Now Reading: A Lyrical Gunslinger Balancing Counterculture Truth and Cross-Genre Firepower –
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A Lyrical Gunslinger Balancing Counterculture Truth and Cross-Genre Firepower –
A Lyrical Gunslinger Balancing Counterculture Truth and Cross-Genre Firepower –
Few artists treat hip-hop as both a spiritual pulpit and a political loudspeaker quite like Malak Shalom. In this A&R Factory interview, the Texas-born rapper reflects on the influences that shaped his worldview, from the lyricism of Black Star and Nas to the unexpected pull of metal guitars and Christian rock. Our conversation moves through the gritty persistence required to keep creating while feeling overlooked, the genre-fluid philosophy behind tracks such as Belly Jelly, and the cinematic cowboy mythology that fuels his Hip-Hop Wrangler persona. Shalom also unpacks the political motivations behind The Undocumented Alienz and explains how alternate identities such as Shavirus allow him to express different facets of his voice. The result is a candid discussion about faith, protest, storytelling, and the restless creative mindset driving his music forward.
Great to have you here at A&R Factory, Malak Shalom — your eclectic discography has us absolutely hooked. We’d love to start by asking about your hip-hop origin story; how did it all start?
Much gratitude. Hip-Hop has always been a counterculture or subculture for many, especially inner-city populations predominantly. For me personally it engulfed my upbringing. Music in general has surrounded me. Hip-Hop was the popular trend! Black Star showed me wordsmith ability and the depths of lyrical construction. Common gave me postive vibes and more social insight. Especially the specific song he did called “Assata.” Nas lyrical skills mixed with that New York Queens grit was a strong influence indeed. Lately I been really bumping “Promise 2 God” by Sevin. I enjoy Aviyah. I really like Aviyah’s music. So if she ever reads this, please keep creating! All praises!! So in more direction towards your question it all started with a karaoke, mic, and some tapes!
What hurdles have you had to overcome to deliver the hits that are racking up tens of thousands of streams?
Thank you for labeling them hits. Unfortunately, I dont fill the adoration and still feel like Im an overlooked ghost. Not that I desire attention. But this is a business, a purpose, and gift meant for the masses. A gift is meant to be given. And numbers do determine success to a large degree in this industry. I still feel like I haven’t yet conquered the hurdle of getting the right exposure to help push the brand further. But hey, all it takes is one well positioned person to see the vision and help get things in real motion. The main hurdle i circumvented is the motivation and discipline to keep going. Keep creating through it all. That hurdle I believe I trounced.
You’ve built a reputation for pulling myriads of genres into your sound without ever losing your core identity. When you think back on your early years, what shaped that instinct to treat genre as raw material rather than something fixed in place?
Great question! I love great questions! My saying goes: the mind is open but the path is narrow. Im a fan to all, well most, music objectively. Just like I would study any autobiography/biography with open mindedness. In order to do this one must be pensive with a solid foundation. Know how to filter information and take or borrow what you need. But your core character has to be solid to not loose what makes you you. When you walk in Truth with God all things are tools at your disposal. You have access to the knowledge and information but the wisdom oversees it all if you know what I mean. Today music in general, even Hip-Hop, is evolving to be more flexible or experimental without loosing its signature. Travis Scott was kicking something like that in his latest Rolling Stone interview. Signature sound has its place yet you dont want to be a rigid artist. Breaking the monotony is beneficial.
Where did the whiskey-soaked imagery and moody attitude of The Hip-Hop Wangler originate for you, and what personal experiences fed into its world-building?
Another good question. I was born in Texas. So a great part of me has always been fond to Cowboys. Cowboys to a good extent are a fun part of Americas history. I love western novels. I enjoy Buffalo Soldier history. Don’t get it mistaken, I absolutely pull much enjoyment from large cities and can be a real social butterfly, but its nothing like a small town and riding through the country side blasting “Hometown Girl” by Josh Turner. The Hip-Hop Wrangler came after vibing to the beat. The concept came naturally along with the sister songs that followed afterwards. “Heeler Rope” “Belly Jelly” and dont forget to check out the newest one hopefully it will come to Spotify soon, called “Whats Your Local(455).”
Your most-streamed track, Belly Jelly, brings rock licks snarling into the production in a way that felt completely natural. What’s your relationship with rock, and how did those textures become part of your sonic signature?
