Despite their superficial differences, yoga and rap are proving a great partnership. For a music genre that stylistically prizes comfort while addressing themes beyond the comfortable, what could offer more sthiram sukham than gear that lends itself to the odd spiritual gangster vrschikasana?
With Vogue-approved Y7 Studios in New York and California having opened – specialising in hip-hop themed yoga classes – and Def Jam founder Russell Simmons founding high-end studio Tantris in LA, links between music, movement, comfort and style have never been stronger. The music industry has long been used to artists coupling reversed baseball caps and tracksuits with lyrics and beats – Run DMC even rapped about Adidas, and Skepta has launched his own clothing line – but a now there’s a new look on the block: yogawear.
Outkast’s Andre 3000 proved anything goes dressed as a jockey in his Hey Ya video, but now his bandmate, Big Boi, is enthusing about a new trend. ‘My wife got me into Lululemon recently’, he said, ‘the tops are so comfortable and breathable’. In London, promoting new album Boomiverse, the Atlantan rapper paired yoga pants with Nike Air Jordans. ‘So I wear yoga stuff and shit’, he said.
Meanwhile the Canadian superbrand has also proven popular, with British grime rapper P Money recently having become a Lululemon ambassador, and even promoting the benefits of pranayama for soothing performance nerves and aiding vocal delivery.
So whilst they might not seem to have much in common, it’s all good in the ‘hood between hip hop and yogawear; it seems they have never been cosier together.
Read the original story at The Guardian.
