MC Yogi brings a unique mix of hip-hop to the world. His upbeat music merges with lyrics steeped in eastern mysticism, yogic philosophy and Hindu mantras. Practicing yoga for more than 20 years and performing for more than 16 years, MC Yogi spent a good part of his youth in trouble, which eventually landed him in a group home for youth.
“My dad turned me on to yoga. I was a graffiti artist and deep into the hip-hop scene, yoga not only revolutionized my mind it also affected my art. I began writing songs inspired by yoga philosophy,” explains MC Yogi.
When he was younger and his parents were going through a divorce, MC Yogi said he found refuge in music, comic books and drawing.
“It was a source of release. I experienced peace through art,” he said.
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“Tahoe is a special place for me; I’ve been coming up most of my life
and I can’t think of a better time to be teaching than Valentine’s Day.”
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Inspired by MCA of the Beastie Boys, MC Yogi explains that he was a known gun-toting, intense character. When MC Yogi saw images of him destroying guns, swearing off violence and becoming a Buddhist, he said that it impacted his life.
“He became someone I looked up to, it helped and inspired me find another way to live differently.”
MC Yogi’s life has led him to discovering his truth and exploring what it means to fulfill and live ones purpose.
“It’s all about going inward instead of looking externally,” he says. And, he’s attempting to spread the love and the mindfulness.
“We can shift our culture to be more mindful and healthy and create a culture that celebrates life in the best way possible without hurting anyone in the process. We need to disrupt the status quo and create change from the inside out. I create soundtracks that illustrate my art and music, expressing my inner reflection,” he says.
MC Yogi loves to dance and have fun. He relates to the club scene as the mind and meditation as an important part of his practice and discipline.
“Yoga is very intelligent. We are complete and whole and the disease is we think we are not. Yoga helps to untangle that knot and live a more kind and peaceful life,” he says.
For MC Yogi life, is about a radical personal revolution, following his truth and authentic voice, he says.
“Lennon and Bowie were icons and my inspirations. The way they created art inspired people to be themselves,” and in that vein, MC Yogi explains, “I practice each moment and all day long. Yoga accepts me and helps me to deal with where I am at.”
MC Yogi has paved his own road to success as an independent, underground artist far from the mainstream. His latest release, “Only Love is Real,” debuted on the iTunes top 50 hip-hop albums and then charted on Billboard, which led to MC Yogi to being No. 12 on Billboard’s Heatseeker list of artists to watch. He attributes the success of the album to the multitudes of yogis who spread the word.
“Only Love is Real is a mantra,” says MC Yogi. The re-release of “Only Love is Real” just hit the streets with new videos, remixes and music available on iTunes.
Shaleah Morris, owner of Yoga Studio Tahoe has been working on getting MC Yogi to Studio Tahoe for the last year. She collaborated with Steve Emmerich of Fresh Bakin’ productions.
“I met MC Yogi at a yoga conference in San Francisco. Jai Uttal was leading kirtan and MC Yogi jumped up in the front of hundreds of people chanting and started dancing and singing. I fell in love with him on the spot. He is one of the best things that happened to the yoga scene,” says Morris. A yogi and chanter, Morris says she loves how chanting is transformational.
“I want people to feel the healing power of chanting,” she adds.
MC Yogi will be offering two workshops with his wife, Amanda Giacomini, an artist and yogi at Yoga Studio Tahoe in Truckee. The workshop, entitled For the Love of Yoga, takes place on Feb. 15 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (the Feb. 14 workshop is already sold out) that will include physical practice, philosophy, music and story.
“Tahoe is a special place for me; I’ve been coming up most of my life and I can’t think of a better time to be teaching than Valentine’s Day,” MC Yogi says.
Fresh Bakin’ Productions presents MC Yogi at the Crystal Bay Casino on Feb. 14.
“There will be a lot of dancing, good vibes, good times and good energy. I am excited to be coming back to Tahoe. I am fortunate and blessed to do what I love,” says MC Yogi.
For more information about MC Yogi’s yoga workshop, call Yoga Studio Tahoe at (530) 587-1891. For more information on MC Yogi’s live music performance at the Crystal Bay Casino, visit crystalbaycasino.com.
Feb. 14 | 9 p.m.
$22 advance | $26 at the door | $42 booth
Crystal Bay Casino | Crystal Bay, Nev.
21+ only
Feb. 15 | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | $45 advance | $60 at the door
Yoga Studio Tahoe | Truckee
