Kemet Coleman

Kemet Coleman is a lifelong musician, urbanist and the founder of Vine Street Brewing Co., Missouri’s first Black-owned brewery. His work focuses on helping to create urban spaces that benefit communities of color and he's received several awards for his creative efforts. Kemet has been called "the spirit and soul of Kansas City" by The Kansas City Star, which praised his groundbreaking work with music and the KC Streetcar and, in 2022, was included in the Marquis Who’s Who list of most influential people in America.

Kemet’s Top Tracks

Turn up to Kemet’s most popular songs via Spotify.

KEMET COLEMAN

Musical style

Kemet is a music producer, rap vocalist and songwriter. His music has a driving bassline and hard-hitting, danceable drum patterns that twist hip-hop songs with jazz, funk and house progressions. He's known to rap on a broad range of topics from the lens of an African American in America for fans seeking dynamic to light-hearted fun and lyrical braggadocio with songs like fan-favorite, “Quit Cryin.”

KEMET COLEMAN

Performance

Style & Influences

Energized and seemingly unstoppable, Kemet is a commanding force on stage. The first-generation Kansas City native and son of a civil rights attorney's songs are equally calculated to inspire audiences in their own life journeys as his performances. On the stage, Kemet shines as a complete showman with a notoriously dapper style that reflects stewardship to Hip-Hop culture, black history and gospel roots. With family ties primarily in the deep south, his musical styles cannot help but lend themselves to the dance floor with funk and soul embellishments, percussive rap style and melodic singing abilities he interchanges effortlessly to adapt to any tone.

  • While Kemet continues to be mostly known for his musical efforts, Kemet Coleman's entrepreneurial approach to artistry has opened the door for Kansas City and Missouri's first black-owned brewery located in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, Vine Street Brewing Co. The announcement captured the headlines of over a dozen local, national and international publications positioning the startup as one of the most popular breweries in Kansas City.

    As an urbanist and community builder, he's broken down barriers to bring people from disparate backgrounds together to make positive change. For example, the award-winning song "Get Out (The Streetcar Song) played a significant role in fostering 1,000,000 riders during its first year of operation. As a result, it became the official song of the KC Streetcar in Kansas City. "Get Out" was also praised nationally by The Atlantic as "way better than any promotional song for a modestly scaled Midwest city’s streetcar line has any right to be."

  • Kemet has been a part of three musical groups in his career.

    The Phantastics (2011-current)

    As a founding member of the band The Phantastics since 2011, Kemet has been able to share the stage with funk legends like Kool & The Gang and George Clinton. They are considered Kansas City’s “best dance band” by the Kansas City Star and continue to be one of the most successful acts in the Kansas City music scene.

    Center of Attention aka COA (2012-2015)

    In addition to his musical talents, Kemet has proven himself to be one of the most promising entrepreneurs in Kansas City. He formed the hip-hop duo Center of Attention with best friend Kyle James in 2012, the release of two viral hits, Straight Outta Kauffman and Bender (Remix) featuring Tech N9ne and a slew of prominent Kansas City rap icons were just part of their success and notoriety.

    Brass & Boujee (2018-Current)

    In 2018, while witnessing rapper/trombonist Kadesh Flow with an 18-piece big band do a rendition of Kendrick Lamar's hit song, Alright, arranged by nationally renowned trombonist, Marcus Lewis, Kemet knew he had to be a part of the group. After Marcus began making arrangements to Kemet’s music, He got his wish and became the third frontman of the Hip-Hop unit of the Marcus Lewis big band, Brass & Boujee alongside Lewis and Kadesh Flow. Since then, the band has quickly rose to national fame as the first big band fronted by two rappers in the world. Brass & Boujee’s debut release charted at #1 on the iTunes Jazz Charts and #11 on the Billboard Jazz Charts and continues to grow in popularity nationwide.

  • Kemet is a dedicated artist and consummate collaborator. Working with names such as Tech N9ne, Black Thought and The Roots and George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Kool and The Gang, the rapper has released 12 full-length musical albums.