[Saint Bodhi](https://www.instagram.com/st.bodhi/?hl=en) might be the music industry’s best kept secret. Hailing from Los Angeles, the singer, songwriter, and rapper arrived as a beacon of hope, creating feel-good music that resonates with the soul. With songs like “Blessed,” the vibrant “FlowerChild,” and the provocative “Gold Revolver,” she touches on real-life happenings going on in society today, adding her own style and flow that fans can’t help but fall in love with.
Bodhi describes herself as a “South Central chick with somewhat of an attitude, but hugs you at the same time.” She adds “I’m squishy!”, with a contagious laugh.
Having worked with everyone from A$AP Rocky to Jaden Smith to Kevin Gates, the bold recording artist is as excited as ever to be releasing her forthcoming debut album titled _MAD WORLD._ Her sound is unique and original, with a strong pen game that declares her presence. Beyond the music, it’s Bodhi’s unapologetic personality that draws listeners in — holding nothing back when it comes to speaking her mind and her truth.
Flaunt caught up with Saint Bodhi at the Kandypens house in Los Angeles to discuss her roots in Los Angeles, what music does for her, the inspo behind "Gold Revolver," her name, favorite female rappers, fashion inspo, being a mother, new project _MAD WORLD_, and more!
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**Talk about growing up in South Central, a lot of hip-hop comes out of there!**
A lot of hip-hop and a lot of nerds. Tyler the Creator is from there, Frank Ocean. You get a lot of funky jazz shit going on, then you have street underground rap going on. South Central was rough. I got shot at hella times. I got stabbed, this bitch stabbed me right here with an envelope opener. I swear to God!
**Were you involved in the altercation or it just happened?**
It was the people I hung out with. My dad was an OG gang member, so “oh you’re so-and-so’s daughter.” I had to figure it out, I sold weed growing up.
**When did music come into play?**
I was always doing it, to manage high stress levels. It was more a poetic thing for me. Growing up, you have a whole bunch of anxiety from being in certain areas. I wrote poems as escapism from the hood.
**“Gold Revolver” slaps! Talk about being a real spitter.**
I really have an imagination. I was so mad at this asshole. I couldn’t physically attack him so I destroyed him on the track. \[laughs\] Deadass, I don’t want to go to jail.
**Does homeboy know it’s about him?**
All my exes think my songs are about them. 5 of my exes are probably like “oh, that bitch wrote about me!”
**How does it feel to get all that out?**
It feels good. It felt like I had a nice crystal bath with himilayan salt. \[laughs\] People are starting to connect with it. I’ve gotten some of the \[mimics voice\] “my child is on Instagram.” I’m so sorry, but I’m not your child’s parent. For the most part, the hood n\*ggas fuck with it. The chicks fuck with it. I do get a little freaked out when there’s a 12-year-old saying “I shot the dirty mother fucker!” Whoa. They saying n\*gga and shit, \[sighs\]. I’m not reposting this.
**There’s worse out though, there are toddlers rapping NBA Youngboy lyrics.**
Eminem made the pathway, that was my first rap album! My very first. I hid it from my dad and my grandparents forever, straight up. They found it and threw it away, but I got another one. I learned how to torrent and proxy.
**How?**
Back in the day, there’d be these proxy sites. I can download any song I wanted off the computer without my parents knowing, you just type it in.
**How’d you get your name, Saint Bodhi?**
I took a year out of music and did a lot of prayer and meditation, didn’t do much. I read this book about Buddha, it said under a Bodhi tree, he found enlightenment. After prayer and meditation, I finally got hit up with a “hey, come to the studio.” I ended up getting signed right after. I said “you know what? My name’s going to be Bodhi.” The Saint came because one of my exes cheated on me, his name was Saint and I stole it so I could give him a big “fuck you” for the rest of his life. Fuck him. Revenge and positivity! \[laughs\] He was married the whole time, I had no idea. Guys sucks.
**They do! Whenever people are in these great relationships, I’m like how…?**
They’re dealing with the flex. They’re dealing with the “oh he’s cheated on me 15 times, but I’ve stuck strong and now he’s giving me all I want.” That’s mental abuse but girl, more power to you.
