Zen Tempest

There is a special place. A place where the majestic backdrop of boom bap music is populated by notions of prosperity and inner peace, where urban cityscapes and celestial horizons meet in a glorious display of poetic union. This is where you'll find me. - Gabriel Rima (aka Zen Tempest) is a wordsmith who wields poetry as prayer. His approach to rap reflects his multifaceted personal identity and upbringing, weaving aspects of esoteric, eastern, latino, and indigenous inspired spirituality with humor, heart, and grit. For over a decade, he has been pushing the boundaries of the art form known as hip-hop, infusing intricate rhyme schemes with metaphysical philosophy and modern musical sensibilities. In addition to mastering his own craft, he has devoted himself to teaching others the art of storytelling and embodied flow states at live retreats - including Solar Sound and Vibes - and through his online cypher community called The Flow Dojo. His personal coaching practice - Reiki Rap Coaching - adopts an energetic approach through which he supports the act of rap, inviting clients to dissolve blockages to their authentic voice. He views poetry as a martial art, a form of psychic and spiritual acupuncture through which we can move stagnant energy, and recode our collective cultural consciousness in the process. Though he was raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, he currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina.