Note: The timeline includes some (but not all) of his creative contributions devoted to promoting social consciousness and cultural awareness.
Baye finds a passion for writing
Baye performs alongside his friend Jabari Exum at a school talent show, showcasing their choreographed routine to the song "Strawberry Letter 23" by Tevin Campbell (originally by The Brothers Johnson)
Baye joined the Maryland Boy Choir under the musical direction of Betty Scott conducting and pianist Joan McFarland.
Baye's first studio recording experience.
Baye gets two turntables and 'borrows' albums
Baye (seen lower left) forms the rap group Hueman Prophets with several classmates and takes on the stage name “Philosophy.” Two of the other members are pictured here: Sadiq Ali, upper right and Mustafa “DC Soul Child” Johnson, upper left.
Baye and the original Hueman Prophets members (Omaro Farquharson, Sadiq Ali, Mustafa Johnson) record their first song in a professional studio. The song “Place, Things” was produced and recorded on the budget of $100 (each member chipping in $25).
Baye reconnects with friend Jabari Exum and joins the Freestyle Union, a collective of emcees developing lyricism and the skill of freestyling under the leadership of Toni Blackman. The Freestyle Union is anchored by the larger community of artists that frequent the U Street corridor of NW DC.
Baye recorded at Urban Intalek studio with the newest incarnation of Hueman Prophets which included himself, Jabari Exum, and AmadouKouyate (engineer: Bill "D Salaam" Vaughn). This song which was written and produced by the new collaboration is entitled "Nomadic Medicine." Support vocals are provided by freestyle union member DJ Stylus whom happened to be in the studio.
Baye, form a new incarnation of Hueman Prophets with other members, seen here performing their first show at the landmark State of the Union Nightclub in 1998. Although they were underaged, the group was given the opportunity to open for fellow Freestyle Union members and mentors, Priest Da Nomad and Storm the Unpredictable. The featured song is an early version of the song “Last Griot.” Other group members include: Jabari Exum (vocals), Amadou Kouyate (kora), and Hasani Nophlin (off camera).
Baye begins to cut his teeth as a DJ on the Divine Warfare tour under mentor Chike the Aboriginal. The tour would go to Columbia University during winter of that year.
Baye reunited with friends, Jabari Exum and Amadou Kouyate to record the Hueman Prophets first release “Pas d’amour.” The single featured two songs and one instrumental track. The title track, “Pas d’amour” (French for “No Love”), was an explanation of unpursued romantic love and features collaborators Maimouna Youssef (vocals) and Chadwick Boseman (spoken word); “Last Griot” was an uptempo, reflective statement on the tragedy of society lacking historical context. Click "Audio" in upper left corner to listen.
Baye and Jabari hype the crowd at the Metro Cafe in DC with a their staple song “Sweat It Out.” Chadwick Boseman (aka Aharon Sun of the Griots) is backing them up and performs spoken word earlier in the show.
Baye performing with Hueman Prophets at Northwestern High school a stripped-down brand of theatrical hip-hip performance. The piece shown is “Final Thought,” a biting, criticism of popular talkshow Jerry Springer.
Baye and Jabari (as Hueman Prophets) perform in a 10 Year Anniversary Tribute Show for A Tribe Called Quest’s album “A Low End Theory.”
Baye with Hueman Prophets featuring at popular DC music and poetry venue Bar Nun, on the legendary U Street. Band members include: Maimouna Youssef (guest vocalist), Muhsinah (keyboard), Mustafa Captain Soulchild (bass), Russell Carter (drums), Omari Wheat (guitar), Herm Hopkins (trombone)
Baye with Hueman Prophets begin to explore infusing dramatic narrative into performance. Together, Baye and Jabari attempt staging mini-plays in clubs and other venues a soundscape, musicians, and/or beatbox. In this clip, they explain and demonstrate a performance piece which features their songs entitled “Secret Garden” and “Blues People.”
Baye and Jabari complete “Secret Garden,” a jazzy, soulful ode to the urban landscape that nurtured their development (track also available on itunes). Baye called upon the vocalist DaNedra to accompany him with crooning the bridge of the song (heard in this snippet) over the Kokayi produced track.
