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), Born I has released a wide range of projects, from the autobiographical hip-hop album In This Moment (2021), to the spiritual lo-fi project AMIDA (2023), to his latest genre-defying live shows and immersive short films. His children’s books, You Are Enough and Love Your Amazing Self, encourage young people to practice self-compassion and have been featured at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

Whether performing for a packed festival crowd or guiding intimate circles in meditation, Born I carries one message across every medium:

You are enough. Right now, exactly as you are.

•“Born I bridges his roles as meditation teacher, author and hip-hop artist into one creative project.” — Lion’s Roar Magazine

•“There’s a new voice for us to hear in hip-hop and beyond and his name is Born.” — Vibe Magazine