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Beyond their different names, beneath centuries of esoteric ritual and behind all the territorial rivalry, most religions have at their core, a shared belief in the interconnectedness of not just mankind but all of known creation. Even for the non-religious, it’s easy to get preoccupied with the immediate desires that plague the self and to forget how we are all but a tiny component in something much-much larger. Aiming to override conventional views of “Them/Us,” Shambhala’s work connects with all points of the political, philosophical and religious compass and in so doing, begins to galvanise all these once disparate ideas into art that points the listener toward a realisation that, as Brand Nubian once said, “Everything is everything.” The emphasis of Shambhala’s music is always on acceptance and appropriation and never upon exclusion or rejection. Shambhala are not trying to package enlightenment: Shambhala can but only show the way.
Resembling, in many ways, artists as diverse as X-Clan, Redcloud, Kunga219 and Canibus, Shambhala force a reconsideration of the term “original.” It’s true that many have said aspects of what Shambhala say and that many acts can be seen as antecedents to elements of their style. However, it takes Shambhala to draw all these many stylistic and ideological influences into the one unique outfit.
The way in which Born Infinite and Agua have responded to my questions is as unorthodox as their form of rap music. Usually, group members tussle for the spotlight and so are keen to take and assign credit in their individual favour. Fully aware of their role in the yinyang Both Born Infinite and Agua chose to answer my questions jointly as “The unified Spirit of Shambhala.” I tend to find it difficult to take people seriously when they refer to themselves and their group in the third person even if this detachment is but a tentative first step toward abandonment of illusions of self. Fortunately, what these guys had to say is both more important and interesting than the grandiose manner by which they said it. So, please read, heed and feed off the wisdom these guys radiate.
What was your honest, immediate reaction to the news of ODB’s death?
Do you see any value in looking at the deaths of Eazy-E, 2pac, Big Pun and ODB and seeing a unifying “live by the sword: die by the sword” tragic irony? Either way, are there any lessons that can be drawn? In these times, it’s important to study the universal laws of karma, yin yang, 360 degree rotation, cause and effect - the way of nature. Due to the fact that we never know what goes on behind closed doors with any and everybody, it’s foolish to pass judgment on anything you see on the surface through the media. So people shouldn't get carried away with the drama they think they see. Everything in life speaks for itself. God bless and keep all those brothers… Has there been one specific humbling point in your own lives so far that has compelled you to rethink your position in the big scheme of things? For Agua, it was hearing his children speak on HIM in the grand scheme of things... for Born Infinite, it was a message from the Buddha upon the arrival of his first child in the womb. What were you two doing before you formed Shambhala? As solo artists, Born Infinite & Agua were exercising their Mic Contortionist skills around the Metro area and doing their thing in this or that state. Both of them were carving their paths through the underground, making names for themselves.... Born was also on the Jungle/Drum n Bass scene with the Mind Control Crew. Agua was a respected, invisible dragon... How did you two guys meet and form?
The two of them met telepathically.
A cursory listen to the album reminded me of a mid ‘90s album called The seeds of evolution by The Dark Sun Riders (a group fronted by X-Clan’s Brother J). Whereas that record failed to get the recognition it still deserves, there’s been a growth of mystical and quasi-religious rap from both mainstream and underground. What’s changed over the past 5-8 years to provoke this change? The balance of opening minds in relation to the growth of ignorance. Now is the time, but “now” is an illusion. On a related note: What makes you different to all the other hip hop outfits who’ve appropriated and adapted ideas and images from “Eastern” culture? Shambhala is Shambhala. Most people deal with duality and will always feel the need to compare... but if you study the flow of nature and overstand that refined energy will forever live and travel through different artists, then you understand that everything is one. It has come through those before, it shall pass through Shambhala and it will continue on... In light of the increasingly corporate modernization of China and “The East” do you think “The East” is setting a good example to The West and do the teachings of its philosophers still hold value? Question 1. - Hell no. Question 2. - Hell yes. - One can never de-emphasize the value of the Teachings; Eastern or Western in any age. Regardless of the state of the world, if one studies oneself, the Earth and beyond, one will discover that the ancient wisdom in the spiritual practices of the East are irrefutable. In reality, there is no “east” or “west” – those are just ideas based on one’s relative perspective. All is one. I gather you subscribe to Taoism. However, I’ve found aspects of lots of religions in your work be that Jainism, Christianity and even 5% Gods & Earths. Surely such a theological pic’n’mix ethos pulls your message in lots of different directions at once?