Baye and Jabari begin selling a hand pressed EP entitled “Listen” which featured six Hueman Prophets songs. Several of these songs would be remastered and featured in the full-length album “Listen: With Your Heart” in 2005.
Baye and Jabari co-write and direct a 25-minute new play called “Read: White and Blue” for the DC Hip-Hop Theater Festival. They create a story about the class divide, as told through the lens of an author of the “street life” genre of books who struggles to write a new book about a t-shirt vending ex-con. Photo courtesy of Jati Lindsey.
Baye is cast in the lead role of Poet in the world premiere of “Prison Poetry” (directed by Clayton LeBouef) at Lincoln Theater.
Baye and Jabari as Hueman Prophets release their first full length studio album “Listen: With Your Heart A Motion Album.” The album used a narrative for the listener to travel the experience of leaving their comfort zone in pursuit of their heart’s passion and dreams. Baye and Jabari ultimately manifested this version of the song “Baggage” seen in this clip of the CD release show. The song quintessentially represents the theme of the album “Listen:With Your Heart” and the image of group. Baye represents the middle-class, suburban perspective and Jabari explains the street, urban experience to balance and explain the shared experiences of leaving one’s respective comfort zone. For full album click "Find out more."
Hueman Prophets are on Middle East Broadcast Network program. Watch video for more info.
Baye performing with Hueman Prophets at the 9:30 Club on the bill with J’Davey and Questlove. Baye and Jabari created a dramatic narrative as the frame of the show. The performance won community praise and fan support.
Baye and Jabari share with youth the theatrical performance and answer student’s questions. Baye briefly discusses the inspiration for writing.
Baye with Hueman Prophets serve as an opening act for revolutionary but gangsta Hip Hop duo Dead Prez. They take the opportunity to showcase the theatrical performance of their song Burglar (featured in video).
Baye penned this verse for the song called “Right Now” by Motel. The project is a collaboration produced by bassist Matt Grayson merging DC's Hip Hop and Jazz musicians. Baye's verse and section of the song was featured on Hueman Prophets' “The Old Souls: Mix Album” under the song “Jazz Peace.” Click below to purchase the Motel project and "Audio" in the upper left to listen.
Baye produces video for Suicide Prevention Training for SPAG (Suicide Prevention Action Group) and NOPCAS (National Organization of People of Color Against Suicide).
Shooting episode 3 of the final season of HBO's The Wire.
Baye with Hueman Prophets is selected as a commissioned artist with Job Corps STARS (Speakers, Tutors, Achievement, Retention, and Success) initiative. The group writes a theatrically performance around the theme of job readiness and tours along with DJ RBI multiple Job Corps campuses including Boise, Grand Rapids, and Oneota. They received this plaque on this tour.
Baye, with group partner Jabari Exum and director Kibibi Dillon re-workshop “Read: White and Blue” into a two act play which is presented that year in both the NYC and DC Hip-Hop Theater Festival. Select the image or watch the video in the upper left corner.
Baye co-creates and instructs a Hip Hop Education course as part of Friendship Charter School's Pre-AP summer program Gear-Up. The course's success leads to its continuation during the school year and for two additional summers. The course was co-created with Khalif Bobatoon, Dr. William E. Smith, and Ron "D.J. RBI" Brown.
Baye and Jabari follow up their first release with a free mixtape entitled "The Old Souls: Mix Album." He arranged the album using older recordings and songs with uncleared samples tied together with DJ blends by RBI, interludes, and penned soliloquies around the theme of class struggle.
Baye collaborates with director Gemal Woods of Park Triangle Production to create a music video for Hueman Prophets’ song “The Rhythm, The Rebel.” The video is inspired by 1970’s and 1980’s children television, as well as the Public Enemy era of Hip Hop. After months of research (watching old Sesame Street and Electric Company episodes) they landed on this high energy visual representation of what would be one of the Hueman Prophets most celebrated songs.
Baye with Hueman Prophets (Jabari Exum and DJ RBI) is commissioned to develop a Hip Hop Theater performance/workshop by the Anchorage Urban League in Anchorage, AK. The event is centered around voter registration and civic participation. Click "Find Out More" to watch a clip of performance and workshop.
