collaborate on fun, relevant content and foster a community for underrepresented nerd enthusiasts. He can be found lighting up stages around the U.S., gracing such events as Official SXSW Showcases, MAGFest, PAX, Momocon & Otakon, as well as various other music festivals and venues.
The Deshtet
The Deshtet is an extension of Kadesh Flow’s solo hip hop work that was formed in early 2019. Instead of rapping with pre-produced instrumentals, he performs in jazz-fusion combos that actively blend jazz, hip hop, soul, and R&B influences. While the iteration that the Deshtet is most commonly seen in is a quartet, the combo evolves based on venue need. Trio, Quartet, Quintet, and Sextet versions of the ensemble have been seen thus far. Lookout for the Deshtet throughout the Midwest, and beyond, in 2020.
Other BAnds
While Kadesh is active as a solo performer and bandleader both in Kansas City and throughout the continental U.S., he participates in a number of other groups that are prolific throughout the Midwest. A few of these are included below.
Kadesh flow Tour
music
press
"Pretty damn good." - Kotaku
"When I first heard it, I was blown away" - IGN
Alongside Mega Ran, Kadesh Flow adds his talents to the track ‘Church’, which besides being a really great track, also boasts one of the coolest videos I’ve seen for a long time." - The Unheard Nerd
"...a fun homage to the 8-bit visual style popularized by the GameBoy in the late 1980s" - Engadget
Show mentions via outlets such as AXS and Anime news Network
“kinetic and urgent, with a complex melodic and rhythmic vocabulary” - 90.9 The Bridge
Read Kadesh Flow’s recent artist feature spread in In Kansas City Magazine!
“must-listen not just for musicians, but anyone who’s struggled with balancing life’s passions with their work.” - I Heart local music
past shows
Kadesh has performed at numerous festivals and conventions throughout the US since he first began booking shows nationally in 2015, including (but not limited to) the following events
Multiple Official SXSW Showcase Appearances
Boulevardia
Otakon
Lincoln Calling
Momocon
Fan Expo: Dallas
MAGfest
PAX
Anime Expo
Anime Fest Dallas
Recent Milestones
Opened for hip hop legend Rakim with Kansas City emcee Kemet The Phantom
Opened for Soul/Funk legends Kool & The Gang as the trombonist for KC party band The Phantastics
Performed in a string of some of the largest Nujabes tributes ever to occur in the US as part of Bytes and Beats, which features Shing02, Minmi, Substantial, Asheru, and EyeQ along with Kadesh
Performed as part of the Library of Congress’s Concerts on The Lawn series. The Bytes and Beats showing was the series’ largest attendance to date
Performed as direct support for superstar Janelle Monae fronting the Marcus Lewis Big Band at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, MO
Jazz and Rap collaborative album “Brass and Boujee” debuted at #15 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts and #2 on the iTunes Jazz Charts
Featured artist at the 2018 & 2019 SXSW Official Nerdcore Showcases
Join the kadesh flow mailing list
Splatt is Kansas City’s
Latest brass innovation. A collaborative pairing of vocalist/trombonists Kadesh Flow and Trevor Turla, Splatt blends soul, hip hop, jazz, and funk together to generate a powerful, trombone-fronted musical experience.
Band includes: Vocalists x 3, Trombone x 2, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums
Deshica Rage
Is the sheer force of nature that came about when soul pop singer-songwriter Jessica Paige and rapper/trombonist Kadesh Flow joined forces. This project smashes soul pop, hip hop, Americana, rock and jazz together for engaging, dynamic performances. One is likely to find Deshica Rage absolutely owning a packed house with the strength of their originals, but the mashup project may occasionally be seen holding down a jazz-centered cocktail hour or a corporate event that is looking for a mix of jazz standards and top 40 tunes spanning the last 5 decades. Pick your poison.
Band includes: Vocalists x 3, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keys, Bass, Drums