Mala (pronounced May-Lay) is 1/2 of the Atlanta Hip-Hop duo, Below Tha Surface. Originally, from Oklahoma City, he left his family behind to pursue his dream in music by moving to Atlanta.
His successes are great for an independent artist. From performing at the Apollo to the FedEx Orange Bowl, Mala's story is one of perseverance and risk taking. After hearing record label after record label tell him he needs to sound "more gangsta" or "more like Kid Rock or Limp Bizkit," he decided to form his own music production company to release his group's projects. "I had a vision for my group and myself that was too outside the box for traditional record labels," Mala said of his reasoning for starting his own company. "This gave me a chance to get my music out to the world unfiltered."
Though building a following in Atlanta by hooking up with one of Atlanta's largest radio moguls helped advance his career, it would be his fanbase back in his homestate that would bring his greatest success to date. Mala created the songs "Sooner Bounce" and "Sooner Girl" under the Below Tha Surface name, which paid hommage to his homestate's football team. The songs were instant successes on radio, garnishing Mala a spot on Mediabase's Top 100 Pop Airplay nationwide.
Now, as Mala steps outside of Below Tha Surface to pursue a solo project, he looks to introduce a different side of his creativity. "I'm focusing on just being an artist on this project. A majority of my project will be produced by another producer, which is new for me." This personal solo effort promises to be "lyrical, soulful, and something different for Hip-Hop."
While Mala's story is still in the works, one can bet that nothing will deter him from reaching the world with his unique, creative talents. Stay tuned for the next chapter!
www.myspace.com/belowthasurface "Can't Give Up" and "Welcome to My Dream" are produced by Ced Solo www.myspace.com/cedsolo