Oh yea im definitely a Rocker dude! Especially Christian Rock. Bands like Chevelle, Five Finger Death Punch, Bad Omens, Three days grace, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Likin Park, and Nirvana have caught my ear. Atleast a few of their songs have. Different people and different walks in my life journey have exposed me to different genres of music. We all crossed paths for a reason just like intersections and four way stop signs. Most people find it funny that for me, being a so-called African American, my favorite musical instrument is the metal guitar. I was kinda bugging out when I found out that the lead vocalist for the band Sevan Dust was a black guy with dreadlocks at the time lol As dark as he was I was even looking into Ozzy and Black Sabbath. Reading a little into his autobiography I can see what caused him to turn away from religious faith. That same point of contact discourages many. But yea, I definitely digg some rock just not the real dark demonic stuff. That type I can’t even listen to objectively due to the sound and subconscious mind, that we do have to be careful in warding. A true artist in my opinion cannot be categorized. A true artist has many layers and textures.
On the other end of the spectrum, The Undocumented Alienz satirises a brutal political reality through red hot EDM beats and post-modern lyricism. What pulled you toward tackling the US immigration system, and why through that particular sonic lens?
Such a hot topic isn’t it! 
I mentioned the word counterculture earlier. Artist have always been the true influences to challenge or encourage political change. Using our music as a vanguard to convey impactful messages is what its all about even in the face of controversy or criticism, and sometimes even death. Conspiracies are a real thing in many cases, and just because we use words to demonize our group people or ideas dosent change a matter of truth. And the truth is immigration is defined by the true ones that called themselves pilgrims that came with violence, false treatise, and shrewd tactics to take something in the name of settlement. Then once established as a nation you then create policies to bring back the same people you destroyed and kicked out from the surrounding countries to work in your factories and agricultural for cheap, with no legal process, to turn around and victimize them for the same thing. Almost like creating the problem then offering the solution. And obviously this is not the case indefinitely. I mean it can get deep. For me overall immigrants in this case means the indigenous. The so called white immigrants, although some isolated incidents and other labor struggles and forms of discrimination did accure to them as well, but collectively most of them did, and can, absorb easily into the white population. Automatically you naturally associate immigrants with black and brown people. So thus was the song inspired. Next question…
You work under multiple artistic identities, including your Shavirus moniker. How do those different personas help you express the full scope of what you’re trying to say as an artist and as a human being living through chaotic cultural conditions?
I know right. Good question. I fell like Christ when He turned to His disciples and basically said I am called many names but what do you call me…
Like the villian Bane on Batman Dark Knight Rises said: “It dosent matter who we are. What matters is our plan.”
Names posses meanings obviously. The persona of Shavirus is lyrical potent sickness. I desire to plague the game beyond lyrical wordsmith but with TRUTH!! And speaking of culture conditions, as gloomy as it may sound, i personally think they will be releasing a second strain of the Corona virus. Or in other words another plandemic. I know. I know sounds like another conspiracy; eitherway it has truth, cause THE SHAVIRUS iz coming soon!!!
What moments in your real life have pushed you towards this ethos of refusing sonic conformity?
Revolutionary iz in my blood and teaching. Many X Black Panthers Party members have taught me lessons and recommend literature for me to consume. Im not a rebel without a cause. For Satan himself was a rebel. Im down to conform to true justice, true liberty, and true equality with fairness. Neither am I a communist. I see the flaws in all government systems and believe they have to be living, adjustable, quick, and flexible to work for the majority of the people. And overall they must not oprress its poor or minorities. I guess its like Henry Thoreau “Civil Disobedience” or Martin with “Militant Nonviolence.” However, soon it may have to evolve into “any means necessary” by Malcolm. Even Christ stood to deliver the brokenhearted, poor, and oppressed. Not just Spiritually but it was an actual movement. A big reason why He was crucified.
Looking ahead, what emotional or cultural threads are you planning on bringing into your sound next?
More of what I been doing plus touching on more real-time affairs in the world. Im always down to mix it up a bit. Keeping it positive, introspective, political, social, and overall Spirtual. I desire to be an artist to make a song for the occasion without overly compromising. Flexible and multifaceted. Artist are storytellers and journalists news reporters. Let us bring the good news along with fun entertainment; for it is a business at the end of the day. But sometimes its the business mindset that currops uz…. Thanks for the interview.
Stream Malak Shalom on Spotify.
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Interview by Amelia Vandergast
