Malik Watkins, better known by his stage name MaLLy, is an independent hip-hop artist from Minneapolis, MN. Active since 2009, MaLLy has cemented his place in the Twin Cities music scene with a strong discography boasting three critically acclaimed albums—The Passion, The Last Great..., and The Colors of Black—along with two well-received EPs including Free on the 15th and Strange Rhythm.

In 2012, he was voted the Twin Cities’ best hip-hop artist by the City Pages, and has been recognized by other local and national press outlets including the Star Tribune, 2DopeBoyz, Uproxx, and Complex Magazine. Prominent industry figures such as Monie Love, Sway Calloway, Swif N Wessun, and Chuck D have lauded his work.

MaLLy has toured nationwide with Atmosphere on their “Welcome to Minnesota” tour in 2012, with Brother Ali on his “Home Away From Home” tour in 2014, and with Webster X and Kweku Collins on the Orbit Series Tour in 2015. Additionally, he’s made two appearances—one as a performer (2011) and one as co-host with Brother Ali (2012)—at Soundset, the largest Hip-Hop festival in Minnesota.

MaLLy is known for exhibiting a strong artistic duality in his music; he owns both a commanding, fiery delivery of rhymes detailing his ambition with an introspective tone of a man striving for improvement of self and the world around him. His wordplay, tonal variety and the universal nature of his subject matter are highlights of MaLLy’s content which appeals to a broad spectrum of listeners.

He continues to perform, serve as a teaching artist and collaborate with community-oriented organizations dedicated to the arts and social justice such as Common Ground, TruArtSpeaks, COMPAS, Kulture Klub Collaborative and KRSM Radio. In 2018, MaLLy was awarded the McKnight Foundation Fellowship for musicians. In September 2019, he released his fourth solo album, entitled The Journey To A Smile.

Past Shows


Jan
18
th
2020
Mainroom
Jan
18
th
2020
Mainroom

THE CURRENT's 15th Anniversary Party

with Black Pumas, The Bad Man, Seratones and more!
Dec
27
th
2019
Turf Club
Dec
27
th
2019
Turf Club

Heiruspecs

with MaLLy and Dan Speak
Nov
12
th
2019
Fine Line
Nov
12
th
2019
Fine Line

Hilltop Hoods

with Adrian Eagle and MaLLy
Jun
22
nd
2016
7th St Entry
Jun
22
nd
2016
7th St Entry
Sep
25
th
2015
7th St Entry
Sep
25
th
2015
7th St Entry

Eligh and deM atlaS

with DNAE and MaLLy
Apr
17
th
2015
7th St Entry
Apr
17
th
2015
7th St Entry

HAPHDUZN, MaLLy and DJ LAST WORD

with Mac Irv and Plain Ole Bill
Oct
11
th
2014
Mainroom
Oct
11
th
2014
Mainroom

Grieves

with K.Flay and MaLLy
Aug
30
th
2014
Fine Line
Aug
30
th
2014
Fine Line

Hilltop Hoods

with MaLLy, Kids Like Us and SHARKS & HAMMERS
May
24
th
2014
Mainroom
May
24
th
2014
Mainroom

SOUNDSET 2014 OFFICIAL BEFORE PARTY

with Brother Ali, STEP BROTHERS (ALCHEMIST & EVIDENCE), Murs and more!
Apr
18
th
2014
7th St Entry
Apr
18
th
2014
7th St Entry

MaLLy and DJ LAST WORD

with HAPHDUZN, Jimmy 2 Times and DJ FUNDO
Dec
7
th
2013
Triple Rock Social Club
Dec
7
th
2013
Triple Rock Social Club

Soulcrate

with MaLLy and Hooks
Sep
7
th
2013
Cabooze Outdoor Plaza
Sep
7
th
2013
Cabooze Outdoor Plaza

Prof

with Run The Jewels, Evidence, Fashawn and more!
Jul
22
nd
2013
7th St Entry
Jul
22
nd
2013
7th St Entry

ELZHI

ELZHI - CANCELED
with DJ Verb X and MaLLy
Jun
20
th
2013
Triple Rock Social Club
Jun
20
th
2013
Triple Rock Social Club

Souls of Mischief

Still Infinity Tour
with Kev Choice and MaLLy
May
25
th
2013
Triple Rock Social Club
May
25
th
2013
Triple Rock Social Club

Blueprint and Illogic

PRE-SOUNDSET THROWDOWN featuring BLUEPRINT with ILLOGIC
with DJ Rare Groove and MaLLy
Feb
8
th
2013
Mainroom
Feb
8
th
2013
Mainroom

Get Cryphy, MaLLy and St. Paul Slim

GET CRYPHY Five Year Anniversary
with Plain Ole Bill, Jimmy 2 Times, DJ FUNDO and more!
Oct
28
th
2012
Mainroom
Aug
11
th
2012
7th St Entry
Aug
11
th
2012
7th St Entry

Mike Dreams and MaLLy

with K.Raydio, DJ Gabe Garcia, Ashley DuBose and more!
May
27
th
2012
Mainroom
May
27
th
2012
Mainroom

Plain Ole Bill, Jimmy 2 Times, DJ LAST WORD and more!

with Get Cryphy and SPECIAL SURPRISE GUESTS
May
18
th
2012
7th St Entry
May
18
th
2012
7th St Entry

MaLLy

with Jimmy 2 Times, 925ve and THE TRIBE & BIG CATS!

More Shows

Jul
13
th
First Avenue

PRIVATE EVENT

May
24
th
First Avenue

Area 51 Rave

Nov
30
th
The Fitzgerald Theater

Josh Blue

Jul
5
th
Turf Club

Gotham ⏤ A Night of Misfits

with DJ Q, PRSPHNE and DAZZLE