NTU Free
By Justin F. Miles, LCPC-S LGADC-S Founder, Hiphop Alive
The Origins of NTU: A Spiritual Foundation in Bantu Thought
In several Bantu languages, the term NTU signifies the universal life force that animates and connects all existence. Rooted in Bantu cosmology, NTU underscores the profound interconnectedness among individuals, communities, and the cosmos—an alignment that sustains balance and holistic well-being. This spiritual notion not only shapes everyday life but also guides Afrikan-centered therapeutic approaches. Dr. Frederick Phillips built upon this principle in NTU Psychotherapy, focusing its spiritual and cultural significance on personal and communal healing. Inspired by these underpinnings, NTU Free evolved as a confluence of NTU (as a spiritual worldview), psychotherapy (as a structured healing practice), and freestyle (as a dynamic mode of self-expression).
NTU Free: Merging Spiritual Understanding, Psychotherapy, and Freestyling
In 2003, while working with adjudicated adolescents at Progressive Life Center Inc., I developed a therapeutic freestyle framework called NTU Free. This model emerged from a deep integration of freestyle rhyming with Afrikan-centered philosophical and psychotherapeutic principles, particularly Dr. Frederick Phillips’ NTU Psychotherapy. NTU, which means “universal life force” in several African languages, seeks to align individuals with the harmony and balance of the universe. NTU Free extended this concept into the world of freestyle rhyming, transforming a popular form of artistic expression into a structured therapeutic tool for healing, self-discovery, and personal growth .
At its core, NTU Free is built upon the five key stages of NTU philosophy—Harmony, Awareness, Alignment, Actualization, and Synthesis. Each stage corresponds to a psychological process and helps guide participants through their emotions, challenges, and life experiences, using the art of freestyle as a conduit for change. NTU Free offers more than just artistic development; it serves as a healing modality, helping individuals—especially those facing trauma and life difficulties—to explore their inner worlds, connect with others, and articulate their growth journeys through Hiphop.
Purpose: Healing Through Freestyle Rhyming
The purpose of NTU Free is to create a structured, therapeutic environment where individuals can use freestyle rhyming to explore their inner experiences, cultivate emotional awareness, and align their thoughts and behaviors with personal growth. By combining the spontaneity of freestyle rap with the guided stages of NTU Psychotherapy, the process allows participants to access a deeper understanding of themselves while also contributing to their mental, emotional, and social healing.
NTU Free is particularly effective in helping participants:
1. Process emotional pain and trauma by allowing them to articulate their feelings spontaneously.
2. Strengthen their sense of self through self-expression and the acknowledgment of personal challenges.
3. Foster a sense of community and shared healing as participants engage in the freestyle cypher, supporting each other’s growth.
The ultimate goal of NTU Free is to realign the individual with the natural balance and harmony of the world, using creative expression as a means to facilitate healing and psychological growth.
NTU Free: The Therapist’s Role
In NTU Free, the therapist’s role is multifaceted, acting as a facilitator, guide, and supportive presence throughout the therapeutic process. The therapist creates an environment that fosters authenticity, self-expression, and healing while guiding participants through the five stages of NTU Free: Harmony, Awareness, Alignment, Actualization, and Synthesis.
Key Roles of the Therapist in NTU Free:
1. Facilitator of Stillness and Presence
Before the freestyle process begins, the therapist introduces a brief period of stillness and free association to help participants relax and become fully present. This step is crucial for grounding individuals and preparing them to engage authentically in the freestyle process. Through mindfulness exercises, the therapist encourages participants to tune in to their emotional and mental states, enhancing the depth of their expression during freestyle.
2. Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment
The therapist establishes a non-judgmental space where participants feel comfortable expressing themselves openly. By fostering trust and respect among group members, the therapist ensures that participants can explore their emotions, struggles, and personal challenges without fear of criticism.
3. Guide through the Stages of NTU Free
The therapist supports participants as they move through the five stages of NTU Free:
• Harmony: Facilitating the initial connection to the group’s collective energy.
• Awareness: Helping participants bring conscious attention to personal emotions and experiences.
• Alignment: Encouraging personal responsibility and the articulation of growth intentions.
• Actualization: Supporting participants in declaring their goals and transformations through freestyle.
• Synthesis: Assisting in integrating insights and recognizing ongoing growth.
4. Encourager of Authentic Expression
Authenticity is a core principle of NTU, and the therapist plays a critical role by helping participants delve into deeper emotional truths. The therapist reminds them that the goal is not a polished performance but the use of freestyle as a path to healing and growth.
