In stores now is the debut album from Montreal hip hop royalty Malicious (a.k.a Mr. Malish). The release “Music Starts With M”, is a prodigious attempt by the unassuming rapper (of Barbadian descent), to not only put Quebec’s burgeoning English rap scene on the map, but to also put the fun & diversity back into “the game”. A one time “undisputed freestyle king of Montreal” (who was battling against icons such as Jeru The Damaja by the age of fifteen) comes full circle with this epic release. He has been described as having “a pride in wordology, a talent in verses” The Run-Off Groove #185 The talented mc/producer runs the gamut with a mix of street fuelled gems for the heads, along with club & radio bangers, so much so that in a recent Chart Magazine review, Malicious was said to have “a maturity, you rarely see in hip hop nowadays” Having written and produced most of the album, Mr Malish, a member of the legendary “Offsides” outfit, really brings it with tracks like Breakfast (the latest video which has received heavy rotation on Vibe & medium on Much), Yuk, Hip Hop, Gameday, Reign, Walk Alone & Take Me Home. The first two singles Heavy M-T-L (video featured in the CBC documentary “China’s Sexual Revolution”, also a Top 5 video on Much Music’s “Rap City”) & Heatwave are also featured on the 18 track set. Additional production comes from Team Canada, Franky Fat Sak, H2O & City Parks Being on the “grind” is nothing new for Malicious, who previously had a single release in the US the joint “Take Off” which was well received in major urban centres such as New York, Detroit and Chicago. As a member of “Offsides” he produced their first single “2def” which received heavy video rotation on Much Music, MTV Canada (Top Ten Most requested) and MTV Asia as well as touring extensively with the group. Malish, lists his cousin, the infamous R-Kade and Prince as his two major inspirations and is presently working on new material of his own, as well as for upcoming projects in the USA & Europe. Besides checking out his hip hop reverence the Music Starts With M album, you can check out his freestyle prowess on the new DJ IV (Classified) mixtape hosted by Malicious! “Montreal hip hop has arrived and its name is Malicious! Turn It Up!” - CONTACT . Malicious on MY SPACE (over 300,000 views & counting): www.myspace.com/mrmalish Malicious WEBSITE: www.mrmalish.com “Music Starts with M” the debut album by Malicious “Music Starts with M” is beacon of hope for anyone in the system set to hold them back. By raising the bar in production and lyrical content, Malicious invites his listeners to take a step into the direction of progression and quality. By avoiding the stereotypes of GANSTA RAP he finds a comfortable medium to communicate to his young audience internationally. Outstanding radio singles and impact b-sides complete a well-rounded LP. Occupying 85% of the production on the album Malicious exhibits his musical influences demonstrating many sides. From Latin grooves to heavy rock riffs, the audience will be in for an entertaining, thought provoking journey of a good time. Taken from - The Run-Off Groove #185 (ALBUM REVIEW) 10:56am Wednesday, Jan 16 Here are some albums that may be worth spending your money on this week. Hip-hop has a beginning, and despite the naysayers, the music and community are far from dead. According to Malicious, music started somewhere too and in his case, Music Starts With M (OdoubleF). The thing about rap music is that when someone asks about what's good, you can't just offer five suggestions and go. People want specifics, and the more specific they get, sometimes the further away it gets from what they originally were searching for. Malicious offers the kind of music that people have been looking for for years, and continue to look for because of one simple aspect: a skill in spitting lyrics. Yes my friends, we have a lyricist here, and not just a casually thrown out tag just because he speaks over music, I'm talking about a pride in wordology, a talent in verses, a... yeah, this is that cat you thought would be left in hiding somewhere in the back of the demolished record store. No. On this 18-track album, Malicious (or Mr. Malish to some) proves again that when it comes to proving that you have what it takes to be an MC, you don't need to costumes or endorsement deals. What you need is intelligence and a knowledge of how to structure songs. Song titles like "Yuk", "Breakfast", "Now", "Reign", "Pimp", "Gameday" and "Walk Alone" seem very basic from the outside, with primarily one or two word titles (two tracks have three words). That gift of gab that fans are hungry for are to be found inside, with such tentative gems as The use of my language is labeled outlandish/Devour tracks whether I'm full or I'm famished/Each grip can eclipsed one verse and you banish/Faster than Jared and a Subway sandwich ("Top 3"). For anyone who is a fan of true rappers, and not just people who speak because they can, this is an album worth investigating. Musically he covers a lot of ground, where tracks might band like 'M.O.P., have sped up samples in the vein of Kanye West, shades of the South and the West, there is truly something here for any and all tastes. Malicious also had a hand in most of the production, so this is someone who know what's he want out of his music and knows how to execute a great performance. In fact, as I listened to the album a number of times, I can already sense that he knows how to rock a crowd, make great jams, and how to move his music to an anthemic level. This is that MC you've been waiting for. (Music Starts With M is available from CDBaby.) Posted by John Book at 12:04 AM Chartattack Album review 11:59am Thursday, Jan 17 MALICIOUS Music Starts With M (OdoubleF) On Music Starts With M, Malicious (a.k.a. Mr. Malish) drops a debut album full of original beats, solid rhymes and a maturity you rarely see in hip-hop nowadays. Right off the top, on "Barefoot," "Gameday" and "Yuk," the Montreal rapper lets you know that he has skills other rappers just can't contend with. Lyrically, his flow is incredibly original. He also mixes things up with songs that range from the club to the radio to joints only serious hip-hop heads will bang. "Heatwave," with its dirty south vibe is followed by "Harder," with heavy bass and dancehall flare. On "Reign" and "Take Me Home" he takes it to the streets with tenacious lyrics that keep you fully engaged. There are a few forgettable tracks, but overall, Malicious is a name you don't want to forget. Cheryl Thompson