Music Page: Malakhi

Malakhi born T. Rashad Rankin on June 15 1981 on the North side of Jacksonville , Fl is one of the few reality-rappers that can write rhymes without profanity. When he blesses the microphone, Malakhi as he is affectionately know in Jacksonville, FL drops words so full of wisdom that he makes a person wonder how a young man learned so much knowledge. "I look at life like an older person," explains the 24-year-old rapper. "I think five or ten years older because of whom I've been with all my life."

He listened religiously to popular rappers like Public Enemy, X-Clan, and KRS-1. But Malakhi did more than just listen to his favorite rappers; he was constantly penning his own rhymes, dreaming that someday he would make it. His day came sooner than expected when a friend introduced him to To The Top Entertainment CEO and founder Patricia Anderson.

Malakhi made his first appearance as a solo artist in 1997 in the local circuit in Jacksonville, FL. Later that year he became a member of a “short lived” group called I.C.U. and recorded 2 singles with the group before they went their separate ways. In 2000, Malakhi joined the U.S. Marine Corps.  After serving over in , Malakhi returned back to the and was relocated to MacDill AFB in Tampa Fl.  In March of 2005 Malakhi started his own record Label called “Frontline Music Group”.  Since then he has returned to his hometown of Jacksonville, FL to perform at many venues.  He has been featured on two of the hottest Mix tapes (Whilin 12) hosted by Flyi DCG and Wam Out Radio Vol 1. hosted my Preme J-ville’s Hypeman in Jacksonville, FL.    Malakhi’s hit single (Playerz&Ballerz) has been played in Clubs in the Tampa area and was featured for the 1^st time on radio airwaves courtesy of (Jax, Fl) Hot 105.7’s own Chanel Da Hostess With The Mostess and her new show 9-0-4Kus Radio.  Currently he is working on his debut album titled “Bring Da Fiyah” which will be released in 2007.