Malik Yusef: Difference between revisions
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Malik Yusef (Born April 4, 1971) is a well-known African-American spoken word poet based in Chicago, Illinois. |
Malik Yusef (Born April 4, 1971) is a well-known African-American spoken word poet based in Chicago, Illinois. |
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'''Biography''' |
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He was raised on the notoriously rough streets of Chicago’s South Side neighborhood in the “Wild 100’s” and a former member of the widespread Islamic street gang The Blackstone Rangers. Diagnosed with Dyslexia as a teenager, he overcame his perceived word impairment earning him a place among the urban intelligentsia. He eventually evolved from a street hustler to a gifted and talented street poet and has received world acclaim. His name translates to “ruler” in Arabic. |
He was raised on the notoriously rough streets of Chicago’s South Side neighborhood in the “Wild 100’s” and a former member of the widespread Islamic street gang The Blackstone Rangers. Diagnosed with Dyslexia as a teenager, he overcame his perceived word impairment earning him a place among the urban intelligentsia. He eventually evolved from a street hustler to a gifted and talented street poet and has received world acclaim. His name translates to “ruler” in Arabic. |
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'''Poetry Career''' |
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Urban spoken word poetry allowed him the aesthetic freedom to comment on a wide breadth of personal and social issues while his lyrics remain commensurate with his global vision, to encourage the benevolence in all people. He maintains a common ground with the people by incorporating street vernacular against backdrops of hip-hop beats, organic keyboards, guitars and horns. His voice resonates with a diverse population- part world-weary fighter and part poignant poet. The Chi-town artisan has made his career as Hip Hop’s labyrinthine “wordsmyth,” reciting rhapsodic verses that chronicle inner city life growing up on the urban streets of the Windy City. An unapologetic ghetto scholar with a gift for penning rhythmic tales, Yusef presents paradoxical prose as an ever-twisting saga: A former gangster who condemns the glorification of violence, a Muslim who displays adoration for goddess origins and female archetypes and a revolutionary figure inextricably linked to the black power movement yet whose icons include the classic Victorian English playwright William Shakespeare. He embraces the complexities of his contradictions, citing his internal “jihads” as the source of his creativity. His fluent lexicon tell stories that evoke both the intricate depths and heights of ghetto culture, as well as global socio-economic woes. |
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His enthusiasm for metaphors, similes, wit, rhymes and hip-hop music is clearly evident in his passion for the poetry of the streets. The inspiration to formulate his |
His enthusiasm for metaphors, similes, wit, rhymes and hip-hop music is clearly evident in his passion for the poetry of the streets. The inspiration to formulate his mosaic of words comes from his children, his dreams, the ancestors and other prolific poets. Some of his all time favorites include Langston Hughes, William Shakespeare, Haki Madhubuti and Phillis Wheatley. His spoken word artistry has contributed to a myriad of promotional compilations including ASCAP, Sprite, Coca-Cola, General Motors, Chrysler, Verizon, Miller Brewing Co. and Nike. |
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'''Personal Life''' |
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He is a single father of two children and throughout his life has remained steadfast as an advocate of urban revitalization and extensive social reforms. He is an avid pillar in his local Chicago community with initiatives such as the ‘For Yourself Foundation,’ a program designed to help combat illiteracy, ‘Girl Power,’ a non-profit aimed towards uplifting and empowering young females and the ‘Drop Squad,’ consisting of a team who work to clean trash and debris off neighborhood streets. He is devoted to the principles and values of Islam but studies a |
He is a single father of two children and throughout his life has remained steadfast as an advocate of urban revitalization and extensive social reforms. He is an avid pillar in his local Chicago community with initiatives such as the ‘For Yourself Foundation,’ a program designed to help combat illiteracy, ‘Girl Power,’ a non-profit aimed towards uplifting and empowering young females and the ‘Drop Squad,’ consisting of a team who work to clean trash and debris off neighborhood streets. He is devoted to the principles and values of Islam but studies a global array of culture, history and religions. |
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'''Acting Career''' |
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He got his first break when New Line Cinema Director Ted Witcher |
He got his first break when New Line Cinema Director Ted Witcher commissioned him to coach Larenz Tate in the romantic drama "Love Jones" which went on to garner a Sundance Film Festival Award and three NAACP Image Awards. While filming in Chicago, Yusef additionally made a cameo as a guest spoken word artist while the words of Darius Lovehall resonated throughout upscale bohemian communities. |
