IVAV recording artist Steven Malcolm is back with another collaborative single two months after teaming up with chart-topping rapper KB for the viral hit "On Point." This time, he's paying tribute to the hip-hop hustle with "Rooftop Freestyle (feat. Derek Minor)," a laidback track that finds the rapper ruminating not only on where he came from but where he's going, too. Listen to the track here.
"This record, honestly, is just me snapping," says Malcolm, whose recent releases have earned more than 1.5 million Spotify streams in 2021 alone.
Featuring a guest appearance by Derek Minor, "Rooftop Freestyle" continues unfolding Malcolm's tale of trials, triumphs, and the tenacious determination to turn his troubled adolescence into meaningful adulthood. His autobiographical lyrics are mixed by a trap-influenced beat that stutters one minute and swaggers the next. The result is a cinematic rags-to-riches story starring Malcolm as the hero.
"I told myself one time that my life could be a movie with the craziness that has gone on and all the things that I've overcome to be where I'm at today," he adds. "It's truly a blessing to come from nothing and gain everything you've prayed for, especially when you have a background like mine. Life is like a movie."
Malcolm's talent has been recognized with critical acclaim in 2021. He won Best Hip Hop Collaboration for "Glory On Me (ft. Childish Major & Taylor Hill)" at the Kingdom Choice Awards, as well as "Even Louder," a song featuring Natalie Grant that is also a part of her GRAMMY® nominated album, No Stranger.
"Rooftop Freestyle (feat. Derek Minor)" follows the summertime release of All Is True, whose five songs were created during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The track salutes the same born-again spirit that fueled All Is True, with Malcolm continuing to rap about the blessings that come with hard work and a Christian-minded approach.
Doubling as a sneak preview of Steven Malcolm's upcoming record, "Rooftop Freestyle (feat. Derek Minor)" is available today. Listen to the track here.