Sounds Heal Podcast with Born I and Natalie Brown

About this episode

Born I discusses the intersection of hip-hop and mindfulness, sharing insights on his music and teachings.

Based in Washington, DC, Born I creates at the intersection of hip-hop and mindfulness, blending lyricism, spirituality, and cultural storytelling into a body of work that’s both innovative and deeply human. His influences span Wu-Tang Clan, Ka, André 3000, Alice Coltrane, and Buddhist teachers like Thích Nhất Hạnh, and his music has garnered over 20 million streams worldwide. Born I’s most recent album, Komorebi (2025), has been hailed by listeners as “a missing piece in hip-hop,” praised for its meditative flow and spiritual depth. The companion book, Lyrical Dharma: Hip-Hop as Mindfulness (Parallax Press), arrives with a foreword by Pulitzer Prize winner Alice Walker, further cementing Born I as a unique voice at the intersection of art and contemplative practice. A certified meditation teacher, Born I is also the male voice on the Balance app, where his teachings reach millions of listeners daily. He regularly leads retreats, concerts, and hybrid events that weave live hip-hop with meditation and sound baths – including performances at the Kennedy Center, Buddhist Arts & Film Festival, and alongside the monks of Plum Village Monastery. Through his label YAE (You Are Enough)…

People in this episode

Host: Natalie Brown

Guest: Born I

Topics covered

• hip-hop
• mindfulness
• spirituality
• cultural storytelling

Keywords

• meditation
• lyricism
• spiritual depth
• cultural influences

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Komorebi, Lyrical Dharma: Hip-Hop as Mindfulness, Balance app, In This Moment, AMIDA, You Are Enough, Love Your Amazing Self

Books & works: Sounds Heal Podcast, Komorebi, Lyrical Dharma: Hip-Hop as Mindfulness, Pulitzer Prize, You Are Enough, In This Moment, AMIDA, You Are Enough and Love Your Amazing Self, Born I

Places: Washington, DC, Los Angeles

More episodes of Sounds Heal Podcast

• Bear Love on Deep Listening, Sound Healing, and Vibrational Awareness · June 10, 2026 · 43 min
• Sound Healing with Monica Mullen: Deep Listening and Conscious Practice · May 27, 2026 · 39 min
• BioAcoustic Biology & Sound Healing with Sharry Edwards: Voice Frequency Analysis for Wellness · May 13, 2026 · 57 min
• Sound Healing with Celtic Tradition: Carmel Diviney on Land, Lineage & Vibration · April 22, 2026 · 44 min
• Sounds Heal Podcast with Tom Kenyon and Natalie Brown · April 7, 2026 · 55 min
• Sounds Heal Podcast with Don Reed Simmons & Natalie Brown · March 24, 2026 · 49 min