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He recently collaborated with Director Frey Hoffman (Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks,” Sa-Ra’s “Feel the Bass” f/ Erykah Badu and Talib Kweli) for the film adaptation of Yusef’s poem Hollywood Jerome. The two contemporaries previously joined forces for Yusef’s 2005 music video “Wouldn’t You Like to Ride” f/ Kanye and Common. Their film The Untimely Demise of Hollywood Jerome presents the gritty street drama, chronicling the tale of a 14-year-old South Side gang member who idolizes classic Hollywood gangsters like the archetypical Scarface and Godfather. Unlike the Hughes Brothers' Menace II Society, Hype Williams’ Belly or Sanyika Shakur's Monster which had a tendency to romanticize the hard-and-fast lifestyle, Yusef and Hoffman’s film openly confronts pop culture’s misrepresentation and glorification of gang warfare. The directors play with that duality – juxtaposing the reality versus media portrayal. The film culminates in the protagonist caught up in a police standoff on the opposite side of town. Cameos from Kanye West and Twista add black star power to the cinematography. |
He recently collaborated with Director Frey Hoffman (Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks,” Sa-Ra’s “Feel the Bass” f/ Erykah Badu and Talib Kweli) for the film adaptation of Yusef’s poem Hollywood Jerome. The two contemporaries previously joined forces for Yusef’s 2005 music video “Wouldn’t You Like to Ride” f/ Kanye and Common. Their film The Untimely Demise of Hollywood Jerome presents the gritty street drama, chronicling the tale of a 14-year-old South Side gang member who idolizes classic Hollywood gangsters like the archetypical Scarface and Godfather. Unlike the Hughes Brothers' Menace II Society, Hype Williams’ Belly or Sanyika Shakur's Monster which had a tendency to romanticize the hard-and-fast lifestyle, Yusef and Hoffman’s film openly confronts pop culture’s misrepresentation and glorification of gang warfare. The directors play with that duality – juxtaposing the reality versus media portrayal. The film culminates in the protagonist caught up in a police standoff on the opposite side of town. Cameos from Kanye West and Twista add black star power to the cinematography. |
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'''Television Career''' |
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His most noticeable performance came in 2002 during a featured poem entitled “I Spit…” on HBO’s |
His most noticeable performance came in 2002 during a featured poem entitled “I Spit…” on HBO’s Season 2 “Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry Jam.” The segment also featured artists including Malcolm Jamal Warner and legendary hip hop icon Rakim and went on to earn the show a coveted Emmy Award. Yusef appeared as himself in the 2005 VH-1 Television Series “Driven,” a documentary surrounding the life of friend Kanye West, also featuring notable appearances from Common, Damon Dash, Jermaine Dupri, Jay-Z, Ludacris and Russell Simmons. He additionally made guest appearances on ABC Worldwide News, WGN Morning News, BET’s legendary Rap City and MTV’s Hip-Hop Week |
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'''Music Career''' |
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'''The Great Chicago Fire; A Cold Day in Hell (Universal Records 2003)''' |
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He released his first solo album featuring a bevy of local talent including Kanye West, Carl Thomas, Chantay Savage, Common and Twista, documenting an amalgam of eroticism, religion, gangster folklore and hip-hop. The Source Magazine dubbed the debut “a classic.” |
He released his first solo album featuring a bevy of local talent including Kanye West, Carl Thomas, Chantay Savage, Common and Twista, documenting an amalgam of eroticism, religion, gangster folklore and hip-hop. The Source Magazine dubbed the debut “a classic.” |
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'''Good Morning & Good Night (G.O.O.D Music Recordings 2008)''' |
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This Fall he will release his sophomore effort, Good Morning & Good Night |
This Fall he will release his sophomore effort, Good Morning & Good Night featuring an array of guest musicians and producers including Kanye West, Common, Raheem Devaughn and soul pianist John Legend. The concept of this reflective double CD will display Protagonist vs. Antagonist/Lower Self vs. Higher Self, exhibiting the poet’s struggle between his internal dualities. Both discs Good Morning and Good Night will feature 12 tracks apiece, representing an hour of each day. |
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'''Tours''' |
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Summer 2000 –Carl Thomas & Mary J. Blige Tour |
Summer 2000 –Carl Thomas & Mary J. Blige Tour |
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Spring 2008 “Glow in the Dark Tour” f/ Rihanna, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D and Common. |
Spring 2008 “Glow in the Dark Tour” f/ Rihanna, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D and Common. |
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'''Collaborations''' |
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He was inspired by the |
He was inspired by the jazz saxophonist Mike Phillips (Hidden Beach Records) and their collaboration “This is Not a Game” was selected by basketball superstar Michael Jordan to appear on the Interactive CD-Rom included alongside his limited edition Jordan 17 Sneakers in August 2002. His work has also been featured on a string of multi-platinum albums, particularly alongside his comrades and Chicago natives. |
