Malik Al Nasir

Malik Al Nasir, formerly Mark T. Watson (born 1966, Liverpool, England) is a British author and performance poet, born to a Welsh mother and a Guyanese father. He grew up partly with his family in Liverpool and after the paralysis of his father, he was taken into local authority care. He successfully sued the government for neglect, racism and physical abuse whilst in their care, and received a public apology from Liverpool's Lord Mayor.

This article is about the British author and poet. For Sultan al-Malik al-Nasir Nasir al-Din Muhammad ben Qalawun of Egypt, see Malik al-Nasir.

Malik Al Nasir

Career

Malik is the band leader of Malik & the O.G's.[1]

Malik is the author of the book Ordinary Guy under his previous name Mark T. Watson. He is the founder and Chief Executive of UK publishing house Fore-Word Press.[2] Ordinary Guy is a collection of poetry and explanatory prose that spans a period of 10 years within the author's late teens and twenties. The book includes "Malik's Mode" – a foreword by Jalal Mansur Nuriddin of the Last Poets. Ordinary Guy was written in tribute to Gil Scott-Heron & The Last Poets and contains 33 poems along with illustrations and explanatory prose.

Malik also featured in a documentary film about his poetry along with Gil Scott-Heron, The Last Poets and Benjamin Zephaniah. The film is called Word Up – From Ghetto to Mecca and featured commentary on Malik's work and performance poetry by Malik. Fore-Word Press exclusively screened the film, (which was produced by UKTV's commissioning editor Shirani Sabaratnam, former BBC and Channel 4 producer) at Phoenix Cinema, Leicester, as part of the 2011 Black History Month events, which Leicester City Council[3] branded a tribute to the late Gil Scott-Heron.

Malik also wrote and produced two albums of his poetry and songs, Rhythms of the Diaspora Vol. 1 & 2, featuring Gil Scott-Heron, The Last Poets, LL Cool J, Stanley Clarke, Swiss Chris, Rod Youngs, Larry McDonald (percussionist), and Ms Marie Labropolus. The albums were recorded at Sarm Studios in Reading, Mercredi 9 Studios in Paris and Wyclef Jean's Platinum Sound Recording Studios in New York. Mixed by Serge Tsai and mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound New York.

Malik is currently researching the life of Andrew Watson (24 May 1856 – 8 March 1921) who was the first black footballer in history – and one of the architects of the game of soccer as it is known today – for inclusion in a book about the life of Watson, who came from Guyana in 1860 and ended up captaining Scotland in the 1880s.[4]

Recent biography

In 2006, Malik co-founded Dubai-based production company MediaCPR and its record label MCPR Music. Conceptually MediaCPR wanted to develop clean content in mainstream music, that could entertain listeners without being offensive or explicit. In this context, Malik along with a team of music producers, pioneered a new genre of music which they called "Drum Fusion". The idea was to unite traditional rhythms with contemporary song arrangements and apply positive lyrical content to produce a new style of music, which could be applied to any genre. The drum fusion formula involves developing a full organic sound composition derived exclusively from the use of drum, percussion, the human voice and natural sounds; such as wind, rain, running water etc. The first album to hit the streets using the drum fusion formulae is that of Jamaican master percussionist Larry McDonald (percussionist). The album is entitled Drumquestra. The concept was developed collaboratively between Malik Al Nasir, who is the executive producer, Larry McDonald himself, who wanted to showcase his 50-year recording career as a percussionist working with everyone from Bob Marley to Taj Mahal and also by producer Sidney Mills from Steel Pulse. Lenny B did a dub-dance remix of one of the tracks off the album called Set the Children Free. The original album version was recorded with Toots & the Maytals The dance remix by Lenny B demonstrated the versatility of Larry's music and how the "Drum Fusion" formula (which Lenny B also worked to), could cross genre's and be totally relevant to the young, as well as the old traditionalists.

Malik Al Nasir was also co-writer on two tracks on the album Drumquestra. "Peace of Mind" (Which Malik also co-produced with Sidney Mills featuring Shaza) and[5] "Crime Or Music"[6] Featuring veteran ska musician Stranger Cole and reggae drummer Sly Dunbar. Additional percussion on this track was provided by Sticky Thompson of The Wailers and Bongo Herman.

In 2010, Malik Al Nasir graduated with an MA in New Media Production from Liverpool Screen School (A faculty of Liverpool John Moores University); and his thesis piece he created a web-based multimedia software program for genealogical family tree building, called Ancestory. The software allows for the building of interactive multimedia family trees, that can be shared over social networks and authored by the public. Ancestory was probably the first interactive multimedia family tree builder, with social network integration.

Malik also holds a BA Hon's. In Geography & Sociology from Liverpool Hope University and a PgDip in Applied Social Research from The University of Liverpool.

Upon news of the death of his mentor Gil Scott-Heron, in May 2011 Malik Al Nasir flew to New York to attend the funeral services[7] and Malik's band Malik & the O.G's performed a tribute at Liverpool International Music festival 2013 in honour of Gil Scott-Heron. The band included Malik Al Nasir, Orphy Robinson, Rod Youngs, Mohammed Nazam, Paislie Reid, Shaza Tiago Coimbra and engineer Tom Parker.

Malik is a social commentator and has periodically participated in news items on issues relating to refugees, social exclusion, asylum seekers in the UK, social unrest in Liverpool[8] and racism.[9]

In 2013, Malik was asked- along with Fore-Word Press to produce a live show of the world's first rap album Hustlers Convention at the Jazz Cafe in Camden, North London. The event was filmed for the making of a documentary called Hustlers Convention by Director Mike Todd of Riverhorse TV in Manchester UK. The executive producer of the film is Public Enemy's Chuck D. The Hustlers Convention live event was sponsored by Charly Records who re-issuesd a special limited edition of the original vinyl album, to commemorate both 40 years of "The Hustlers Convention" and 40 Years of Charly Records. Malik was the Associate Producer of the film, as well as an interviewee, presenting a segment to camera.

