May 17 marked a major milestone for founder and CEO Ebonie Ward. The grand opening of 11th & Co.’s new headquarters, 550 RMG, in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward brought out some of the city’s most influential figures in entertainment, media, and tech for a celebration of a new creative hub for black entrepreneurs.
Get ready to turn up — HOT 97’s Summer Jam is back and bigger than ever.
November 7, 2024. Manhattan, New York — Arkansas-bred rapper, LG Malique, notable for his melodic street songs, released a brand-new EP, LIVING GOLD on October 25, 2024.
The 8-Track EP illustrates his resilience and fortitude, powering through the obstacles, on the path to making his dreams a reality. With an all-new, pop-infused single, “Lie” and the viral remake of Lukas Graham’s, reimagined, “7 Years”, featuring the song originator, LG Malique stands boldly in his truth with the numbers to back him. LG Malique has earned over 2.7M global streams on his song collaboration with Lukas Graham and over 1M views on YouTube trailing closely behind.
The rapper sits with Danielle Niecey of The Knockturnal to share the inspiration behind his brand-new EP, LIVING GOLD.
The Knockturnal: What inspired the New EP, LIVING GOLD?
LG Malique: The fact that it’s a miracle really. It’s for the underdog. My back was against the wall and most of the songs [I] made, were when I was down, bad at the beginning of this year; and I had nothing, but faith and I had to really be delusional about my dreams. During the time [I wrote and recorded these songs] I was nowhere near [close to] what I was talking about on this project. I wasn’t even feeling like that; it [the music] was just a safe place. So the take is, it’s almost like an, “I’m here” EP.
The Knockturnal: So you were speaking where you are today, into existence?
LG Malique: Yes. A lot of people gave up on me, but don’t ever think you can put out my burning desire. When you keep going, miracles happen.
The Knockturnal: Had you already been signed at the time or was this more you cultivating this project as an Indie [independent] Artist?
LG Malique: I was signed but I was getting shelved and it’s a depressing space for an artist to feel like everyone’s giving up on you. There are artists in the same situation, but I had to have faith and push hard.
LG Malique’s unshakeable faith and transparency as an artist shine through in his interview and on LIVING GOLD. With Living Gold in heavy rotation, the breakout star showcases his inspiring journey, penning and performing from the heart of the underdog turned hero.
Living Gold Tracklist consists of 8 songs that include:
- I Know
- Lie
- Baptize
- Momma
- Seven Years
- Acknowledgement
- Wallet
- Stood My Ground
All of which ring clearly and boldly as an artist coming into the industry with high hopes, hunger, clear vision and coming to the harsh reality that though there are people in his life rooting for him, there are others looking to see him fail. Never allowing that to deter him, LG Malique created his EP, LIVING GOLD, as a testament of his Faith in God, his courage and tenacity, all of which cannot be denied. Living Gold stands as the project that required strenuous creative efforts and laser sharp focus backed by the culmination of prayers, positivity and thousands of hours of practice. Although he’s faced some of the perils navigating the business it hasn’t steered him from his path. It is evident that he has experienced hardships beyond what can be translated in mere conversation, choosing instead to use the pain to fuel his progress in music.
The Knockturnal: You have a song collaboration with Lukas Graham, “7 Years”; what was that like collaborating with him? 
LG Malique: Me and my girl were jumping around the crib when we got that news. It didn’t feel real. Then it took so long to happen, but I know he’s a man of his word, but I was so excited, checking my email, like ‘…Did it come? Did I get it?” *laughs* It’s crazy…it’s crazy, I know that I worked for something like that and I’m super grateful for it. So, it ain’t like I hit the lottery because I went through so much to get here and I worked for it and I’m grateful, super grateful. It was a once in a lifetime miracle experience, for real.
The Knockturnal: I don’t know Malique, 2.7 million global streams and over 1 million YouTube views, I think you hit the lottery. There’s a lot of content creators that would love to switch places with you.
LG Malique: *laughing* Alright. *laughing* You’re right.
The Knockturnal: That’s pretty cool! Congratulations. So, let’s say someone discovers you as an artist and stumbles across your EP. They can only listen to 3 songs to get a jist of who you are, which songs are you recommending?
LG Malique: It’ll be “Momma”, “I Know” and “Wallet” …”7 Years” of course but I’m gonna go with Wallet, I feel like “Wallet”, and “I Know” are super vulnerable with me taking [personal] accountability. I feel when it comes to expressing myself and my experiences, I would choose those. Those songs are the real ‘me’, I’m a storyteller and I told the story.
In addition to the project’s viral hits, highlights include the typically vulnerable “I Know” and “Acknowledgement,” an exploration of the steep price of following your dreams. Other gems “Baptize,” and the devastatingly intimate “Momma.” On the viral single, “Lie,” LG Malique best demonstrates his ability to write deeply personal songs that resonate widely.
The Knockturnal: Who are some of the artists that inspired you to write and perform the LIVING GOLD EP?
LG Malique: I grew up on R&B so it would be like… Fantasia, Usher and Alicia Keys…I grew up on those heavyweights. On the rap side it would be Lil Wayne, he’s so descriptive and he paints a picture in your head and that’s what I go for. Yo Gotti, Three 6 Mafia and a little bit of Lil Boosie.
