Spitting Out Spiritual Power: MC Yogi and "Chakra Beatbox"

Today's random tune is by MC Yogi, a Bay Area hip hop artist and yogi who promotes themes of Hindu religion and philosophy in his music. MC Yogi is the performing name of Nicolas Giacomini who began rapping at 13. While living in home for at-risk children at age 17, he became a practitioner of yoga after his father took it up. His songs are often bhajans, or devotional songs, celebrating one or another of the Hindu deities. At other times, he provides interesting history lessons on the lives of important historical figures within Hinduism, such as Gandhi. Even when he is doing nothing but beatboxing, his songs can sound like mantras or prayers. This song, Chakra Beatbox, can be found on MC Yogi's 2008 album Elephant Power.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC_Yogi

Devotion: MC Yogi and "Pranam"

Our random tune today is by MC Yogi, a Bay Area hip hop artist and yogi who promotes themes of Hindu religion and philosophy in hip hop whose real name is Nicolas Giacomini. Giacomini began rapping at 13 and, while living in home for at-risk children at age 17, he became a practitioner of yoga after his father took it up. His songs are often bhajans, or devotional songs, celebrating one or another of the Hindu deities. At other times, he provides interesting history lessons on the lives of important historical figures within Hinduism, such as Gandhi. Even when he is doing nothing but beatboxing, his songs can sound like mantras or prayers. This song, Pranam, can be found on MC Yogi's 2012 album Pilgrimage.

The Light Inside: MC Yogi and "Temple Light"

Today's random tune is by Nicholas Giacomini, a Bay Area hip hop artist and yogi who promotes themes of Hindu religion and philosophy in hip hop under the name of MC Yogi. Giacomini began rapping at 13 and, while living in home for at-risk children at age 17, he became a practitioner of yoga after his father took it up. His songs are often bhajans, or devotional songs, celebrating one or another of the Hindu deities. At other times, he provides interesting history lessons on the lives of important historical figures within Hinduism, such as Gandhi. Even when he is doing nothing but beatboxing, his songs can sound like mantras or prayers. This song, Temple Light, can be found on MC Yogi's 2012 album Pilgrimage. It is dedicated to Megan's father John Kamerick, who departed this world about a year and a half ago and whose birthday is today.