Shawn Bediako

BIOGRAPHY

Most people would not expect a tenured professor to also be a musician, composer, and emcee. But Shawn Bediako is an anomaly; he’s as comfortable in lecture halls and research labs as he is in jam sessions and cipher sets. 

A Baltimore-based creative, Bediako integrates the art and science of sound into an eclectic style that reflects the jazz and funk foundations of hip hop's heritage. His debut project, Sojourners, is a thoughtful collection of meditations and social commentary that features collaborations with artists from across the globe. 

Growing up in Arkansas, Shawn started playing trumpet at age 10 and eventually added the cornet, flugelhorn, and baritone horn to his repertoire. While on an educational journey that led to the completion of a bachelor’s degree, three masters degrees, and a doctorate in social/health psychology, Shawn concurrently embarked on a wide-ranging musical journey. He studied classical and jazz trumpet with private tutors in Little Rock and Cincinnati, played songban and kenkeni for African dance groups in Tallahassee and New York, and held down the bass guitar for Collective Consciousness, an indie spoken word band in Philadelphia. Bediako honed his emceeing skills as a featured artist with Washington DC’s Sense of Urgency Band and has written and arranged songs for artists across multiple genres. 

The first track from the Sojourners project was released in July 2023. Sign up to the email list and join the journey. You'll receive updates on future releases and performance dates and also get exclusive access to the Sojourners "Travel Guide" that provides detailed behind-the-scenes content and multimedia extras for each of the project tracks. 


 

MUSIC

Sojourners

Shawn Bediako

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Released between July and December 2023, SOJOURNERS is the debut EP project from Shawn Bediako and the StraigthPath Creative Arts label. With an eclectic mix of hip hop, funk, and global soul, SOJOURNERS features an international cast of acclaimed musical artists who find unity in the science of sound. Download the entire SOJOURNERS EP

Released between July and December 2023, SOJOURNERS is the debut EP project from Shawn Bediako and the StraigthPath Creative Arts label. With an eclectic mix of hip hop, funk, and global soul, SOJOURNERS features an international cast of acclaimed musical artists who find unity in the science of sound. Download the entire SOJOURNERS EP here...along with the project credits and liner notes.

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    The Light 2:28
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    Sojourners 2:46
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    Deeper 3:06
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    The Promise 3:21
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    Gratitude 2:18
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    Nafsi 2:54
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