Adam Yauch — aka MCA — of the Beastie Boys has died.
I can’t believe it either.
Small May 5 update: The story’s everywhere now. And then there’s this “News in Photos” gag from The Onion.
From the "Mixtape" cover
The announcement I just saw about rapper A Cultivator (yes, that’s his name, “A Cultivator”) made a big deal like he’s the first person to bring rap and dharma together. But that’s hardly true — if you’ve been visiting the Horse for a while you know there’s been plenty of that. But that doesn’t make the idea any less worthwhile. Of course, with rap, so much is in the delivery, so you’ll have to see for yourself how A Cultivator stacks up, but you can do that by downloading his “Buddhist Hip Hop Mixtape” for free. Click here. From Skillful Methods Records, whose mission, they say, is “to build a movement based on the deepest values and meanings by which people live and contribute the art that will encourage and advance all toward the realization of enlightenment.”
Note: a little Googling seems to suggest that A Cultivator is down with Dorje Chang Buddha III, a spiritual teacher who’s been the subject of some notable controversy and criticism.
“[T]here’s been a detour in Gomo Tulku’s spiritual journey,” reports NPR. “He’s about to release his first rap recording.”
Now, comments on the piece, so far, don’t seem to be in the Rapping Lama’s favor. But listen for yourself and see what you think.
Of course, there’s nothing new about the Buddhism/hip-hop crossover. And like anything, the results have been all over the map. You’ll find some gems — and otherwise — in the Horse’s archives.
Thanks to Colleen Ann K. for the tip.
Frequent visitors to The Worst Horse probably know Born I Music, though they may know him more by his previous moniker, Born Infinite — the name he went by went he was half of the rap duo Shambhala.
Happy to say I’ve just done a new Shambhala Sun Audio interview with Born as he celebrates the release of his new solo album, Tomorrow is Today. Hope you’ll check it out; he’s a straight-up and talented and inspiring dude. And he knows his Buddhism, too.
Tibetan hip-hop? Well, why not? …I mean, sure, it might look at first like they’re trying to be too Western in their approach — the regrettable inclusion of Auto-Tune doesn’t help things — but these ain’t like most Western rap lyrics. And: Dude who comes in at 1:10 kinda has the best voice and delivery EVER.
“New Generation” by Yudrug (Green Dragon) from HPeaks on Vimeo.
As you may have heard, Adam Yauch (aka MCA) of the Beastie Boys has been battling cancer, in the form of a tumor on his parotid gland. Earlier today news broke that he had been declared cancer free. As the Toronto Sun reports, the hoped-for diagnosis came after Yauch “adopted a strict vegan diet and turned to ancient Chinese medicine upon the advice of Tibetan doctors.”
But Yauch himself writes on the Beastie Boys website:
While I’m grateful for all the positive energy people are sending my way, reports of my being totally cancer free are exaggerated.
I’m continuing treatment, staying optimistic and hoping to be cancer free in the near future.
Hang in there, Yauch — we’ll keep the positive energy coming your way.
Via Rolling Stone: “U2′s ‘Scarlet’ (shown below) was played to celebrate the release of Burmese political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi, and was mashed up with Jay-Z’s ‘History,’ which he wrote after President Obama was elected.”
Born I, he of the late great rap duo Shambhala, continues his reincarnation as a solo artist with this new video. As with Shambhala, there are references to meditation, and both Born’s malas and a a Dalai Lama photo make cameos — along with a typically fly ride. (Born’s Shambhala-mate, Agua, makes an appearance too.)
More from Born here.
Yes, even PerezHilton.com posted this video, writing: “LOLs! In an attempt to attract new, younger followers to Buddhism, Buddhist monks in Japan are trying a new approach – rapping! Check out the HIGHlarity of the hip hop monks…” (And comments there have been positive, too, so far.)
What do you think of Mr. Happiness and his drink-pouring extended posse? The more traditional of us may balk, but he’s doubled attendance at his temple. Can you argue with those results? (And really, is this all so “HIGHlarious”?)
Now back online: comedian Arj Barker’s video’d skewering of spiritual materialist Buddhists. It’s not always spot-on, but still…
Thanks to Jesse from Shambhala Sun for the tip!
Ethan Nichtern also posted his thoughts about “The Sickest Buddhist” over on the One City blog, when the video first debuted. Check that out here.
