What if Gandhi and Kanye Had a Conversation about Spirituality and Fashion?

I had a friend in college who made a mashup of all of Kanye West’s interviews. The short compilation was made as a comedy due to what appear to be contradictions in Kanye’s words. Kanye is a very polarizing figure who I truly believe is one you love or you hate. I believe the same goes with Mahatma Gandhi, a polarizing figure who some love and some hate. These figures were alive at different times on earth and worked in different parts of the world. However, I think we could learn a thing or two about spirituality and creativity across cultures.

There are some stereotypes around spirituality. Some that come to mind for me are the monks who sit in temples and meditate to grow closer to enlightenment. Another is spiritual practitioners who balance their chi through acrobatic/dance-like movements. Lastly, there are those who have spiritual experiences through different substances. I list these stereotypes to paint the picture that spirituality can form and grow in many different arenas. Gandhi and Kanye also add to this picture. From reflections disputing for freedom from oppressors to long hours of laughs and joy in the studio, both figures explore the depths of who they are and what they believe in. Through these heavily influential icons, we will explore how their insights could give us a new understanding of life, a new creative vision, and a new way to reinvent who we are.

Making Conversation

Mahatma is not Gandhi’s first name. This is news to me and props to you who knew this beforehand. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in 1869 and started off as a lawyer working in India. The question is, where did Mahatma come from? Mahatma is a Sanskrit word that means “great-souled or venerable”. ¹ The next question I have to ask is what made Gandhi so special to receive this title.

Sadhguru had an intriguing take on the evolution of Gandhi. In his podcast, Sadhguru starts by telling the story of Gandhi working as a lawyer in India.² In his first court case in India, Gandhi expressed his heart sank into his boots while he was presenting the case.³ Gandhi decided to pivot because he didn’t have the courage to stand up in a courtroom.⁴ Gandhi then moved to South Africa and worked as a lawyer there. Sadhguru tells a story of Gandhi on a train in South Africa, where he was forced off a train because of his skin color. Gandhi questioned why this happened to him and “identified with a much larger problem that had existed”.⁵ I think Sadhguru would say this is where Gandhi became Mahatma Gandhi. From this moment on Gandhi became one of the most influential non-violent political forces to walk the earth. Mahatma Gandhi identified with a larger problem of the people at the time, stuck to the truth, and pursued a version of peace. I believe these “Mahatma traits” are lessons we can grasp to apply to our own spirituality regardless of the time and culture we live in. Living these traits out won’t guarantee you’ll be immortalized with a Mahatma title, but I do believe it could make you the best version of yourself, just like Gandhi.

In moments of despair, Gandhi didn’t sit with his disappointment. He pivoted. He transformed. He flourished into the legend he is today. I believe Gandhi would’ve been able to define the different seasons of his life better than I could, so I won’t attempt to make this a biography. However, I will use his example to provide some insight into our own chapters of life.

On the Highest Self Podcast, Sahara Rose talks about the chapters following her divorce and the energy she embraced in each chapter.⁶ Sahara opens the episode discussing times when she recognized and embraced change. Sahara shed her identity to different versions of herself to deal with her emotions following her heartbreak. Later on in the episode, Sahara gives us her experience of seeking liberation and “the next expansion of you”.⁷

I will not give advice on how to shed different identities, but I do believe Sahara’s insight into finding liberation within yourself is a good direction to start. Take the time to focus and understand the living energy moving inside your body. Maybe even dance with that energy, both literally and figuratively. Be intentional in trying to express your new chapter of growth. Through understanding and expression, you may be able to define this “new chapter energy” to move forward into your best self. I like to think of it as a spiritual renewal in a way. I would recommend in the transition to a new season, consider your approach to your career and your relationships and feel where your energy takes you. Maybe making this conversation with yourself will lead you to a more great-souled and venerable person.

