Malik Yusef el-Shabazz Jones[1] (born April 4, 1971) is an American spoken word artist, poet, rapper, record producer, and director based in Chicago, Illinois.
Jones' surname means "KingJoseph" (Malik and Yusuf, respectively) in Arabic.[citation needed] He was raised in Chicago's South Side neighborhood, known as the "Wild 100's",[2] where he became affiliated with the Blackstone Rangers street gang; he is no longer involved in gang activity.[3] In his youth, he became friendly with the rapper Common.[3] He is dyslexic, which he first realized as a teenager.[citation needed] He first became known regionally as a street poet, and later into an actor, mainly acting out of his "street hustler" persona.
As a spoken word artist, Jones uses poetry to explore a wide range of personal and social issues while maintaining a global perspective aimed at fostering benevolence. His work blends street vernacular with diverse musical backdrops, including hip-hop beats, organic keyboards, guitars, and horns. Jones is renowned for his role as a "wordsmith", delivering verses that reflect his experiences growing up in Chicago's urban landscape. His poetry offers insights into the complexities of inner-city life and broader socio-economic challenges.
In 2007 he collaborated with Director Frey Hoffman (Kanye West's "Jesus Walks", Sa-Ra' featuring Erykah Badu and Talib Kweli "Feel the Bass") 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" featuring Kanye West and Common. Their film "The Untimely Demise of Hollywood Jerome" presents a 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. Yusef and Hoffman's film openly confronts pop culture's misrepresentation and glorification of gang warfare. The film culminates in the protagonist caught up in a police stand-off on the opposite side of town. Cameos include Kanye West and Twista.[citation needed]
Television career
His most noticeable performance came in 2002 during a featured poem entitled "I Spit…" on Season 2 of HBO's Russell Simmon's Def Poetry Jam. The segment also featured artists including Malcolm-Jamal Warner and hip hop icon Rakim. Yusef appeared as himself in the 2005 VH-1 Television Series Driven, a documentary surrounding the life of friend Kanye West, also featuring 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, CLTV's Garrard McClendon Live!, BET's Rap City, and MTV's Hip-Hop Week.[citation needed]
Music career
The Great Chicago Fire; A Cold Day in Hell (Universal Records 2003)
He 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. The Source magazine dubbed the debut "a classic".[citation needed]
G.O.O.D. Morning, G.O.O.D. Night (G.O.O.D Music Recordings 2009)
The first single "Magic Man" featured Kanye West, Common, and John Legend. Another song called "By Your Side" which featured Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams and singer Brando was leaked on the Internet.
He and jazz saxophonist Mike Phillips (Hidden Beach Records) collaborated on the song "This is Not a Game", which was selected by basketball star Michael Jordan and appeared 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 albums, particularly alongside his comrades and Chicago natives.
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