Rhythm & Spirit: How Hip-Hop Inspired Me To Make A Guided Meditation Album

By Harris Levon McRae

“Sky is the limit…and you know that you can have what you want, be what you want.” ~ Notorious B.I.G.

My album “Rhythm & Spirit: The SkyHouse Music Hip-Hop Affirmations, Meditations & Visualizations Album” was inspired by the above message which is included in many hip-hop songs. Have hope. Be confident. Control your own life.

As I mentioned, this quote comes from Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known by his stage names The Notorious B.I.G. and Biggie Smalls, on his song called “Sky’s the Limit”. During the course of the song, he recounts a life filled with limited resources and cash flow problems that he had known since childhood. Growing up this way helped influence Biggie to turn to a life of crime, drug dealing, and violence.?

Despite those challenges, his story is one of not just surviving–but thriving. When Biggie says “112 sing the chorus”, The smoove R&B group drops a line that is a powerful affirmation that we can all use as a mantra: “Sky is the limit…and you know that you can have what you want, be what you want.”?

Just listening to those words lift you up and you start to feel like you can rise above even the bleakest of circumstances. “Sky’s the Limit” is a perfect example of how hip-hop can inspire us all to become the best that we can be.?

Although it is rarely talked about, this sentiment runs through a lot of hip-hop music. Other great hip-hop affirmations that come to mind are “Never looking back or too far in front of me. The present is a gift, and I just wanna BE” by Common, from “Be (Intro)” and “If the truth is told, the youth can grow Then learn to survive until they gain control Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes Read more learn more, change the globe.” Nas rhymes in “I Can”.?

And in this lyric from “Cut You Off (To Grow Closer)”, Kendrick Lamar eloquently drives home my point about the power of positive thinking: “If I speak the good into existence, that instant my dreams will unlock, money flow like water, I’ll just wait at the dock.”

This optimistic vibe is what inspired me to take the powerful lyrical affirmations and moving music beats of hip-hop and make “Rhythm & Spirit: The SkyHouse Music Hip-Hop Affirmations, Meditations & Visualizations Album”.

While we are on the subject of the positivity culture of hip-hop, it is VERY important to note that when most people think of hip-hop they tend to focus on rapping and rap music. There are actually four distinct parts in what goes into making hip-hop culture. There is the MC (rapper) and DJ, as well as breakdancing, and graffiti.?

“Rhythm & Spirit: The SkyHouse Music Hip-Hop Affirmations, Meditations & Visualizations Album'' has meditations that range from the reggaefied reverence of “Thoughtful N' Thankful (Gratitude Guided Meditation)”, to the completely danceable R&B/Hip-Hop groove of “Inner Bling (Guided Mindfulness Meditation)”.?

The range of positive lyrics and genre-busting music tracks inspired by hip-hop, is what makes this album so enjoyable as both a meditation album or a joint that you just want to put on and chill. These ten guided meditations serve as potent tools for personal growth and self-discovery.?

Here is a track-by-track synopsis:

“I Am (Guided Mindfulness Meditation: Positive Energy Affirmations)”

I Am. Two of the most powerful words that we can say together. Not only does Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all use these two combined words to represent a single deity, the words I am, are supposed to remind us that GOD is in everything. “I Am” is a song full of praise and gratitude for one’s self, wrapped up in a bumping anthem.?

Magic flute blows with bated breath on top of celestial textures. Drums simple yet infectious. A golden gong accentuates each affirmation on the chorus. The track's structure is set up to be a powerful breathing exercise that you can practice while listening to the song and planting it into your subconscious. The lively production sets the stage for the melodic affirmations being spit with pinpoint motivational expression.

Inhale. “I Am getting better and better every day.” Exhale. Inhale. “I Am an unstoppable force of nature. What more can I say?” Exhale. Inhale. “I Am an exquisite example of the kind of world I want to live in.” Exhale. Inhale. “I am real, the real deal, and I see no need to pretend.” Exhale.?

“Thoughtful N' Thankful (Gratitude Guided Meditation)”?

Many of the people who helped lay the foundation of hip-hop culture, including DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambatta, Grandmaster Flash, and DJ Disco Wiz were of Caribbean or Latin American descent. I could not have made a hip-hop influenced album without paying homage to reggae music and Jamaican culture which has made a forever stamp on hip-hop.?

