Steven Malcolm

Steven Malcolm is a rapper whose faith-based rhymes blend with an affinity for commercial rap production, all the while incorporating touches of reggae to reaffirm his Jamaican roots. As a recording artist, Malcolm took his first steps with a mixtape and self-released album that led to a deal through Word Entertainment, after which he issued the Dove-nominated Steven Malcolm (2017) and The Second City (2019). A 2020 collaboration with dancehall superstar Shaggy pushed Malcolm’s reggae undertones even nearer to the surface, and he mixed vaporous trap instrumentals with elastic flows on singles like 2022′s “Respect” and his 2024 full-length outing Boats. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steven Malcolm attended church for the first time at the suggestion of a friend while struggling with family issues and focus during his freshman year of college. Inspired by a joyous service that incorporated hip-hop and dance, he became a regular participant, left the rap group he’d been involved with, and pursued his newfound passion for religion-themed rap. He went on to become part of the church’s worship team and set to work on recording a debut album. Malcolm started to amass a fan base with his 2013 mixtape Real Hip Hop, and a year later self-released the full-length Monsters Ink. Building a reputation regionally through rap competitions and live performance for material that was both introspective and sociopolitically aware, Malcolm was named to Rapzilla’s Freshmen of 2016 list, making him an up-and-comer to watch. After he signed with Word Entertainment and became the first artist on its newly established hip-hop imprint, 4 Against 5, Malcolm hit streaming charts in early 2017 with the pop-rap tune “Party in the Hills,” featuring Andy Mineo and Hollyn. His label debut, Steven Malcolm, was released that February and registered on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart. Malcolm performed at that year’s GMA Dove Awards and was nominated in three categories: Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year, Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year (for “Party in the Hills”), and New Artist of the Year. Between albums, he recorded verses for well over a dozen tracks, including Torey D'Shaun’s “Boomerang [Remix]” and Evan and Eris’ “Be Alright.” Malcolm’s second album for 4 Against 5, The Second City, arrived in January 2019. In 2020, he teamed with Shaggy for a remix of the Second City track “Fuego,” and the song saw several other remixes after that. Throughout 2021, Malcolm consistently released singles like the Childish Major-assisted “Glory on Me,” and collected some of his tracks on the All Is True EP. 2022 saw the release of the songs “Respect,” “Accelerate” with Canon, “Ain’t Playin’” with Social Club Misfits, and other tracks, which were compiled onto the guest-star-heavy mixtape Tree. After releasing singles like “40” and “Cardio” in 2023, Malcolm issued his next proper studio album, Boats, in February 2024. The record hopped around stylistically from post-Drake pop-rap to dancehall-flavored tracks to fluid trap workouts. That same year, Malcolm collaborated with Christian alt-rock group Sanctus Real on the single “Feels to Be Free.” ~ Marcy Donelson & Andy Kellman