5. Modeling the NTU Principles
By embodying harmony, balance, interconnectedness, and authenticity, the therapist provides a living example of how NTU principles can guide daily interactions. This modeling helps participants internalize these values in their own lives.
6. Support for Cultural Resonance
NTU Free harnesses Hiphop as a culturally resonant medium that reflects many participants’ lived experiences. The therapist acknowledges the importance of culture in healing and self-expression, validating participants’ narratives while linking personal stories to broader social and cultural themes.
7. Reflector of Progress
Throughout the process, the therapist offers feedback that highlights moments of growth, breakthrough, and alignment. By identifying these milestones, the therapist reinforces participants’ commitment to their healing journey.
8. Facilitator of Group Dynamics
Since NTU Free often unfolds in a group cypher, the therapist ensures that everyone can contribute to and benefit from the collective energy. They also maintain a safe, cohesive environment, addressing conflicts or challenges as they arise.
9. Empowering the Client’s Role in Healing
According to NTU philosophy, healing comes from within and aligns with the universal life force. The therapist empowers participants to recognize themselves as co-creators of their healing, moving from feelings of victimhood to a sense of agency.
The Five Stages of NTU Free: A Journey Through Freestyle
Before beginning the formal process, participants are guided into a period of stillness designed to foster relaxation and sharpen focus. This helps center their awareness and encourage self-acceptance. Next, they engage in a free association exercise—often over an instrumental beat—where they speak whatever thoughts or feelings arise, without judgment or concern for coherence. This practice dissolves ego attachments and frees individuals to express their authentic selves.
1. Harmony: Establishing Connection with the Group
Participants begin by verbalizing their connection to the group and the creative energy in the room. This stage cultivates a sense of shared purpose, ensuring a supportive backdrop for self-expression and exploration.
• Introduce themselves through rhyme, expressing emotions, intentions, and their current state of mind.
• Acknowledge group connection, building trust and openness.
• Lay the groundwork for deeper reflection in subsequent stages.
2. Awareness: Articulating Personal Challenges and Joys
With group harmony established, individuals shift focus inward. The freestyle becomes a reflective instrument, enabling them to articulate thoughts, emotions, challenges, and joys as they surface.
• Cultivate presence, acknowledging current thoughts and feelings.
• Engage in honest reflection, expressing what weighs on their hearts and minds.
• Build emotional intelligence by naming and understanding their emotions.
3. Alignment: Acknowledging Personal Responsibility
In this stage, participants take ownership of their challenges and responsibilities. The freestyle frames their words, thoughts, and behaviors in alignment with personal values and intentions.
• Recognize areas of imbalance and articulate intentions for change.
• Shift from external blame to internal reflection and accountability.
• Use freestyle to declare a commitment to personal development.
4. Actualization: Declaring Intentions for Change
Participants use freestyle to vocalize their goals and transformations, effectively speaking them into existence. Sharing these intentions publicly reaffirms personal commitment to growth.
• Set goals through rhyme, naming future aspirations.
• Employ freestyle as a tool for manifesting transformation.
• Embrace empowerment through actively shaping one’s journey.
5. Synthesis: Integration and Commitment to Growth
The final stage brings together all the insights, intentions, and experiences from the preceding stages. Participants reflect on how far they have come and how they will continue to evolve.
• Identify progress achieved during the session and its real-world applications.
• Celebrate growth and affirm ongoing development through freestyle.
• Conclude with a sense of wholeness, recognizing the harmony between inner and outer realities.
The Therapeutic Power of NTU Free
NTU Free transforms freestyle rhyming from mere artistic expression into a powerful tool for psychological exploration and healing. By framing the creative process within a structured, Afrikan-centered methodology, participants access deeper layers of self-awareness and emotional understanding that might remain untapped in traditional therapeutic settings.
Therapeutic Outcomes
• Emotional Regulation: Freestyling offers a dynamic outlet for expressing and managing emotions in healthier ways.
• Increased Self-Awareness: Moving through the stages of NTU Free cultivates insight into personal behaviors, thought patterns, and emotional triggers.
• Enhanced Communication Skills: A supportive cypher environment encourages open, honest dialogue, strengthening interpersonal connections.
• Cultural Alignment: By speaking to the lived realities of those who embrace Hiphop culture, NTU Free offers a culturally resonant framework that validates identity and fosters communal belonging.
In this way, NTU Free not only facilitates personal healing but also honors the collective spirit of Hiphop—where each participant’s journey contributes to the group’s overall health and growth. Through the synergy of spirituality, psychotherapy, and freestyle, NTU Free serves as a transformative conduit for emotional release, self-discovery, and communal empowerment.