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.

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 authors 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, and Ms Marie Labropolus. The albums were recorded at Sarm Studios in Readding, 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 (born 1857, died unknown) 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. 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 demonstrates the versatility of Larry's music and how the "Drum Fusion" formula (which Lenny B also worked to), can 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][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); as 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 is 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 performed a tribute at 2013 Liverpool International Music festival 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, BBC News asylum seekers in the UK, social unrest 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 rap album Hustlers Convention at the Jazz Cafe in Camden North London. The event was to be filmed for the making of a film by Director Mike Todd of Riverhorse in Manchester UK. The executive producer of the film is Public Enemy's Chuck D. The Hustlers Convention live event is 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.

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 promotor 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.

Bibliography

• Mark T. Watson (4 December 2004). Ordinary Guy. Fore-Word Press. ISBN 0-9548867-0-4. 
• Catton, J. A. H. (2004). Story of Association Football. Cleethorpes. ISBN 1-86223-119-2. 

Radio appearances

• "Outlook BBC World Service ^[10] - After the death of legendary musician Gil Scott-Heron, we find out how he transformed the life of a young British man.
• "Radio WBAI New York"^[11] – 'Radio interview Malik Al Nasir, Bilal Sunni Ali and Tommy Abney with Umar Ben Hassan of The Last Poets'
• "Saturday Live BBC Radio 4 London"^[12] – 'Radio interview - Malik Al Nasir, Al Jarreau and Brian Ball with Clare Balding- live from Centre Court at Wimbledon'
• "Roger Phillips Show BBC Radio Merseyside Malik talks about his life with Gil Scott-Heron & The Last Poets
• "Benji B, BBC Radio 1Xtra "Gone too soon" with KRS-One, Nas and Shabazz Palaces

Filmography

• "Word Up – From Ghetto To Mecca" featuring Gil Scott Heron, The Last Poets, Malik Al Nasir and Benjamin Zephaniah.
• "Africa" – "Malik & the O.G's featuring Rod Youngs, and Larry McDonald. – Music Video, produced by HQ Creative and directed by Mitchel Stuart for MCPR Music.
• "BBC News – Toxteth Riots" Malik Al Nasir's^[13] social commentary on the Toxteth Riots of 1981 and 2011.^[14]
• "Hustlers Convention" – Featuring Chuck D, Melle Mel, Alan Douglas, Ron Saint Germain, Malik Al Nasir, Fab Five Freddy, Last Poets by Producer and Director Mike Todd of Riverhorse TV in Manchester UK. 2014
• "Who Is Gil Scott-Heron?" – Featuring Kimberley Jordan, Glen Turner, Richard Russell (XL Recordings), Jamie Byng, Malik Al Nasir. Producer and Director Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard for Beggars Banquet UK. 2015

Discography

• Drumquestra by Larry McDonald 2009 for MCPR Music. Tracks "Crime or Music"was written by Malik Al Nasir for Larry McDonald with Squiddly Cole, performed by Ska veteran Stranger Cole and Sly Dunbar. Also "Peace of Mind"^[5] was written by Malik Al Nasir & Bobby Rodell Davis. Malik Al Nasir was also Executive Producer for the whole album, Ft. Sly Dunbar, Starnger Cole, Steel Pulse, The Wailers, Dollarman, Bongo Herman, Mutabaruka, Toots & the Maytals, Bob Andy Marivaldo Dos Santos and JD Smooth.
• Rhythms of the Diaspora Vol 1. by Malik & the O.G's – Written and produced by Malik Al Nasir. Ft. Gil Scott-Heron, LL Cool J, Ms Marie Labropoulos.
• Rhythms of the Diaspora Vol 2. by Malik & the O.G's – Written and produced by Malik Al Nasir. Co produced by Swiss Chris, Ft. Larry McDonald, Stanley Clarke, The Last Poets.
• Urban Griot by Raw UnLtd. Ft. Hard City Klick HCK – Unreleased. Trakcs such as Multi-Media were co-wrote by Malik Al Nasir. Malik was also the executive producer of the album. The producer was Lloyd Masset. The album was recorded at Hookend Recording Studios in Oxfordshire and mixed by Andy Grassi at Wyclef Jeans Platinum Sound Recording Studios in NYC.

Collaboration albums

Discography

References