Born I Breaks Down the Real Relationship Between Buddhism and Hip-Hop
On 'The Almanac of Rap,' Born I unpacks how Buddhist ideas show up in hip-hop and what often gets misunderstood.
Photo by Kaushik Kalidindi for Okayplayer.
Religion has always had a presence in hip-hop, from “god-body” flows to references to the “third eye.” But what happens when you sit down with a rapper who actually practices Buddhism?
On the latest episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill is joined by rapper, author and practitioner Born I to explore the long-standing, and often misunderstood, relationship between Buddhism and hip-hop. From references to “Buddha” in rap lyrics to deeper conversations around mindfulness, suffering and self-compassion, this episode gets into what’s real and what’s been misinterpreted.
Born I breaks down:
Key Buddhist concepts like the Four Noble Truths, Dharma and mantras
His own journey navigating hip-hop, electronic music and spiritual practice
How artists use music as testimony, how hooks can function like mantras, and why hip-hop’s connection to Buddhism runs deeper than weed references and fashion logos
Plus, lyrics from Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller and Childish Gambino are put under the microscope.
Are they tapping into Buddhist philosophy, or just vibing?
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