Photo-credit: MalakaiTheGreat
Before a song can tell a story, there is often an initial feeling or sound that gives the artist a reason to begin creating in the first place. For MalakaiTheGreat, a song begins with a feeling before it ever becomes a collection of words. Music is more than simply putting lyrics over a beat; his creative process starts with emotion, develops through melody, and eventually becomes a reflection of what he wants to express. As he continues developing his craft, he remains focused on creating music that feels genuine, personal, and meaningful. The beat itself is often what determines whether that creative spark takes hold. MalakaiTheGreat specifies that he has to connect with the music before he can begin writing. “Whenever I have a beat played for me or whenever I find one that I really, really like, I have to be able to feel something from the beat to even make me want to write anything,” he shares. Once that feeling is there, the melody usually comes next. From there, the creative process begins to take shape as he finds the style he wants to bring to the track. He gets a feel for how he wants to approach the song before adding lyrics to fill in the blanks and bring the idea together. For MalakaiTheGreat, that initial emotion is what gives every song its starting point and allows the rest of the creative process to develop naturally.
The music industry has never been more accessible, but that accessibility has also created a new set of challenges for artists. MalakaiTheGreat believes the current landscape gives musicians more freedom to create and build their careers independently, while also placing greater pressure on them to stand out. “Music is universal. Almost everyone is doing it now," he states. One of the biggest changes he has noticed is the growing ability for artists to build their careers without relying on a traditional record label. Many musicians are choosing to remain independent, and MalakaiTheGreat believes a number of them are doing a strong job creating opportunities for themselves. Without a label dictating their creative direction, independent artists can have greater control over their sound and the way they develop their careers. That freedom, however, comes with its own pressure. With so much music being released every day, artists are constantly competing for attention in an environment where opinions can change quickly. “The Internet is crazy these days,” he points out, emphasizing how quickly people can dismiss music simply because it does not fit current expectations or trends. Technology has added another layer to that conversation, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence in music. MalakaiTheGreat believes Artificial Intelligence (AI) could make it more difficult for artists to distinguish themselves and have their work recognized for its human creativity. “With AI coming into the music scene, it’s becoming a bit hard for real artists to really shine,” he explains. The current industry, according to MalakaiTheGreat, represents a challenging balance between opportunity and competition. More tools and creative freedom are available to artists than ever before, but they still need to find ways to stay true to themselves and be heard in a crowded field.
MalakaiTheGreat defines legacy not by fame or recognition, but by what he leaves behind for his children. He shares, “As far as legacy goes, my legacy is my children.” He hopes that his children can take something meaningful from his music, and if anyone else is able to find value or inspiration in his work, he considers that a blessing in itself. MalakaiTheGreat remains humble about the idea of creating a lasting legacy through music. Rather than viewing himself as an artist who has already reached that level of recognition, he questions whether his impact has extended beyond his city. Still, his aspirations go beyond personal recognition. More than anything, he wants to see a return to music that carries genuine meaning and substance. That desire for authenticity connects the different parts of MalakaiTheGreat’s approach to music. Whether he is creating from an emotional connection to a beat, navigating the opportunities and pressures of an evolving industry, or thinking about what his children may take from his work, his focus remains on staying genuine. His perspective is rooted in the belief that music should have something real to say. At the center of his message is a simple belief: real music with real substance still matters. For MalakaiTheGreat, the greatest measure of his work is not necessarily how famous he becomes, but whether his music means something to the people who hear it and the family he hopes to leave it behind for.