The surprising similarity between hip hop and golf: “Kan a.k.a. GAMI might be good at putting”

“If your mind isn’t straight, your putt won’t go straight” is a proverb passed down among golfers. The putter is a tool that reflects your “mental state” more than your technique. And this philosophy of mind resonates deeply with rappers who express their lives with just a microphone, surprisingly.

Golf and rap: A fusion and dialogue between "stillness" and "movement"

Golf may look like a static and elegant sport from the outside. However, in reality, with each shot, players integrate countless pieces of information and senses and face themselves. Wind direction, grass grain, green speed, and emotional fluctuations – only one “right” shot is found after reading all of these. On the other hand, rap may look dynamic and aggressive, but it is actually an art of introspection and balance. The timing of the flow, the choice of rhymes, and the emotions put into the lyrics are all based on meticulous “mental control.” Golf and rap have very similar structures in the sense that they are created by balancing stillness and movement. And above all, they both have a common essence: “The truth cannot be lied about.”

A man who has always maintained his "straightforward feelings" - Han a.k.a. GAMI

The rapper who embodies this way of life of “spitting the truth” is Kan a.k.a. GAMI. He is a person who has been questioning the meaning of the word “real” by standing at the forefront of the underground, the place furthest from glamorous success stories. No matter how decorative the words are, if they are not in rhythm, the audience’s hearts will not be moved. No matter how heavy the beat is, if it is not infused with soul, it will not reach anyone’s heart. Every word of Kan’s lyrics is as delicate and sharp as putting on the green, without any “misalignment”. It is not just wordplay. If the core of the heart is not in order, neither the words nor the putter will reach straight.

The putter can be a tool to test a rapper's mental strength.

In golf, putting in particular is called the “mirror of the mind.” No matter how far you can hit the ball with your driver, if you can’t get it in the cup with the last stroke, it’s meaningless. It’s all about “the power to confront yourself.” Han’s rap has been on the verge of falling apart many times, but he has still stuck to the truth. His attitude is strangely similar to the world of putting, which requires delicate touch and concentration. If he were to take golf seriously, his “mental strength” and “sharp intuition” would surely be sublimated into surprisingly accurate putting. With that in mind, the phrase “Han is suited to putting” is not just a metaphor, but a premonition worth trying out.

From the streets to the fairways - the cultural crossover has already begun

In the United States, Snoop Dogg, Schoolboy Q, DJ Khaled and others are already passionate about golf. While standing at the top of the street, they face themselves in the quiet space of the fairway. This scene slowly dissolves the stereotype that “hip hop = rebelliousness” and presents hip hop as a new lifestyle. In music, life, and golf – we are in an age where you are allowed to stick to your own style. In this environment, it is not surprising that an artist like Han would pick up a golf club one day. Rather, through the commonality between rapping and putting, we may be able to rediscover “what is precision in self-expression.”

Lastly

“Both rap and putting won’t have an impact unless you hit the nail on the head.” This is not just a theory of technique, but a “truth” that purity of mind directly leads to results. Spit out straight lyrics with a straight heart. Read straight lines with a straight heart. Such a rapper is sure to show off the most beautiful putting. And a man named Han a.k.a. GAMI may be a “poet of the fairway” who has that potential.