New Interview with Malik Yusef by Camron Smith
Malik Yusef: The Most Known Unknown
Let’s get something understood; Malik Yusef is not an overnight star. His unique talent surpasses your imagination and constantly leaves the poetry world in a trance. The versatile poet can open your mind with lyrics that are as majestic as the Chicago skyline. The first time that I listened to Malik Yusef aka the “Wordsmyth”, it was on Common’s album “One Day It Will All Make Sense”. The Chicago native blessed the world’s ear with lyrics that invoked his grim neighborhood known as the “Wild 100s” in the song “My City”. As I interviewed the Chicago poetry legend, his tone of voice was one that embodied Chicago’s Southside.
If you don’t know about Chicago’s “Wild 100s” neighborhood, then I suggest you close your eyes and imagine a place where the word hope is non-existent. Imagine a neighborhood where drugs, gangs and killings are waiting for you right outside of your doorstep. But with an environment that is dipped in a pool of negativity, the “Wordsmyth” continues to spit his uplifting and positive words of encouragement to the youths that have given up on hope. Yusef says “My neighborhood was difficult at times due to lack of resources but it was the neighborhood I loved”. After hearing that statement by Yusef, you immediately understand why he loves Chicago. Yusef is constantly involved with his old community because he knows that the kids need to learn the correct lessons in life.
During the days of his youth, Malik led a life that was headed down a path that wasn’t pleasing. He gives credit to various individuals that steered his life into a more positive light. Yusef described the various individuals as a whole cast of players that opened his eyes. Although poetry provides Yusef an immediate outlet to express his deep-rooted thoughts, he never dreamed that his poetry would develop into a successful career. Yusef said, “I stumbled into it (poetry), I had no idea it would develop into this”.
The word “perseverance” is something that Yusef knows all too well. The “Wordsmyth” talked about his initial attempt to break into music’s main stream.” I tried to break into the industry before, that was with Chantay Savage but the label didn’t like it”. In 1997, Yusef hooked up with Chicago legend Common and started writing with him on his album. Yusef described Common’s situation as unique at the time and it drew him in. Malik’s rapid growth into the mainstream caused a serious interest in the phenomenal poet. Yusef got his first big break after Ted Witcher hired him to coach actor and fellow Chicago native Larenz Tate in the 1997 movie “Love Jones”.
Since the movie “Love Jones”, Yusef has acquired numerous awards, honors and more importantly respect from some of music’s top artists. But that doesn’t stop Malik’s on-going quest to enlighten and broaden the minds of people everywhere. Yusef’s new album “G.O.O.D. Morning & G.O.O.D. Night” is scheduled to release nationally on June 9th.
The album will be Yusef’s second and it’s being released on Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label in which Yusef is an artist. When asked what people should gain from his double cd “G.O.O.D. Morning & G.O.O.D. Night” Yusef said, “There are two sides to everything. That’s how we keep from making the mistake of going too far into the other. Night and Day, Ying and Yang. Everything flows into the universe and we are all apart of it”.
The new album is loaded with guest appearances by versatile artists Kanye West, Common, John Legend, Adam Levine, Jennifer Hudson, Raheem Devaughn, etc.
One of the singles off the album is titled “Magic Man”. The singles title involves a deeper message than what people may think. Yusef says, “The song’s subject deals with domestic abuse and violence towards women”. Yusef feels that more and more violence is being spawned from domestic abuse.
Click here to listen to “Magic Man” and more of Malik’s samples
His poetry and music has stretched across the world and has found itself on some of music’s top R&B, Hip-Hop and Rap albums. Working with such artists as Talib Kweli, Kanye West, and Raheem Devaughn, Yusef had built a respectable career in today’s music industry.
But one thing will always be true about Malik Yusef, his heart and mind is community driven. Yusef continues to write for the youth that walk the urban streets. Yusef wants the kids to know that negativity is harming their growth. “You’re basically treating yourselves, like you’re whack and you’re not whack. Like you’re a little guy when you’re a big guy. You don’t have to fall for the trips. You should aim for the stars”.
Ladies and Gentlemen across the world! Please mark your calendars for June 9th. The “Wordsmyth” Malik Yusef will be dropping one of the most anticipated albums of the year. Make sure you’re prepared to listen to lyrics that will captivate and exercise your mind.
Press Album Above to Listen to Malik Yusef's Magic Men Featuring