I’m impressed by the music and admire the message but surely Rapping is an egoistic, adversarial art form whose strategies and goals are antithetical to those championed by your conceptualization? A mistake is made here by attempting to define what Hip Hop is or is not (How dare you...). Continual absorptions of The Lotus Of... will answer the question in reference to ego.... Much of your music stresses the need for enlightenment and looks forward to what can be attained through enlightenment. However, I find this strand of your music difficult to reconcile with the strand where you’re denigrating “niggas” and seemingly pursuing the extremely short-term rewards of ego boosting?
The body and mind are inherently empty, subject to change, Fluctuating expressions of the universe. The existence of a true "ego" or "self" in any person, place or thing is impossible to determine. We are all a part of the Eternal Flow, The Way... How can one boost what does not exist? As far as the lyrics on the album, you are free to form your own opinions (which, of course is inevitable).
The album finds you venting off about globalization and the state of the world – surely railing against injustice and protesting is an expression of desire that goes against the Taoist principle of non-action? Agua and Born Infinite do not deal with politricks. Be careful when using your journalistic freedom while we are in the new world order. There is a misunderstanding here of "Non-Action", which is understood in Taoist, Hindu and Buddhist philosophy to mean DETACHMENT from action. Detachment-in-action is the agent that short circuits the karma that keeps us bound to the Earth-plane. One’s actions then become fluid and untraceable. How can one not act in a world of inertia? Lao Tzu left instructions for kings and emperors in much of the Tao Te Ching… How do you know that multi-national corporate one-world government is not the natural course to be taken toward humanity’s unification? Because Shambhala studies the Way. What is this essential Tao? Or this original state from which everything derives? Meditation and the study of The Creator's moving stillness. THE ALL. Do your beliefs go beyond the lyrics and influence how you want the music to be made? I ask this because a lot of the instrumentals have a relaxing, thought-provoking mood and your hooks do tend to develop into chants or mantras by the end of a given track. Yes. More importantly, Agua & Born’s beliefs influence how they want their lives to be made. Music is but one part of their infinite expressions... Are you part of a larger crew or collective? YES - THE 144,000 CHOSEN. What do you hope to achieve through this album?
And finally, anyone you want to biggup on this world wide basis? - Born Infinite and Agua would like to extend blessings to the seeds they planted and the women who bore them. Blessings and respect to UKHH.com, the entire UK and the whole globe..... Anything you’d like to add?
Visit www.199records.com/shambhala to listen and purchase the album. Universal Peace… Also,... We've been all over Europe and we still can't find her... BJORK, please contact us!
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Sumo Kaplunk
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© CD Goldie for ukhh.com 2005
Shambhala Interview
Immediate pain, devastation...especially since Agua's mother and Dirty's mother (Cherry Jones) are friends. He was an icon, a spokesman for our people and our situation in a lot of ways - it is sad that a lot of today's generation may never do the real math on the impact he had on the hip hop game and the world as a whole… May he enter the Light.
To clarify, Agua & Born Infinite have both been raised and
taught in the schools of Taoism, Buddhism, Rastafari, Five Percent Nation of Gods and Earths, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Ba'hai faith, East and West African spiritual traditions, etc... No one should ever be too attached to anything - especially religion, because religion deals with separation. At a glance, one may refer to Agua as a Taoist and Born as a Buddhist, but Shambhala stresses UNITY. Each religion claims to offer the key to salvation by taking their own particular route. Through their friends and family who embody all of the above (each in their own sector), Born Infinite and Agua are able to remain ground rooted within the paradox of the Universe... Truthfully, it doesn't matter what road you take so long as your destination is deliverance - enlightenment, Holy Mount Zion, Shambhala...
To inspire self cultivation so that we may achieve world
Enlightenment and to inspire the evolution of hip hop and music as a whole.
Many thanks go out to Born Infinite and Agua for their answers and props to JB and Steve for the hook up. Shambhala's intriguing The lotus of... is out now on 199 Records. Upon first audition, Agua’s incantation-like cadence and Born Infinite’s harsh, growling swagger are overwhelming and their intense lyricism is hard to follow. However, the key is to let one’s mind unfocus and slip into the intellectual middle-distance where, the dense tangle of words and ideas will slowly unravel in a different way with repeated listenings. Imagine if Canibus, Killah Priest and friends had managed to make a Four Horsemen album…And now imagine if they had something to say – may be it would sound almost as good as Shambhala. Shambhala set themselves such an expansive canvass and deploy such a varied pallet of styles and ideas that it would perhaps be easier to list the topics they do not cover than the stack they do. With the exception of African sunflower where man’s professed piety is put in the context of his inability to maintain fidelity, shambhala speak in broad, philosophical brush strokes and avoid personal revelation. Still, they’ve clearly got a lot to say and plan to be around for a long time to come so it is fitting that their debut be used to establish their challenging world view. Hopefully, this is the first of many albums and the duo will go on to make more connections between macro and micro in order to illustrate the practical relevance of their lofty ideas.
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