MC Yogi
MC Yogi | |
|---|---|
 MC Yogi at Turtle Bay Resort, February 28, 2014, North Shore of Oahu island in Hawaii, February 28, 2014. | |
| Born | Nicholas Giacomini |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, yogi |
| Spouse | Amanda Giacomini |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Hip Hop |
| Instrument | Vocals |
MC Yogi is the stage name of Nicholas Giacomini, a US-American hip hop musician and yogi. His music style characteristically contains themes promoting Hindu philosophy and many of his songs are bhajans.
Personal life
MC Yogi was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Bay area, he started rapping when he was 13 and started practicing yoga when he was 17 while leaving in a group home for at-risk youth. He became attracted to yoga after his father started practicing it. His first teacher was Larry Schultz.[1] He is married to Amanda Giacomini and the pair divide their time between teaching at their Point Reyes yoga studio, Yoga Toes, and traveling for music performance.[2]
Reviews
Yoga Journal reviewed MC Yogi's work as "surprisingly educational" because "he makes rapping about Hindu deities little learning opportunities".[3]
The New York Times said that MC Yogi may embody the ethos of the Wanderlust Festival more than any other performer.[4]
In society
In 2008 MC Yogi produced a video called "Obama '08 - Vote for Hope" promoting the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, and the video went viral on YouTube.[5][6]
In 2009 Starbucks promoted an MC Yogi song as part of a campaign called "Are You In?" The purpose of the campaign is to promote community service and volunteering.[5][6]
In 2012, MC Yogi produced a video in celebration of Gandhi Jayanti (October 2, the birth of Mahatma Gandhi). The video is called, " Be the Change (The Story of Mahatma Gandhi)."[7][8]
References
- ^ "Exclusive Interview with MC Yogi". Seattle Yoga News. July 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ Macklin, Karen (September 2011). "Grounding Grooves". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ Reiss, Valerie (3 September 2008). "Samadhi & the City". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ Ryzik, Melena (27 July 2009). "At a Lake Tahoe Festival, Party by Night and Downward Dog by Day". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ a b High, Kamau (21 January 2009). "Starbucks Taps MC Yogi For New Campaign". billboard.biz. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ a b Tischler, Linda (21 January 2009). "Starbucks and M.C. Yogi Offer You a Free Cuppa Joe -- If You Volunteer". Fast Company. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ "MC Yogi Debuts "Be The Change" Music Video Celebrating Ghandi's Life + Legacy". PRWeb. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
- ^ Yogi, MC (3 October 2012). "Happy Birthday to A Real Super Hero: Mahatma Gandhi". Huffington Post. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