Creating Conversation

Imagine you are on a music video set with Jay Z and Kanye West. Imagine riding around in a broken down luxury cab in an open lot. Imagine zooming at high speeds while models are in the backseat. If it’s too difficult to imagine, you don’t have to keep trying. The music video for the song “Otis” by Jay Z and Kanye West is the scene I tried to paint for you.⁸ The three minute video is full of swag and showcases Jay Z, Kanye West, and Aziz Ansari having a playful time. The trio shows off their wealth and riches in front of a camera behind a beat and clever wordplay. I think this could give us a glimpse into a version of hip-hop culture. Kanye and Jay Z do a majority of expression and Aziz adds moments of flair as well. I believe this music video was primarily made for entertainment reasons, but I also believe it could inform us on what this majority finds value in. In “Otis”, we can see plenty of forms of cultural expression, from bust down rollies, to killer ciphers, and glimmering smiles. I believe cultural art pieces, like “Otis”, can invite people into a culture they may not have experienced otherwise. In Aziz Ansari’s case, productions like “Otis” bridge gaps between people of different origins to create new, inclusive conversation.

I was made aware of Kanye and Aziz’s cultural collaboration by the Multicultural Misfits Podcast, an unfiltered look into the lives of self-proclaimed multicultural misfits. The podcast takes a while to reference the two, but during conversation about Diddy, the guys mention the white-out/all-white party Diddy would host.⁹ The group mentions how random people would get invited and Aziz is mentioned as one of the randoms. Here they jump to how he’s in the “Otis” music video. This three minute segment inspired them to make the cover of Kanye and Aziz hanging out as Aziz poses with two designer bags.¹⁰ I don’t know when this picture was taken, but I will try to connect it to the “Otis” music video.

From our two sources, I can see Kanye and Aziz have different creative clothing styles. Both parties enjoy an extravagant collection of clothes, Kanye wearing two different white shirts and Aziz wearing a black jacket and a sparkling silver jacket. In Kanye’s case, I wonder if his two different styles convey different archetypes of himself.¹¹ On the other hand, I wonder if Aziz is captured in jackets consistently to carry a consistent image of himself. I believe asking questions in this manner will create conversation between two diverse cultures that is more enjoyable. Having a space where thoughts and ideas are welcomed allows different expressions of creativity to be embraced. I believe these principles don’t just apply in formal meet and greets, but also in unexpected meetings or playful events. Recognizing someone’s fashion style and inviting them to express why they’re wearing what they’re wearing can foster a newfound understanding between two parties. I believe this sort of mutual understanding was fostered between Kanye and Aziz, and is one reason we have multiple images of the joy they share with one another

Tying Conversation

Play is not a waste of time. Play can be profound, profound in a way that allows you to reinvent who you are. Spiritually, making your energy align with a new chapter to improve your soul. Culturally, creating archetypes of yourself through style and fashion to illuminate your chapters. I imagine Gandhi and Kanye’s conversation would’ve been a conversation filled with an unprecedented understanding and dynamic self-discovery for both sides. From Gandhi’s deep insights to Kanye’s bold self-expression, I imagine the two would’ve had a great time, tied around a laughter-filled conversation.

Bibliography

K.P. Goswami (1971). Mahatma Gandhi:A Chronology. Publications Division, Government of India. Entry for 9 July 1914. ↩︎
The Sadhguru Podcast, “#1243 – What Makes Gandhi a Mahatma,” podcast audio, October 1, 2024, accessed October 2, 2024, https://open.spotify.com/episode/7nSkVCtAdW5dE7xzuJ42vb. ↩︎
The Sadhguru Podcast ↩︎
The Sadhguru Podcast ↩︎
The Sadhguru Podcast ↩︎
The Highest Self Podcast, “570: How To Start + Define Your New Chapter Energy With Rosie Acosta,” podcast audio, October 1, 2024, accessed October 2, 2024, https://open.spotify.com/episode/4kBgNuYDKq33qlZWV168QS. ↩︎
The Highest Self Podcast ↩︎
Kanye West, “JAY Z, Kanye West – Otis ft. Otis Redding,” YouTube, n.d.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoEKWtgJQAU. ↩︎
Multicultural Misfits Podcast, “ep 185,” podcast audio, October 1, 2024, accessed October 2, 2024, https://open.spotify.com/episode/1JIcOEUYW0YZHHj548aSj3. ↩︎
BlackRainbows.Tumblr.com, “Let’s Fall Apart Together,” Dabney Ross jones, n.d.https://www.pinterest.com/pin/fresh-hip-hop-beats-kid-dyno-inc–40321359137453995/. ↩︎
The Highest Self Podcast ↩︎

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