The 5 tracks on the ep symbolize the different phases of realization a black boy undergoes which transform him into a man…
Black boy the ep
released november 14th, 2023
Struggle, heartache, Depression. mali the kid’s newest project “black boy” takes these emotions & transforms them into something beautiful.
His purpose for writing the EP in his words was to “express the inexpressable” Mali wanted to create a space where these things were okay to speak on in a world where black men are expected to fight, protect, & provide while upholding a certain image of strength in order to protect his family & legacy.
“Although there is no task too great for a black boy, everyone deserves a space to be heard.”
Track list:
Better Outlets (phase 1)
I hit my step to this (phase 2)
don’t wanna lose (phase 3)
attention seeker (phase 4)
bling gon catch her eye (phase 5)
Track 1: acceptance: every human has problems but not every human is obligated to address those problems. better outlets is an acknowledgement to problems we all deal with, as a black boy we can’t afford to run from ours.
Track 2: self preservation: to me, this track is the epitome of being down on your @$$… and still making it look good. a skill that is vital to the survival of every black boy.
Track 3: a desperate cry: when everything feels like its falling apart, you fall apart too
Track 4: the midnight hour: when there’s nomore tears, you contemplate
Track 5: accomplish the mission: at the end of the day when its all said & done, there’s still a job to do.
breakdown of black boy the ep available on youtube.
Why black boy?
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black boy refers to the many names melanated people in America have been called (african-american, negro, colored) by the European colonizers who came here in the 1500’s.. It is an acknowledgement that the term “black” when referring to a certain group of people, is the same thing as the word American. It points to a disconnect in our society that has normalized people to think the two words are different. Even though, nowhere else in the world do melanated people consider themselves “black”
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usually, one wouldn’t use a color to signify a whole race of people. yet the term “black” is seen repeatedly throughout state documents & census records. it is my belief that since colonizers first arrived, they have been trying to discredit the people who have lived on this land for thousands of generations, the true americans.
with the mixture of africans that were brought here & the such deep connections those two groups of people have, it is also my belief that not only did the intermingling of african & indigenous american people start long before the trans-Atlantic slave trade but that the connection between both people is so ancient & sacred it almost doesn’t even make a difference that the term “black” includes the countless africans slaves because they have been so far removed from their homeland and/or were already here.
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to experience a piece of my mind & emotions in a way that is palatable even if you aren’t or have never been a black boy.
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yes, I believe we populate the entire world & have for a very long time. we have been conditioned to believe certain falsehoods about history through technology, politics, & limited control of the media.
