Netic Rebel, Artist and Digital Mystic
My main reason for wanting to record a conversation with Netic Rebel is that I’d never met a spirit like him. His energy, conversations, stories, book suggestions, and take on life itself always left me thinking, “I need to capture one of these talks and let the world feel what I’m feeling.” His presence always reminded me to question everything, even what I’m thinking now and even what I’m typing right now, and ask why.
Listen to Netic Rebel tell his Story
For our recording, Netic told me to meet him at some random production studio in a super old building designed by master masons above the Tick Tock Diner on 34th and 8th in Manhattan. And if you knew Netic, that tracks.
Conversations with Netic tend to go around the world, but one of the places we landed was the notion of karma and reincarnation. He believes our souls embark on a continuous journey through multiple lifetimes, with our actions in each life impacting the next. I didn’t express it then, but his perspective challenged my already established understanding of existence, urging me to think about the consequences of my choices in previous lives. I still think about this concept to this day, especially when some seemingly random bullshit occurs. I think, “Is this foolishness the result of something I did in this life? Or is it from something I did 27 lives ago?”
Netic also talked about the contrast between education and schooling. While formal schooling provides a structured framework, proper education is a lifelong pursuit that goes beyond classrooms and curricula.
Netic shared how his parents’ diverse backgrounds – his father, an athlete turned artist, and his mother, a Native American and black woman with a rich artistic and academic heritage – molded his early experiences and perspectives.
Then, we talked a bit about his personal development. Netic’s ability to comprehend and execute complex ideas is a trait he was born with. But his growth was a constant, ever-evolving process, where he welcomed challenges that attempted to restrain his evolution because those battles made him stronger.
It wouldn’t be a Netic conversation if we didn’t share ideas of spiritual experiences and self-awareness at some point. Netic declared that such experiences are inherently indescribable, defying the confines of language. He stated that every experience, whether perceived as positive or negative, contributes to our growth and understanding of life. I understood; no argument there.
Towards the end of our conversation, Netic recommended several books that have influenced his thinking, including ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho, ‘Osho on Children’, and ‘I Am That’ by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. I’ve completed The Alchemist several times but have yet to get to the other two books.
Ultimately, Netic’s reflections extended far beyond the boundaries of our conversation, encompassing the very nature of reality itself. He questioned the constructs of society and even entertained the possibility of living in a simulated reality – a notion that I found pretty fascinating.
Netic passed away in 2022. I didn’t know what to do when I got the news. I didn’t know how cool we were until he graduated to the other side. I can be in my head about things sometimes. Over the years, we collaborated on photo shoots, video productions, and interviews and had some interesting conversations at whatever event we found ourselves at. One of my favorite memories was when he and I were talking about books, and I told him something to the extent that The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Pimp by Iceberg Slim are essentially the same book. Surprisingly, he laughed so hard that he fell to the floor. I was kinda joking because I enjoyed talking crazy with him, but to see him laugh like I barely bothered to explain why.
The “karma and reincarnation” part of this conversation assisted me in processing the loss of my friend. There’s no point in explaining why, but I miss him.
Brother Netic, Truly a 1 of 1
This short reflection on my conversation with Netic Rebel offers a glimpse of his story. However, for the full spectrum experience, try scrolling back up and listening to the entire conversation to unlock the complete story.