Malik's band Malik & the O.G's featuring Cleveland Watkiss, Orphy Robinson, Rod Youngs & Hawi Gondwe supported Jalal and The Jazz Warriors International Collective, at The Hustlers Convection Live at the Jazz Café London in 2014.

In Aug 2015 Malik produced a series of tribute events to celebrate the legacy of Gil Scott-Heron in Liverpool including "Poets Against Apartheid – The Legacy of Gil Scott-Heron" at the Liverpool International Slavery Museum for UNESCO International Slavery Remembrance Day, on 23 August 2015. This included Poetry readings from Malik Al Nasir, Tayo Aluko, and Jean Binta Breeze (MBE) and the Incognito Gospel Choir. Also in partnership with promoter Richard McGinnis (Chibuku) "The Revolution Will Be Live – A Tribute to Gil Scott-Heron" on 27 August 2015 at St George's Hall, Liverpool Liverpool with Malik & the O.G's, Talib Kweli, Aswad, The Christians, Craig Charles, DJ 2Kind, Sophia Ben-Yousef, Cleveland Watkiss and BBC Radio Merseyside Presenter Ngunan Adamu as the MC. The event was commissioned by Liverpool International Music Festival and was the opening event of the LIMF 2015.

After "The Revolution will be Live" event in Liverpool, Malik Al Nasir was invited to tour Canada with Last Poets founder member Jalal Mansur Nuriddin for Black History Month (February 2016). Events at Harbourfront in Toronto reached the National press [10] Malik Al Nasir and Jalal Mansur Nuriddin did a series of film screenings of Hustlers Convention for whom Malik was credited as Associate Producer and the film Word-Up featuring Gil Scott-Heron and Jalal Nuriddin, as well as workshops, seminars, school visits and performances in Toronto [11] Ottawa and Mississauga [12] for Black History Month and Malik Al Nasir was invited back to do a further tour in March 2016 [13] further promoting his film Word-Up and performing with his band Malik & the O.G's featuring Ottawa R & B artists Rita Carter.

'The Revolution Will Be Live' again toured the UK in Nov 2017 with Gil Scott-Heron's former musical director Kim Jordan joining Malik & the O.G's and featured Canadian singer Rita Carter.

Jalal Mansur Nuriddin died on 4 June 2018 and Malik Al Nasir wrote his obituary for The Guardian Newspaper in the UK which was published on Wed 6 Jun 2018.[14]

Bibliography
  • Catton, J. A. H. (2004). Story of Association Football. Cleethorpes. ISBN 1-86223-119-2.

Radio appearances

Filmography

Discography

Collaboration albums
Year Album Label Artist
2009 Drumquestra (Cat No. CPLM301) MCPR Music Larry McDonald
Year Album Label Artist
2008 Urban Griot MCPR Music Unreleased Raw UnLtd

Discography
Year Album Label Artist
2017 Africa EP (CD Cat No. Mentis002) MentiS Records Malik & the O.G's
Year Album Label Artist
2015 Rhythms of the Diaspora Vol 1. (2 disc Cat No. Mentis001) MentiS Records Malik & the O.G's Ft. Gil Scott-Heron
Year Album Label Artist
2015 Rhythms of the Diaspora Vol 2. (2 disc Cat No. Mentis001) MentiS Records Malik & the O.G's Ft. The Last Poets

References
  1. Laurer, W. (1 August 2015). "GLP". George Leitner Productions GmbH. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  2. Watson, M. T. (2004). Ordinary Guy: a collection of poetry & explanatory prose. Fore-Word Press poetry series, v. 1. Liverpool, Fore-Word Press Archived 11 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. "black history season 2011". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  4. "Gedboy". Gedboy.com. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  5. "Larry McDonald – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  6. "Larry McDonald – Drumquestra (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  7. Hattenstone, S. (19 June 2011). "'Gil Scott-Heron saved my life' | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  8. Thomas, E. (9 August 2011). "Liverpool riots 'caused by government cuts'". BBC News.
  9. Frey, G. (14 November 2001). "News: Liverpool News". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  10. "The grandfather of rap Jalal Nuriddin gives a lesson in hip hop history". CBC Radio. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  11. Juneja, R. (3 February 2016). "Malik Al Nasir's Continuing Spoken Word Legacy – Gil Scott-Heron's protégé on mentorship, Kanye West and his new documentary with Chuck D". Now Toronto. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  12. Spencer, J. (8 February 2016). "Rap pioneer helps launch Black History Month at Peel school". Mississauga News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  13. O’Hare, A. (5 April 2016). "How do we measure the distance between art and activism? This week's look at Liverpool's less ordinary has us dancing to the rhythms of the diaspora, as we chat with Malik Al Nasir – star of LIMF 2015 and the artist and activist who had his life changed following a chance meeting with the legendary Gil Scott-Heron". Liverpool Etc. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  14. Al Nasir, A.M. (6 June 2018). "Jalal Mansur Nuriddin farewell to the grandfather of rap". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  15. Bannister, M. (2 July 2011). "BBC World Service – 'Extraordinary personal stories from around the world', 27/06/2011". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  17. Balding, C. (2 July 2011). "BBC Radio 4 – Saturday Live, 02/07/2011". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  18. Waddington, Marc (9 July 2011). "Flashback: How meeting Gil Scott-Heron in riot-hit Toxteth changed my life". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  19. "BBC News – Liverpool riots 'caused by government cuts'". Bbc.co.uk. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
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