Religion has always had a place in hip-hop, from ‘god-body’ flows to references of the “third eye” and quoting Surahs; but what happens when you sit down with an actual Buddhist rapper?

This week on 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 culture. From references to “Buddha” in rap lyrics to deeper conversations around mindfulness, suffering, and self-compassion, this episode separates fact from folklore.  Born I will break 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, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and Childish Gambino lyrics get put under the microscope…are they actually tapping into Buddhist philosophy, or just vibing? (You be the judge.)

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.Substack: New Music TuesdaysInstagram/Threads: @donwillMixcloud: DonwillWebsite: Donwill.meFollow Born IInstagram:  bornimusic  Web: bornimusic.comSoundcloud: bornimusic 

Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.  Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com

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