Cultivating Mercy: Music, Spirituality, and the Man of Real
In this episode of Beyond Names, Dr. Habib welcomes artist, former imam, and spiritual teacher Abdul Karim Pinckney — also known as The Man of Real — for a heartfelt conversation on faith, transformation, and his latest project, Project Inspire. From his journey through Islam and Sufism to his love of music as a vehicle for sacred expression, Abdul Karim shares how life itself becomes a spiritual practice. Together, they explore themes of remembrance, mercy, culture, and connection — and how hip-hop can be a bridge between worlds. This episode includes a special listen to his track “We Give It All We Got” and a moving reflection on spirituality as a lived, embodied experience
Highlights include:
A powerful spiritual turning point from the Bronx to the Qur’an
The roots of Project Inspire and using music as a teaching tool
Cultivating mercy in daily life and building spiritual resilience
The sacred role of curiosity and living remembrance
Why “spirituality starts in the stomach”
Tune in for inspiration that’s real, grounded, and full of heart.