For inspiration for “Thoughtful N' Thankful (Gratitude Guided Meditation)'' I dove into my album collection to listen to many of the great reggae artists that I have loved over the years like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff. The essence of those songs: Slow burning groove. Heavy four-beat rhythm. The back-beat of the kick drum laying it down for the bubbling bass. Guitar punch, punch, punctuating the offbeat rhythm that defines reggae. “I am grateful for this fresh air. I am thankful for food to share. I am grateful for heart that beats. I am thankful for the shoes upon my feet…”

“Catching Breath (A Meditation For Reconnecting With Your Breath)”?

“Welcome to the present moment. No distractions. No scurries. No to-do lists and no hurry-hurries. Relax. No worries…”?

Wind chimes clinkclanging, yoga breathing exercises called pranayama which is a Sanskrit word that means “to extend the vital life force”, and a free-flowing drum track drive this guided meditation. The keys and textures meld with your mind and weave peaceful tales that morph into nothingness. Breathe in. Breathe out. When we “catch our breath”, we pause for a bit until we can breathe normally again. This is the basis for what is called “mindful breathing”. It gets us to slow down so that we can use our breathing as a rejuvenation tool. It is a great stress reducer and anxiety reliever.

Catching Breath Meditation

Find a nice quiet space where you won’t be disturbed and get into a comfortable position. Be easy. Close your eyes. Breath is here. Air everywhere. Naturally. Amazing. Focus on it. Breathe in. Breathe out. Sounds, smells, thoughts–acknowledge the distractions as part of the process and let them blow on by. Breathe…

“Manifest (Meditation For Setting Powerful Intentions)”

What do? you want? Adding manifestation affirmations into your practice can help you focus on the life that you have always dreamed of. Being in the habit of thinking positive thoughts brings immediate mental health benefits and an overall sense of empowerment. Just like it enhances our workout routines and soundtracks other parts of our lives, adding music to the manifesting mix can make for a potent combination.??

It is almost impossible to talk about manifestation techniques without talking about The Law of Attraction (LOA). Simply put, the philosophy behind the Law of Attraction is “What you put out equals what you get back.” Like energy attracts like energy.?

This is a tough concept for a lot of us, because this means that we must take full responsibility for the lives that we currently have. Manifestation techniques help us focus on positive thoughts that lead to positive outcomes in our lives.

The soundscape is set with a fire flute melody, breezy and beckoning,? breathing life into atmospheric meanderings. Positive affirmations are spoken in a traditional guided meditation tone. Then the hip-hop beat kicks in and rap-like vocalizations ensue: “Manifest. You are the best. Eye on the prize and forget about the rest. Manifest. Know that you are blessed. Divine inspiration. Rise above any test…”

“Light Noise (A Meditation for Love and Kindness)”?

Mellower than mellow. This instrumental piece was designed to create a rhythm and structure that evokes emotions fostering peace and love without being too distracting. Long repetitive patterns with subtle changes make for an uplifting and healing atmosphere. Its calming and soothing effect is great for meditating, studying, and helping with your concentration.?

Breathe in. Breathe out.

“Horoscope (Guided Mindfulness Meditation: Positive Energy Affirmations)”????

The Cambridge Dictionary defines horoscope as: “a description of what is going to happen to you, based on the position of the stars and planets at the time of your birth.”?

I am not sold on the future-predicting aspect of horoscopes, but I have always found astrology and horoscopes a lot of fun. They are pretty uncanny at showcasing human traits according to the relative positions of planets and signs of the zodiac at a specific time (birthdays for instance). I am amazed at what a typical Cancer zodiac sign member I am. I mean, I am a textbook Cancer according to astrology and my zodiac sign.

Instead of focusing on what is going to happen to me based on the position of the stars and planets at the time of my birth, for this meditation I focus more on what happens to me because I attract it.?

The timeless sound of the dancing Indian sitar melody, and the golden gong gonging at the beginning of each affirmation signaling what to focus on, helps provide a soothing soundscape for inner growth.”You are in love with your best friend. Your best friend is you. Listen to this again…”

“Cloud 9 (Being Present Guided Visualization Meditation)”?

Being on “Cloud 9” is a phrase that we often use to express a high state of bliss. It was as if my feet weren’t touching the ground when this meditation started to unfold, formed in beautiful spontaneity. I am weightless, chilling inside the cushy comfort of the most magnificent cloud ever.