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“''Woman I Desire''” – Raheem Devaughn - Love Behind the Melody (Jive Records 2008) |
“''Woman I Desire''” – Raheem Devaughn - Love Behind the Melody (Jive Records 2008) |
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“''My City''” – Common - One Day it Will All Make Sense (Relativity Records 1997) |
“''My City''” – Common - One Day it Will All Make Sense (Relativity Records 1997) |
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'''Awards''' |
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Chicago Music Awards – “Best Poet” (2002 thru 2008) |
Chicago Music Awards – “Best Poet” (2002 thru 2008) |
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2003 Emmy Award (Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry Jam) |
2003 Emmy Award (Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry Jam) |
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'''Discography''' |
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Albums: |
Albums: |
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“''Wouldn’t You Like To Ride''” f/ Kanye West and Common |
“''Wouldn’t You Like To Ride''” f/ Kanye West and Common |
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'''External Links''' |
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[http://www.malikyusef.com Official Website] |
[http://www.malikyusef.com Official Website] |
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[http://www.myspace.com/malikyusef Official Myspace] |
[http://www.myspace.com/malikyusef Official Myspace] |
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'''References''' |
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[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0948849 IMDB] |
[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0948849 IMDB] |
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Revision as of 18:38, 21 February 2008
Malik Yusef (Born April 4, 1971) is a well-known African-American spoken word poet based in Chicago, Illinois.
Biography
Early life
He was raised on the notoriously rough streets of Chicago’s South Side neighborhood in the “Wild 100’s” and a former member of the widespread Islamic street gang The Blackstone Rangers. Diagnosed with Dyslexia as a teenager, he overcame his perceived word impairment earning him a place among the urban intelligentsia. He eventually evolved from a street hustler to a gifted and talented street poet and has received world acclaim. His name translates to “ruler” in Arabic.
Poetry Career
Urban spoken word poetry allowed him the aesthetic freedom to comment on a wide breadth of personal and social issues while his lyrics remain commensurate with his global vision, to encourage the benevolence in all people. He maintains a common ground with the people by incorporating street vernacular against backdrops of hip-hop beats, organic keyboards, guitars and horns. His voice resonates with a diverse population- part world-weary fighter and part poignant poet. The Chi-town artisan has made his career as Hip Hop’s labyrinthine “wordsmyth,” reciting rhapsodic verses that chronicle inner city life growing up on the urban streets of the Windy City. An unapologetic ghetto scholar with a gift for penning rhythmic tales, Yusef presents paradoxical prose as an ever-twisting saga: A former gangster who condemns the glorification of violence, a Muslim who displays adoration for goddess origins and female archetypes and a revolutionary figure inextricably linked to the black power movement yet whose icons include the classic Victorian English playwright William Shakespeare. He embraces the complexities of his contradictions, citing his internal “jihads” as the source of his creativity. His fluent lexicon tell stories that evoke both the intricate depths and heights of ghetto culture, as well as global socio-economic woes.
His enthusiasm for metaphors, similes, wit, rhymes and hip-hop music is clearly evident in his passion for the poetry of the streets. The inspiration to formulate his mosaic of words comes from his children, his dreams, the ancestors and other prolific poets. Some of his all time favorites include Langston Hughes, William Shakespeare, Haki Madhubuti and Phillis Wheatley. His spoken word artistry has contributed to a myriad of promotional compilations including ASCAP, Sprite, Coca-Cola, General Motors, Chrysler, Verizon, Miller Brewing Co. and Nike.
Personal Life
He is a single father of two children and throughout his life has remained steadfast as an advocate of urban revitalization and extensive social reforms. He is an avid pillar in his local Chicago community with initiatives such as the ‘For Yourself Foundation,’ a program designed to help combat illiteracy, ‘Girl Power,’ a non-profit aimed towards uplifting and empowering young females and the ‘Drop Squad,’ consisting of a team who work to clean trash and debris off neighborhood streets. He is devoted to the principles and values of Islam but studies a global array of culture, history and religions.
Acting Career
He got his first break when New Line Cinema Director Ted Witcher commissioned him to coach Larenz Tate in the romantic drama "Love Jones" which went on to garner a Sundance Film Festival Award and three NAACP Image Awards. While filming in Chicago, Yusef additionally made a cameo as a guest spoken word artist while the words of Darius Lovehall resonated throughout upscale bohemian communities.
