Malik Yusef el-Shabazz Jones was born on April 4,1971 and is an American spoken word artist, poet, rapper, record producer, and director based in Chicago, Illinois.
10 Facts About Malik Yusef
1.
2.
Malik Yusef was raised in Chicago's South Side neighborhood, known as the "Wild 100's", where he became affiliated with the Blackstone Rangers street gang; he is no longer involved in gang activity.
3.
Malik Yusef is dyslexic, which he first realized as a teenager.
4.
Malik Yusef first became known regionally as a street poet, and later into an actor, mainly acting out of his "street hustler" persona.
5.
Malik Yusef's poetry offers insights into the complexities of inner-city life and broader socio-economic challenges.
6.
Malik Yusef's spoken word artistry has not only shaped his career but has been featured in high-profile promotional campaigns for brands such as ASCAP, Sprite, Coca-Cola, General Motors, Chrysler, Verizon, Miller Brewing Co.
7.
Malik Yusef got his first break when New Line Cinema Director Ted Witcher commissioned him to coach Larenz Tate in the romantic drama Love Joneswhich went on to garner a Sundance Film Festival Award and three NAACP Image Awards.
8.
Malik Yusef appeared as himself in the 2005 VH-1 Television Series Driven, a documentary surrounding the life of friend Kanye West, featuring appearances from Common, Damon Dash, Jermaine Dupri, Jay-Z, Ludacris, and Russell Simmons.
9.
Malik Yusef released his solo album featuring local talent including Kanye West, Carl Thomas, Marvo 11, Chantay Savage, Michael Coleman, Common and Twista, documenting an amalgam of eroticism, religion, gangster folklore and hip-hop.
10.
Malik Yusef's work has been featured on a string of albums, particularly alongside his comrades and Chicago natives.