Malik Shahbal is currently a computer science senior. But when he’s not programming or dealing with codes, Shahbal is simultaneously building his career as a rapper.
Her Campus: How is your music career going?
Malik Shahbal: Pretty well! I have been doing a lot of shows down at SLO Brew and I have two coming up. I still find a lot of free time to write!
HC: How are you handling both school and your music career?
MS: I am handling it pretty well! I have been writing music for 10 years, but I didn’t start to get serious about it until 3 years ago when I was disappointed about being stuck in a major I didn’t enjoy all of the time.
HC: What is your dream, what do you see yourself doing in the future music-wise?
MS: I definitely want music to be my career. I want to survive off of making music and I feel like I have a pretty good chance. It seems like a realistic future for me!
HC: What inspired you to become a rapper?
MS: I was a freshman in high school and I was already into rap. I knew some guys who rapped and they had a studio so I basically just told them I was interested and I got to go. I picked a beat and rapped in studio for the first time!
HC: Who would be your dream collaboration?
MS: Well for the artists who are alive, I would love to do something with Paul McCartney. For the artists who have died it would be a dream to work with Tupac Shakur.
HC: Where do you get your inspiration for writing?
MS: I get inspiration just from my life and what I go through. I like being honest when I write.
Shahbal has two shows at SLO Brew in the future: the first is on May 15th and he is opening for Radical Something. Tickets are $13 and the show is open to all ages. The second show is on June 12th and he is opening for Dizzy Wright, with tickets at sixteen dollars. Go check it out!