Shodekeh
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Shodekeh (born September 30, 1977, Washington D.C.) is a Hip Hop artist and American performer of the human beatbox. One of his main styles of this art are his vocal renditions of Soca music.
His first serious encounter with the artform took place in the Fall of 2001 when he joined "None Of The Above", a collegiate a capella group of Penn State University. He became the ensemble's first member that focused solely on the vocal rhythm section for the songs that were performed. In 2002, inspired by the turntablist crew The X-Ecutioners (Rob Swift, Total Eclipse, Roc Raida, and Mista Sinister) and the beatbox group "MB2000" (Kenny Muhammad, DOA and Emanon), Shodekeh and vocal percussionist Jamie Howe, aka Sensei, formed the human beatbox crew Larynx. This collective became the first of its kind within the a capella community of Penn State. Other beatboxers of "Larynx" included Hot Lips, Trinity, DJ OhSh t, Quick Attack, Bam-Bam, and Dr. Solid.
In 2003, Shodekeh became the resident beatboxer for "Slamicide!", a poetry event in Baltimore that incorporates an open mic, featured artists, musicians and slam poetry. That same year he also became a part of Beatboxer Entertainment as an artist and promotions coordinator working with the likes of Kid Lucky (CEO and founder), Jo Jo Beat, and Masai Electro. He then left a year later in 2004 to pursue his own individual interests, but has since maintained a collaborative effort with America's first production company for human beatboxers.
In July, 2005 he became a part of the International Beatbox Association; an organization created by mic(ism) dedicated to promoting the art of beatboxing. In 2006, Shodekeh became the first beatboxer to granted a professional residency at Towson University, Community College of Baltimore County, Patapsco High School and Center For The Arts, Johns Hopkins University, and the Peabody Institute as a musical accompanist for the institutions' dance departments/dance companies. Some of the courses he provides the vocal rhythms for include Modern Dance and Ballet, and at times will utilize a pan flute which he plays while simultaneously maintining the beat. He currently lives in Baltimore, MD and frequently performs at various venues not readily associated with one another, interfacing his music with a number of different genres and forms including Jazz, Blues, Hip Hop, Classical, Rhythm and Blues, Rock, Spoken Word and Avante Garde. One of the main artists he draws inspiration from and works with is fellow Baltimore based beatboxer and mandolin player Kenny Liner from the city's well known and respected group The Bridge. Shodekeh also gains inspiration from the vocal sound artist, professional whistler and comedian Starbuck, who's a native Baltimorean, and beatboxer Max B from Washington D.C.
Origin of the name, "Shodekeh"
Dominic Earle Shodekeh (pronounced as Sho-dah-kay) is part of the full, legal name of this artist. It's Nigerian in origin and the name itself is defined as "Warrior." It's also defined as, "One who fights for what he believes in." He took on this moniker when trying to select an alias for himself during the formation of the beatbox crew "Larynx", deciding to go with his second middle name which reflects his known appetite for "battling" other musicians and beatboxers. The name also reflects his dedication and push for the artform, as well as his belief in this style of instrumentation being regarded as a valid form of musical expression.