I wanted this track to have a jazzy atmosphere with a sound like Miles Davis windwalking through the clouds with the toot toot tooting of his trumpet providing a light-filled aura to this guided visualization meditation. It is characterized by moody textures, simple harmony, syncopated guitar riffs, and the free-flowing feel of improvisation:

“Take a long, slow deep breath in. Take a long, slow deep breath out. Breathe in. Breathe out. The sun kisses your skin and cool is the wind as you fly higher into the sky. Cloud 9 flows through the air gracefully like a bird on the wing. You are at peace as you sail through the air higher and higher taking in the wonderful sights. Other clouds. The sun. Airplanes nearby. And it is amazing how high some birds can fly…”

“Be Like Water (A Water Meditation for Stress-Relief)”?

This meditation was inspired by Bruce Lee:

“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

An homage to the adaptability and vital nature of H20. It is essential to life as the main component of? Earth’s hydrosphere (the sum of all water on the planet, including ocean water, water on the surface, and in the air) and the fluids of all living things.??

Percussion rules in this one. The sound of water droplets falling from overfilled clouds blends seamlessly into the soundscape. Drums and cowbells hit like raindrops on city streets. You hear rivers rushing, waterfalls water falling, and ocean waves crashing. You feel like you're some sort of a water creature, mermaid or Aquaman, when you listen to this meditation: “Everybody makes mistakes, we all must be shifting shapes, we must go with the flow, not be trapped, adapt and go and be like water…”

“At The Beach (Calming Ocean Guided Meditation)”?

“Life is a beach and i am juss playing in the sand! :DD” ~ Lil Wayne

Continuing with the H20 theme of “Be Like Water (A Water Meditation for Stress-Relief)”, a day at the beach is my favorite way to pass the time so it was with great joy that I created this piece on a late summer day at the Oregon coast. I feel the presence of this day every time I listen to this guided meditation.

The overall structure of the song relies on a musical sound expressive of rest and relaxation. The resonance of the sitar is rich in harmonics, and the sparse percussion accents highlight the layered vocals.?

You can almost smell the salt air, and feel the sand between your toes, as your ears perk up to listen to the sound of the sea samples that I sprinkled into the mix. The whines of whales, the gulls perform a set tune with higher-pitched longer notes descending and fading as they pass. Waves ebb and flow and crash throughout. Sea lions bark and vocalize.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

“Inner Bling (Guided Mindfulness Meditation: Positive Energy Affirmations)” ?

The last composition of the project flips the script from the rest of the album with its more traditional pop music structure. My favorite type of popular music is when artists turn their songwriting into positive affirmations and motivational mantras. Every time I hear Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” or Kanye West’s “Stronger”, my vibration immediately rises and I am reminded of the power of rap music with its potent blend of words and music.?

Some of the absolute masters of positive and uplifting songwriting are Earth, Wind, & Fire, who has been sampled by every hip-hop artist from Jay-Z to Nas. From A Tribe Called Quest to 2Pac and Missy Elliot. Every time I hear “I Like the Way You Move” by Outkast, I can’t believe that Earth, Wind & Fire didn’t collaborate with them on this song!?

With jams like “Shining Star” and “That’s the Way of the World”, Earth, Wind & Fire songs help get folks through tough times: “You’re a shining star. No matter who you are. Shining bright to see. What you could truly be.” “Inner Bling” was inspired by this type of songwriting.

The bomb beat kicks in with a Native American flute sample propelling everything forward with Pied Piper precision. I have not heard a sweeter sound. The jubilant dance party is on with an uplifting motivational anthem. Hand-clapping percussion, soft synth stabs, and subtle syncopated guitar all ride along on a clean, cloud-like groove like Bellerophon soaring through the skies on Pegasus.?

“We got that inner light. It’s like a star that shines brighter than everything. We are the champions. We are the number ones. We got that inner bling. Everybody shining. We got that inner bling!”

The sound healing therapy of listening to and singing along to hip-hop has contributed mightily to my overall emotional health and well-being. Incorporating “Rhythm & Spirit: The SkyHouse Music Hip-Hop Affirmations, Meditations & Visualizations Album” into my meditation practice has served as a powerful tool for self-discovery.?

This music genre that started among African American youth at block parties in the Bronx, has proven to be very life-affirming in providing a way to turn human challenges into messages of resilience and love. As we nod our heads and tap our toes, let us remember that hip-hop music is not only one of the most popular genres of music in the world today, the songs can carry messages that help raise our vibration, and open our minds.?

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Preview the album: https://skyhousemusic1.bandcamp.com/album/rhythm-spirit-the-skyhouse-music-hip-hop-affirmations-meditations-visualizations-album

Watch the Videos: https://www.youtube.com/skyhousemusic