Malik Al Nasir a.k.a Mark T. Watson is a liverpool born poet, author and music producer who's band Malik & the O.G's have recorded with Gil Scott Heron, The Last Poets, Public Enemy, Wyclef Jean, LL-Cool J, DMC and more. His sound is an eclectic blend of world beats and spoken word poetry interwoven with song. Malik's poem are global in their appeal but the subject matter is decidedly revolutionary.

Malik & the O.G's Interview BBC Radio Merseyside Roger Phillips 2004

Duration: 28 minutes
First broadcast: Monday 27 June 2011
Extraordinary personal stories from around the world.

A month after the death of legendary musician Gil Scott-Heron, we find out how he transformed the life of a young British man.

Abdul Malik Al Nasir, who was known as Mark T. Watson until he converted to Islam, had a troubled childhood.

He was bullied at school for being mixed race and lived under brutally strict conditions in care homes from the age of nine.

Malik says he was a "semi-illiterate street kid".

However, a chance meeting with Gil Scott-Heron, back-stage at one of his concerts, changed Malik's life forever and took him to places he would never have dreamt of going.

Abdul Malik al Nasir has published a book of poems under his original name Mark T Watson.

The book is called Ordinary Guy, and is published by Fore-word Press Ltd

BBC World Service - Malik Al Nasir story - Gil Scott Heron Saved my Life - with Matthew Bannister

Immigrants - Free at Last

Malik Al Nasir Interview - Wirral Radio 2015 with DJ 2Kind.
Discussing poetry politics and the Gil Scott-Heron tribute show in Liverpool with Talib Kweli called "The Revolution Will Be Live!

Malik Al Nasir (Malik & The O.G's) Interview - Wirral Radio 2015 with DJ 2Kind

Africa EP

Africa (Radio Edit)

Cherish the Good Man (Acappella) [feat. illyas Scott]

Cherish the Good Man (Radio Edit) [feat. illyas Scott]

Africa (Instrumental)

Africa (Acappella)

Cherish the Good Man (Instrumental)

Rhythms of the Diaspora, Vol. 1 & 2

Black & Blue (feat. Gil Scott-Heron)

Sos (..._ _ _...) (Radio Edit)

Malik & the OG's - Malik’s work is reminiscent of his mentors and lifelong friends, the late great Gil Scott-Heron, & Last Poet - Jalal Nuriddin - a.k.a “Lightnin’ Rod’ who schooled  Malik ever since meeting them both in Liverpool back in 1980’s. 

Malik spent years touring with Gil and also had the great privilege to write a song for him before he died. Gil recorded the song called ‘Black & Blue’ which features on Malik & the O.G’s double album, entitled “Rhythms of the Diaspora Vol's. 1 & 2.” Release 1st August 2015 on Mentis Records.

If that wasn’t enough of an accolade for an aspiring revolutionary black poet, how about this? Jalal actually wrote a poem about his encounters with Malik called “Malik’s Mode” which features on Vol 2. 

Whilst the Last Poets & Gil Scott Heron, referred to as The Grandfather & Godfathers of RAP respectively, have been sampled to death by the likes of Kanye West, Common, Talib Kwale, Public Enemy and more, few if any, can claim to have been both schooled under their very hands, with the recordings to prove it. This put’s Malik in a category all by himself.

Malik’s repertoire with his band “The O.G’s” features a tribute to Richie Havens, the black folk music legend, who opened Woodstock in 1969 with the song “Freedom – Motherless Child” which has been covered by Paul Robeson, Eric Clapton and more recently John Legend, but ‘Malik & the OG’s’ take on it has a twist, blending spoken word verses (à la Gil Scott-Heron), with the sweet vocals of Jazz Warriors Cleveland Watkiss and Chantel Nandi. The original vocals recorded by Joey Ankrah (The Christians) and Paislie Reid.


Malik & the O.G's

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