Today we’d like to introduce you to Kwame Oeaux.
Hi Kwame, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in 1989 in Mableton, Georgia, to immigrant parents from Ghana, West Africa, and moved to Decatur before the age of one. Music was always part of my life. My siblings still joke about me banging on pots and pans as a kid. A lot of that came from my father’s record collection, which mixed American and African music. Like most kids at that time, I was especially drawn to Michael Jackson. As I got older, hip hop became a major influence, with MTV and BET constantly playing in the house thanks to my older siblings.
Noticing my love for music, my father encouraged me to play instruments in church, but it never quite stuck—I couldn’t stand the long services. In elementary school, I was handed my brother’s trumpet, even though I really wanted to play trombone. Disgruntled but still creative, I improvised. Using a trumpet case, a pencil, and a karaoke machine, I made my first demos—beating on the case, writing raps, recording vocals, and sometimes layering melodies. My father supported me the best he could and eventually bought me a Yamaha keyboard. That’s when I started making beats. The setup was basic—five tracks and a karaoke machine—but those wonky early creations cemented my love for music production.
Around 2003, I hustled my way into Guitar Center and bought an MPC 1000. I was convinced I was the African Kanye West. I sampled my father’s records, learned my way around Cubase, and by ninth grade I had created a song I proudly played for my history class. From there, I began recording friends and printing CDs.
My rap group never quite got signed, but we were active. We released a mixtape series called Porn 4 the Blind—a teenage attempt at clever wordplay around the idea of arousing audio. One of the tapes even landed with an intern at DJ Drama during the height of the Gangsta Grillz era, but just our luck, the infamous raid happened soon after.
I kept going, though in a different way. I graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Information Systems and a music business certificate. Professors like Bruce Burch, Keith Perissi, and David Barbe encouraged me to stay in music, but with an in-demand degree and an immigrant father who wanted stability, I ended up moving to Washington, DC, to work in government contracting through a cousin’s referral.
Even in DC, music stayed present. I formed a rap group with Ifiok Inyang—now the mayor of Riverdale Park, Maryland. We were consultants by day and rappers by night. I handled production, we split rap duties, and performed at open mics and talent shows, creating great memories along the way. Eventually, Ifiok moved on—getting married and climbing the corporate ladder. I isolated, lost my creative spark, and fell into a depression that’s a story for another time.
Fast forward to COVID. In 2022, I relocated back to Decatur after landing a remote role. While home, my cousin Mike Kwarteng of Ike’s Restaurant began developing a podcast centered on African entertainment. He brought me on to record and edit the audio. Around episode six, we interviewed DJ and producer Nektunez, who had just released the amapiano hit “Ameno Amapiano.” Eventually, we shelved the podcast to support his career more directly.
That moment opened the door to deeper involvement in the African entertainment industry. I began meeting more artists, producers, and managers, and today I represent major producers in the Afro space, including Niphkeys, Nektunez, and Rexxie—making calls, making plays, and closing deals.
Alongside that work, I co-founded a media brand called INTL Live with a producer friend, focused on highlighting international talent in the United States.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not. From parents wanting you to focus one your studies and career to not being in the music Mecca of Atlanta until now. I count it all joy ultimately. Things seem to be unfolding as they should.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I basically support the career of African producers and a couple of artists. I help chart their goals. We ideate on ways to grow their businesses. I handle admin tasks. I seek business opportunities. I bring libation to sessions. I keep things moving along.
How do you think about happiness?
Connecting dots. Making music. Putting creators to together. Inspiring artists. Arguing with artists. Arguing about music. Fighting for innovation.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj_oeaux/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@oeauxdigital
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/oeaux
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/@INTLLIVE