The Knockturnal: What do you want your legacy in music to be?
LG Malique: To change the game, like to bring back a nostalgic sound from the early 2000’s. The songs were meaningful, they weren’t making music just because, and they had to do different things, they had to try different sounds and styles. I want to make songs that are classic [timeless] and live on. I don’t think we have many of those these days. Like the old Rihanna’s albums and songs, you can still bump those. Classics, I want to make classics like that.
The Knockturnal: Who’d you like to tour or headline with?
LG Malique: Lil Teejay, Polo G and Gunna.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell us more about your single, Lies?
LG Malique: Lies is a recent experience and I like to so much because its fresh. Someone betrayed me after I gave them my trust, knowing all that I’d been through and it’s about people who would take advantage of you everytime. Its like life, it’s just gonna always happen, no matter who you are.
The Knockturnal: What advice would you give your fans who are aspiring to be recording artists or aspiring to
LG Malique: Yes, stop seeking validation. That’s not what life is about. It’s about doing what you like and believing in yourself. I know it sounds so cliche, but it means so much. Literally, start believing in yourself and stop seeking validation.
FOLLOW LG MALIQUE: Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | To view “LIE”, the official music video HERE.
The 2024 Roots Picnic kicked off June 1-2 at The Mann at Fairmount Park where a sold-out crowd of over 60,000 festivalgoers flooded the park to see their favorite artists across three stages.
Broccoli City Festival 2022 was held at the RFK Stadium on Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8. This year, the festival had a stacked lineup, including headliners 21 Savage, Ari Lennox, Lil Durk, Wale, Summer Walker, Gunna, and Don Toliver.
Featured Image Photo Credit: Broccoli City Festival
Atlanta rapper Ludacris is making his return to releasing music with his new song Butter.ATL. The song is a part of his new collaboration with the iconic peanut butter brand Jif. The Knockturnal had the opportunity to speak with the rapper about his love of Jif, the evolution of southern rap, and more.
The Knockturnal: Monday, August 16, you will be releasing your new song Butter.ATL after a break from releasing music. You changed your flow with this song, how would you describe the style of Butter.ATL?
Ludacris: My whole career I have been reinventing my flow and that is one of the things I love so much about music and myself. I feel as though there are no limitations around what I can accomplish and what I can do. After two decades in the music industry that’s what constantly excites me: being able to try new things and with this whole campaign and the universe bringing me together with this partnership with something, I have been doing since I was a kid and that’s eating Jif peanut butter. What better way than to experiment with all the people I love and all the things that I love. So, Dave Meyers, whom I worked with on the Stand-up video, and even my friend She’kspere who produced hits for TLC and Destiny’s Child and so many others. It is just a dream collaboration all around. That’s what I love so much about it, and yes I’ve been shooting a lot of movies but I think that this is the catalyst for putting out some more new music and the start of it is great it is a great way to start things off.
The Knockturnal: With this Jif campaign, you were able to work with Gunna and the campaign was directed by Dave Meyers. What was the collaboration process for the campaign?
Ludacris: We came together and I think we found each other. People know that I eat peanut butter every single day and it was people coming together saying: “We just gotta do something with Jif peanut butter.” So, it was hearing about it and then it came to us, and when talking about this campaign that’s really how it started. That inspired the excitement to get in the studio and create something and from there came the idea for the commercial, and now everything has come full circle. Now, all of these things are happening synonymously together.
The Knockturnal: With this new song release you also worked alongside Atlanta rapper Gunna for the campaign and the unveiling of that Jif’ing Good campaign. What was it like being able to work with a new school artist from your hometown?
Ludacris: We already knew each other and we went to the same high school: Banneker High School in College Park, GA. This was already considered as family and it was seamless and very easy and simple. In terms of bringing different generations together, that is what makes music more powerful. Nas and Hit-boy are good examples of two individuals that just appreciate and love music and it shows the power of what can happen when we teach one another and we come together to collaborate. That is no different than what is going on with me and Gunna. It’s the best of both worlds and the best of both generations.
The Knockturnal: With both you and Gunna being best known for being influenced by Atlanta and being a part of the Atlanta hip hop culture. How has the music culture of Atlanta evolved from when you released Incognegro to now?
Ludacris: It’s evolved in a great way and there is so much talent. I think the spectrum of different flows and different melodies and styles has expanded. People have more options for what they want to listen to or they have the option to listen to it all depending on how much time they have. When you think about Hip-Hop and you think worldwide, most of the music is coming out of the south, and it’s been that way for quite some time. I love how dominant this area of the world is in terms of trend-setting around the world.
The Knockturnal: With the launch of Jif’s That Jifing Good campaign, what was your favorite part of working with such an iconic peanut butter brand?
Ludacris: Ever since I was a kid I have been eating Jif peanut butter, mostly smooth because I tried the crunchy and it hurt my gums a couple of times and I don’t want that to go for everyone. I just wasn’t a crunchy guy. I like it smooth. However, it was the dream collaboration because I think this long in my career I only want to do things that are organic to my everyday lifestyle and there was no better fit than Jif peanut butter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bk2U0hp5wY&t=1s
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