The Almanac of Rap

Religion has always had a place in hip-hop, from ‘god-body’ flows to references of the “third eye” and quoting Surahs; but what happens when you sit down with an actual Buddhist rapper?

This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill is joined by rapper, author, and practitioner Born I to explore the long-standing (and often misunderstood) relationship between Buddhism and hip-hop culture. From references to “Buddha” in rap lyrics to deeper conversations around mindfulness, suffering, and self-compassion, this episode separates fact from folklore.  Born I will break down:


Key Buddhist concepts like the Four Noble Truths, Dharma, and mantras


His own journey navigating hip-hop, electronic music, and spiritual practice


How artists use music as testimony, how hooks can function like mantras, and why hip-hop’s connection to Buddhism runs deeper than weed references and fashion logos.


Plus, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and Childish Gambino lyrics get put under the microscope…are they actually tapping into Buddhist philosophy, or just vibing? (You be the judge.)

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.Substack: New Music TuesdaysInstagram/Threads: @donwillMixcloud: DonwillWebsite: Donwill.meFollow Born IInstagram:  bornimusic  Web: bornimusic.comSoundcloud: bornimusic 

Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.  Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill is joined by hip-hop legend Bun B for a deep conversation on the evolution of Southern rap, the cultural impact of UGK, and how Texas carved out its own lane in hip-hop history.  From Port Arthur to global stages, Bun B reflects on building UGK alongside Pimp C, navigating regional bias in the early days of hip-hop, and the slow but undeniable rise of the South to dominance. The conversation explores how independent hustle, local scenes, and sonic innovation helped Southern artists shift the industry’s center of gravity. Bun B breaks down:


How UGK helped define the Southern rap sound


The South’s fight for respect in early hip-hop


Texas rap culture and independent grind

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

Follow Bun B

Instagram:  bunb

Tik Tok: bun_b1

Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.  Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

📢 Special Announcement 📢

Want to join Donwill for a live recording of The Almanac of Rap in NYC?Click here to request an invite. (Limited capacity. Invite only.)On Air Fest, Soho House, and Okayplayer have joined forces for a special live episode of the Almanac of Rap featuring Regan Sommer McCoy, Chief Curator of the Mixtape Museum on March 24, 2026 at 5:30pm.Join Donwill and Regan at Ludlow House NYC for a conversation on hip-hop preservation, archival storytelling, and the hidden science behind mixtape culture.

📢 ### 📢

Juno Award-winning Canadian rapper and broadcaster Shad joins Donwill for a long-overdue conversation that spans music, media, and creative growth. From freestyling in London, Ontario to winning a Juno Award over Drake, Shad reflects on carving out a career in a country with a very different hip-hop ecosystem.  Shad breaks down:

His journey from freestyling in London to becoming a Juno Award-winning artist, and beating Drake in the process.


Your Boy Tony Braxton and why artists should never “disrespect the music”

Hosting Hip-Hop Evolution and interviewing icons like Dolly Parton and Norm Macdonald

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

Follow Shad

Instagram: @shadkmusic

Web: shadk.com

Music: K.I.S.S. + Islands

Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.  Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with 9th Wonder, Grammy-winning producer, Jamla Records founder, Little Brother co-founder, and college professor, alongside rising North Carolina MC Reuben Vincent, one of the sharpest young lyricists in the game.  Together they unpack:

The legacy of North Carolina hip-hop9th Wonder’s journey from producer to professor

Discovering Reuben Vincent at just 13 years old

Why using your government name in rap is basically a skill badge

Jamla Records and artist development in the streaming era

Education, mentorship, and preserving hip-hop history

How the internet changed artist relationships foreverThe making of their joint album Welcome Home

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

Follow 9th Wonder:

Instagram: @9thwonder

Twitter/X: @9thwonder

Jamla Records: @jamlarecords

Follow Reuben Vincent:

Instagram: @reubenvincent

YouTube: @reubenvincent Welcome Home

Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.  Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does a beat sound like when it… sounds expensive?  In this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with legendary Seattle producer Jake One, the mind behind records for MF DOOM, Freddie Gibbs, Rick Ross, J. Cole, Freeway, Snoop Dogg, Brother Ali, Tuxedo, and even the iconic John Cena theme.  Together they unpack one of the most important shifts in modern hip-hop production: the rise of type beats.  Jake One breaks down:

What “type beats” actually are and how they changed the music economy

The BeatStars marketplace and the viral story behind Old Town Road

The difference between analog era producers and FruityLoops generation producers

Speed-running beats, drum kits, and the gamification of music production

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

Follow Jake One:

Instagram: jakeuno

Web: snarejordan.com

Bancamp: Jake One

Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.  Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices