Lukas “The Black Buddhist” wrote his first rap in elementary school and learned how to beatbox in the 6th grade. Lukas tried his hand at piano, electric and acoustic guitar, drums, and creating projects with GarageBand and Logic Pro. Music and hip hop has always been an important part of Lukas’ story from a young age.

In middle and high school, The Black Buddhist wrote and recorded rhymes to memorize history and other school subjects. He also made parody songs making fun of the rap industry in the late 2000s and early 2010s. By the end of high school, The Black Buddhist had a drawer full of rhyme books and a handful of beats.

The Black Buddhist also put out several mixtapes at this time and during his time at DePaul University in Chicago. Although these projects were not mixed and mastered at a professional level, these initial mixtapes are what sparked Lukas’ interest in pursuing a career in hip hop music.

During his time in Chicago, Lukas taught music production and rap to a group of elementary school students on the Southside. The final project was a single and a performance for the parents. Although The Black Buddhist was not a successful artist at this time, the ability to help others find joy through creating music is something that has stuck with him forever.

After graduating from college with a degree in International Studies and a minor in Spanish, Lukas decided to travel the world in order to teach English abroad. The Black Buddhist made another mixtape in Peru, rapped in ciphers with students in Chile, and spent two years making beats almost every day while teaching in Japan.

After living in Japan, The Black Buddhist returned to his hometown of Seattle to focus all his energy on his music career. In 2021, The Black Buddhist put his music on Spotify, Apple Music, and all popular streaming platforms. The Black Buddhist plans to consistently drop music while he works on his new EP, “Ladders,” and collaborates with a wide range of artists.

Associated Acts: J.Lee Mezus, D. Social, Feen Elaw Green, The Mad Monk, Chris Springs, Hadi, DJ Mando, and the Beatsmith

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