**How did you come up with the “Gold Revolver” concept? It’s a great metaphor.**
You really want me to be honest with you? I tried to shoot my dad when I was 12. He didn’t have a gold revolver, but he had a gun on the table. For some reason, I was thinking about the revolver and the word ‘gold’ came in. That’s my favorite color, so I put “Gold Revolver.” The thought was “oh shit, that’s how I almost shot my dad.”
**How are you and your dad now?**
Fuck him. My grandparents adopted me when I was younger, pretty chill. He’ll come after me one day. \[laughs\] I’m ready, come for me bro.
**How did you find your way to Def Jam?**
We had a little bidding war out, I was doing writing for the longest. I had a bidding war with the writing, finally found my publisher. Def Jam and Paul Rosenberg found me, sent Steve-O out to get me. They literally signed me within a week, it was really quick. \[snaps\] They didn’t want me to go at all, I fuck with them hard.
**How’s your journey been?**
When I started, I was a little soft bitch. When I got more into it, I realized what it was. You start seeing that everybody isn’t your friend. Everybody that’s your friend is on your team, you stick with them.
**New single “Blessed” out now! What can we expect next?**
“Blessed” is out! We’re putting out the album _MAD WORLD_ in October. We’re already working on 2 EPs, Dahi’s about to produce those. We’re moving, we’re working on the next situation.
**Is it going to be less angry?**
I can’t tell you that. There’s going to be a lot of maturing in this next EP. I’ma drop 2 EPs on they ass real quick, then I’ll do another album. I’m trying to catch up to Drake, come on.
**Right now more than ever, females have been taking over the industry.**
When I heard “WAP,” I was tooted. “WAP” is the shit my n\*gga! All those controversial things in that whole wet ass pussy, I was for all the smoke. \[laughs\] Try me!
**Who are your favorite female rappers?**
Nina \[Simone\], she’s legendary to me. I still adore Beyonce’s work ethic. I love Cardi, her personality’s crazy. I listen to Summer Walker. People try to give her shit, leave Summer Walker alone. She knows what she’s talking about. I love her music, it’s real. Besides that, mainly Nina or a Nina replicate.
**What do you need in the studio?**
I need tequila in the studio. I don’t like to be touched in the studio, for some reason. Unless I embrace you, don’t touch me. I had an issue a week ago with this dude who was knee in my ass. My first time in the studio, all up in my face. I could smell his breath, I’m like “yo chill.” Tequila and let me roam around. Sometimes I’ll walk outside. Walk around the whole building, come back inside and have the whole verse done.
**Where do you get your fashion inspo?**
Urban Outfitters. Everything I have on is Urban except my sweatpants. That’s my life. Wasteland is fire. I’m actually about to change my style to more of a hippie energy. Until I get all slim and I’ll show these titties one day. \[laughs\] It’s going to be a process.
**I love the positive energy you exude. What do you do for self-care?**
I’m super witchy. My self-care, I do himilayan salt baths. I have white candles in my house. Sometimes I buy myself a bouquet of roses and Rose Quartz, I’ll meditate. I’m really big on meditating and feeling my emotions. A lot of people think because I have aggressive ass raps that I’m walking around all day like “yahhh!” Nah, I’m actually a human being. I have a son, I’m a mother.
**Had no idea you were a mother!**
I have my shit together. I have an 11-year-old son, I’m a whole ass mother. As soon as I leave you, I have to go see my kid. Drive and go get him, whew homework. With COVID, it’s hard right now. They’re not in school so you have to do homework with him.
**How do you balance everything?**
You have to do it. Deadass, I’m only 85% at my full capacity and I’m still having those self-conversations to be even more capable. It’s all mental, just do it.
**What’s _MAD WORLD_ going to be about_?_**
You can expect an emotional journey. One second you're going to be mad at your ex-boyfriend, one second you’ll be questioning your life, one second you’ll have a lot of hope. I’m taking you on an emotional journey with what the fuck I dealt with as an adolescent in South Central, and where I’m at now.
**What does South Central mean to you?**
That’s home. That’s where the raw creativity is. I’m from 95th, there’s a lot of crackheads on the street but you can hear music. If you get out of your car and walk, you can hear the music around. I’ll drive down there, put my phone out and listen to conversations. South Central is music. It’s pure fucking art, pain, and realness. That’s all it is.
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