Our journey with Malik Yusef, the "WordSmyth," began a few years back at Project Las Vegas. What started as casual conversations about the brand evolved into a meaningful friendship and collaborative partnership. During his latest Grammy run, we were honored to work with Malik to co-created the SLAM tees, merging art, fashion and technology with purpose. Personal note: if you ever rope him into deep conversation, you'll find that he's read more on philosophy, religion, linguistics and science than most, and his vocabulary stretches for miles.
But that’s just the latest chapter in a story that spans decades—one that weaves together hip-hop, poetry, fashion, activism, and an unshakable commitment to empowering the next generation. That's who he is, and why he spits the bars he spits.
Accolades and Collaborations
Malik’s artistic journey is adorned with Grammy wins and industry-changing collaborations. The influence of this 8x Grammy Award Winner (or as he put it to us recently, a "44x Grammy Award Loser"), can be felt across some of the most defining albums of our time. His songwriting and production credits include icons like Kanye West, Beyoncé, Common, and Jay-Z, contributing to projects that reshaped the landscape of modern music. But his accolades extend beyond music—he has also received Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and a Peabody Award, solidifying his legacy as a multi-disciplinary artist who thrives at the intersection of storytelling, social impact, and artistic excellence.
Fashion and Style Influence
Malik has always been ahead of the curve. His style has been a statement—unconventional, unexpected, and effortlessly cool. It’s this fearless approach to personal style that made him an influence on—and collaborator with—fashion icons like Jerry Lorenzo and Virgil Abloh, as they rose to become some of the biggest names in the industry. Whether through pushing the boundaries of streetwear before it was mainstream or collaborating with Kanye West on Yeezy, Malik’s presence in fashion has always been more than aesthetic—it’s a philosophy of self-expression, breaking rules, and setting new standards.
Empowering the Next Generation: Bad Kids Klass and Grammy Recognition
For Malik, success isn’t just about what you achieve—it’s about who you lift up along the way. His Bad Kids Klass initiative is an embodiment of that philosophy. Through this program, he has mentored and guided emerging artists in songwriting, spoken word poetry, and music production, bringing in established industry figures like Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa and Jordin Sparks to work with students. The culmination of these efforts was the creation of the album "Good M.U.S.I.C. Universe Sonic Sinema Episode 1: In the Beginning Was the Word," which earned a nomination for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards. This wasn’t just a milestone for Malik—it was a game-changer for the young artists involved, many of whom were able to attend the Grammys for the first time, with “Grammy-Nominated” now permanently stamped on their resumes. Check the collaboration tees here.
Super Vision: Turning Challenges Into Superpowers
How does he do it? In his TEDxCrenshaw talk, "Super Vision," Malik shared his personal journey of transforming challenges into strengths. His experiences with dyslexia and synesthesia—once seen as obstacles—became the foundation of his unique artistic lens, allowing him to perceive and create in ways others could not.
"I didn’t overcome my challenges. I embraced them. I didn’t fix them. I wore them. I made them my superpower."
For Malik, differences aren’t something to be hidden or corrected—they’re something to be owned and leveraged. It’s a message that resonates far beyond music and art—it’s about self-acceptance and the power of turning disadvantages into strengths.
A Legacy of Empowerment
From the South Side of Chicago to global platforms, Malik Yusef’s journey epitomizes the transformative power of art. Whether it’s through music, poetry, fashion, or education, he continues to bridge worlds, break boundaries, and inspire the next generation to own their narratives and carve their own paths.
Follow Malik: @malikyusef100
Listen to Malik: SoundCloud
He shows us that, with the right mindset, every obstacle can become a superpower.
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