He recently collaborated with Director Frey Hoffman (Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks,” Sa-Ra’s “Feel the Bass” f/ Erykah Badu and Talib Kweli) for the film adaptation of Yusef’s poem Hollywood Jerome. The two contemporaries previously joined forces for Yusef’s 2005 music video “Wouldn’t You Like to Ride” f/ Kanye and Common. Their film The Untimely Demise of Hollywood Jerome presents the gritty street drama, chronicling the tale of a 14-year-old South Side gang member who idolizes classic Hollywood gangsters like the archetypical Scarface and Godfather. Unlike the Hughes Brothers' Menace II Society, Hype Williams’ Belly or Sanyika Shakur's Monster which had a tendency to romanticize the hard-and-fast lifestyle, Yusef and Hoffman’s film openly confronts pop culture’s misrepresentation and glorification of gang warfare. The directors play with that duality – juxtaposing the reality versus media portrayal. The film culminates in the protagonist caught up in a police standoff on the opposite side of town. Cameos from Kanye West and Twista add black star power to the cinematography.
Television Career
His most noticeable performance came in 2002 during a featured poem entitled “I Spit…” on HBO’s Season 2 “Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry Jam.” The segment also featured artists including Malcolm Jamal Warner and legendary hip hop icon Rakim and went on to earn the show a coveted Emmy Award. Yusef appeared as himself in the 2005 VH-1 Television Series “Driven,” a documentary surrounding the life of friend Kanye West, also featuring notable appearances from Common, Damon Dash, Jermaine Dupri, Jay-Z, Ludacris and Russell Simmons. He additionally made guest appearances on ABC Worldwide News, WGN Morning News, BET’s legendary Rap City and MTV’s Hip-Hop Week
Music Career
The Great Chicago Fire; A Cold Day in Hell (Universal Records 2003)
He released his first solo album featuring a bevy of local talent including Kanye West, Carl Thomas, Chantay Savage, Common and Twista, documenting an amalgam of eroticism, religion, gangster folklore and hip-hop. The Source Magazine dubbed the debut “a classic.”
Good Morning & Good Night (G.O.O.D Music Recordings 2008)
This Fall he will release his sophomore effort, Good Morning & Good Night featuring an array of guest musicians and producers including Kanye West, Common, Raheem Devaughn and soul pianist John Legend. The concept of this reflective double CD will display Protagonist vs. Antagonist/Lower Self vs. Higher Self, exhibiting the poet’s struggle between his internal dualities. Both discs Good Morning and Good Night will feature 12 tracks apiece, representing an hour of each day.
Tours
Summer 2000 –Carl Thomas & Mary J. Blige Tour
Fall 2005 – “Touch the Sky Tour” f/ Kanye West & Keyshia Cole
Spring 2008 “Real Thing Tour” f/ Jill Scott & Raheem Devaughn
Spring 2008 “Glow in the Dark Tour” f/ Rihanna, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D and Common.
Collaborations
He was inspired by the jazz saxophonist Mike Phillips (Hidden Beach Records) and their collaboration “This is Not a Game” was selected by basketball superstar Michael Jordan to appear on the Interactive CD-Rom included alongside his limited edition Jordan 17 Sneakers in August 2002. His work has also been featured on a string of multi-platinum albums, particularly alongside his comrades and Chicago natives.
“Woman I Desire” – Raheem Devaughn - Love Behind the Melody (Jive Records 2008)
“Welcome to Chi” - Dr. Cornel West - Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations (Hidden Beach Records 2007)
“Crack Music” - Kanye West Late Registration (Roc-a-Fella Records 2005)
“Wouldn’t You Like To Ride” f/ Common & Kanye West Coach Carter Soundtrack (Capitol Records 2005)
“Know it’s Alright” – Carl Thomas – Let’s Talk About It (Bad Boy Records 2004)
“Trouble Don’t Last Always” – Carl Thomas – Emotional (Bad Boy Records 2000)
“My City” – Common - One Day it Will All Make Sense (Relativity Records 1997)
Awards
Chicago Music Awards – “Best Poet” (2002 thru 2008)
Truth Awards – “Spoken Word Artist of the Year” (2001 thru 2005)
2006 Grammy Award (Kanye West Late Registration)
2003 Emmy Award (Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry Jam)
Discography
Albums: The Great Chicago Fire; A Cold Day in Hell (Universal Records 2003)
Singles: “Wouldn’t You Like To Ride” f/ Kanye West and Common
External Links
References