Today we’d like to introduce you to Malik Awan.
Malik, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I fell in love with the Hip-Hop culture around the age of 5 or 6. Since then, I used to constantly write rhymes in a Composition Book or rap to myself in my head, but I only released my first track after graduating high school when I finally got my first job and was able to afford some recoding equipment. After dropping my first song, a freestyle to Drake’s “Pound Cake”, on SoundCloud and receiving great feedback, I decided to really pursue my dream. Fast forward to now, and you can find my music on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and all other major platforms. In addition, I’ve had the opportunity to perform for audiences of up to 2k people and open for some big names including Warren G and Young Thug.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think anything is ever a smooth road; you always have to fight for the things you really want. Some things I faced/still face with becoming a rapper are the fact that it’s looked down upon from my conservative background, lacking the “right connections”, and constantly feeling stagnant when things are progressing “fast enough”. However, I try to constantly remind myself that nothing great comes easy and keep pushing.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My name is Waqqas, and I am a Pakistani American rapper based out of Pomona, CA. Because I grew up on many different styles of music, I apply those influences to my own to create songs that still tell stories like the ‘90s, make you want to groove like the early 2000s, and vibe like the ‘10s. Though I do a lot on my own, I am very grateful for my team, Bad Genre; The founding members include myself, Reno Ludwiga, Regi Levi, iismaill, Cully Seville, and MV7RID. Less of a group and more of a collective, Bad Genre is a place for artists to connect, work with, and bounce ideas off each other. Though all of us in the group are mainly musicians, besides Reno being more of an A&R/manager, we are constantly looking to connect with other creatives including videographers, photographers, graphic designers, etc.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always an outgoing soul – I’m something of an extroverted introvert if I’d say so myself. I was constantly one of the loudest in the room, but tend to keep my personal feelings to myself. In all honesty, I’d probably be a complete introvert if it wasn’t for the things I liked; My interests were always revolving around the entertainment industry, whether it was music, sports, wrestling, acting, etc., and I always told myself that I’d get into the industry one day too. And when I look at myself now, that’s exactly the dream I’m chasing.
Pricing:
- Features – $65
- Songwriting – $75
- Mix/Master – $100
Contact Info:
- Website: www.waqqasofficial.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malik_waqqas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waqqasmusic
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AWANtedman786
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