Baye takes a shot at modeling under the recommendation of artist/stylist Bill Johnson. Photos by Jati Jindsay
Baye is scouted and cast by the pioneering Hip Hop Theater artist, Psalmayene 23 to act as the lead in his new Hip Hop adaptation of the African folktale “Zomo the Rabbit.” The children’s play goes on to receive accolades, including nomination for the Helen Hayes Award, and winning other awards. Each performance featured a freestyle rhyme as the character. Click "Find out more" to read review by the Washington Post.
Baye portrays Mannie in the 2009 short film, Types In Stereo by Gemal Woods. The film won the 2010 Arizona Black Film Festival. Click video to watch the full film.
Baye continues curriculum building and serving as an instructor in various arts oriented and art implementation programs for youth. Most of the programs were piloted endeavors centered around Hip Hop culture including the Hip Hop 101 class for the summer program at Friendship Public Charter School and Hip Hop Resolution with WECAN under Thandor Miller. To date, he has worked with over a dozen programs in a arts education capacity. Check out the video and photos to the upper left.
Baye served as a cast member of Arena Stage's Student Playwright Projects for 3 consecutive years (2010-2012). One of those these performances was the reopening of the newly constructed The Mead Center for American Theater in the Kogod Cradle and in the Fichandler.
Baye adapted a script for a story by Clayton LeBouef to a audio drama series for public radio. He co-wrote (with LeBouef), edited, and sound designed the four episode play for radio that centered around the story of a fictional, independent rap group that breaks up due to professional and creative differences. As seen in this behind the scenes look, the project called on the voice talents of various actors and musicians including Paige Hernandez, JaySun, Maimouna Youssef, J.J. Johnson, Fatima Quander, Jabari Exum, and musical direction of DJ RBI. (dir. Clayton LeBouef). Baye produced four episodes of the audio drama series “The Answer.” They were aired during the Hip Hop program "Decipher" on WPFW 89.3FM through his collaborator DJ RBI. Featured on Episode 1 “Radio Drama,” the up-and-coming rap duo, Q&A, take the opportunity of an live radio interview to vent a past beef with the station. Conflict ensues between the two members.
Baye adapted a script for a story by Clayton LeBouef to a audio drama series for public radio. He co-wrote (with LeBouef), edited, and sound designed the four episode play for radio that centered around the story of a fictional, independent rap group that breaks up due to professional and creative differences. As seen in this behind the scenes look, the project called on the voice talents of various actors and musicians including Paige Hernandez, JaySun, Maimouna Youssef, J.J. Johnson, Fatima Quander, Jabari Exum, and musical direction of DJ RBI. (dir. Clayton LeBouef). Click the link below to see the behind the scenes footage.
Baye is cast as Christophe in the first, post-Broadway production of “Passing Strange” by Stew at Studio Theatre in Washington, DC.
Baye worked as script consultant and ensemble cast member for a workshop production entitled “In Pursuit of Me: the Story of Christylez Bacon” (dir. Patrick Crowley).
Baye creates the role of Kwame Jones in “24-7-365” by Jennifer Nelson. The show was produced through Theater of the First Amendment.
Baye as Jabber/Chili in the Hegira’s production of “In the Blood” by Suzan-Lori Parks. (dir. Raymond Caldwell).
Baye collaborates with Paige Hernandez, Kris Funn, and Akua Allrich to help create and perform in Liner Notes, a new show for the Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Intersections Festival about sampling. The show goes on to have a three year run at the Atlas and to feature at the Capital Jazz Cruise 2014. Click below to watch Kennedy Center performance.
Baye contributes as writer of several blog entries natural hair care website called “K is for Kinky.” As the sole male perspective, his column quickly gains popularity on the blog site.
Baye joins forces with Hueman Prophets’ “The Rhythm, The Rebel” music video director and creative director of Park Triangle Productions, Gemal Woods to produce his web series “The Angle.” As producer, Baye collaborates with Woods and host Paige Hernandez on several episodes of the eclectic documentary web series (2011-2012). Link below to episode featuring chef Lauren Von Der Pool.
Baye assembles a team of theater practitioners to support Jabari and him with Hueman Prophets’ “Read: White and Blue” presented by CulturalDC. The team includes dramaturges Raymond Caldwell and Amrita Ramanan (pictured here) to shape the script for director Psalmayene 24.
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