Malcolm Mays facts for kids

Malcolm Michael Mays (born February 14, 1990) is an American actor, musician, and filmmaker. He was born in Los Angeles, California. When he was seventeen, Malcolm co-directed and produced his own short film. He got help from producer Todd Black and Gary Martin from Sony Pictures.

Malcolm Mays' Acting Career

Many important people have helped Malcolm Mays with his films. These include Sony Pictures, Kodak Films, Todd Black, John Singleton, and Denzel Washington.

Early Films and Recognition

Malcolm Mays made a film called Trouble. This movie aimed to show the challenges in South Central Los Angeles. This is the area where Malcolm grew up. The New York Times newspaper found his story very interesting. They even printed a front-page article about his life and achievements.

In 2013, Mays starred in the movie Life of a King. He acted alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. The film first showed at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Critics from Variety praised Mays, calling him a natural talent. In an interview, Cuba Gooding Jr. mentioned Mays as part of the "next generation" of African-American actors.

Later Roles in Movies and TV Shows

Mays also played Gabe in the 2015 sports drama film Southpaw. This movie was directed by Antoine Fuqua. It starred famous actors like Jake Gyllenhaal and Forest Whitaker.

Later, Mays joined the TV show Snowfall on FX. He played Kevin Hamilton, who was the best friend of the main character, Franklin. In 2021, he became a regular cast member on the STARZ drama series Power Book III: Raising Kanan. In this show, he plays Kanan’s uncle, Lou Lou.

Malcolm Mays' Music Journey

Malcolm Mays started playing the piano when he was eleven years old. He writes music that is inspired by 90s R&B and old poetry. He gets ideas from many different types of art, music, and films.

Musical Influences and Style

Mays has mentioned many artists who inspire him. These include jazz musicians like Eric Dolphy and John Coltrane. He also likes classical composers such as Rachmaninov and Beethoven. Painters like Caravaggio and Michelangelo also influence him. He looks up to performers like Sinatra, Prince, Michael Jackson, and Quincy Jones. The poetry of John Keats and James Baldwin is also a big inspiration. He has also mentioned the voice of Nina Simone and readings by Maya Angelou. Bands like The Yardbirds, Cream, and Jimi Hendrix are also major influences.

Releasing His Own Music

Mays released his own songs, which he produced himself. "Dichotomy" came out in 2013, and "Ruthless" was released in 2015. He also directed the music videos for both songs. The video for "Ruthless" came out after the film Southpaw. Both his songs and videos received great reviews from critics.

After "Ruthless" was released, a hip-hop blog called This Song Slaps praised him. They said, "Malcolm Mays is one of the most under-appreciated hip hop artists around today. He has an amazing flow, deep lyrics, and a unique sense of melody in hip hop music."

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles