Steven Malcolm makes faith-driven hip-hop that’s as unique as his multi-cultural background.
It’s a sound grounded in rap’s rhythmic delivery, pop’s modern melodies, and God’s word,
glued together by an artist whose music has earned five Dove Award nominations and more
than 123 million streams.

There’s a celebratory swagger to songs like 2021’s “Glory On Me” — a sense of triumph that
comes from more than Malcolm’s ability to blur boundaries between Christian music and urban
R&B. Beginning with a gospel refrain and building into a hook-filled hip-hop track, “Glory On
Me” finds Malcolm glorifying his maker and lifting up his audience. Call it an anthem for a world
in need of a break, or a Sunday-morning spiritual filled with Saturday-evening energy. He wrote
the song during the Covid-19 pandemic that threatened countless lives across the globe,
choosing to focus not on the challenges of the present, but on the promise of a better future.
Rowdy and redemptive, “Glory On Me” is Steve Malcolm at his best, connecting the
inspirational tone of worship music with rapid-fire rhymes, deep-seated beats, and a smoothly
soulful refrain sung by collaborator Taylor Hill.

“It’s a song about the glory of overcoming obstacles,” says Malcom. “We all go through
discouraging times, but there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. God remains in control,
and he’s always going to be there to claim that victory over darkness.”

Steven Malcolm’s messages of hope and redemption come from his own experience. Raised in
western Michigan and coastal Florida, he grew up in search of stability. His father, a native
Jamaican who’d emigrated from Montego Bay, was deported back to the Caribbean when
Steven was just 10 years old. He passed away before the two could reunite. Steven’s mother
struggled as a single parent and eventually left town, too, leaving Steven to fend for himself as
a young college student in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His life lacked a clear direction until he
accepted a friend’s invitation to attend a local church service that incorporated hip-hop, dance,
and worship.

That church — the Edge Urban Fellowship — changed Steven’s life. It gave him a community,
as well as a place to make message-driven musician. Between performances with the church’s
worship team, he finished work on his independent debut album, Monster’s Ink, which became
an underground success. Before long, Steven’s loyal following had extended far beyond the
Midwest and attracted attention from major labels. He signed with Word Entertainment, a
division of Curb Records, becoming the first rapper on a roster filled with the musical
heavyweights of the faith-based world, including Needtobreathe, Switchfoot, and for King &
Country.

Released in 2017, the self-titled Steven Malcolm marked his major-label debut. Songs like “Hot
Boy,” “Never Let You Go,” and the pop-rap tune “Party in the Hills” became hits, rooted in a
wide mix of trap, boom bap, South Atlanta hip-hop, and modern pop. He played nearly 100
shows in 2017 alone — including arena dates on the Winter Jam Tour — and earned three
GMA Dove Awards, laying the foundation was an even bigger splash with the album’s
follow-up, The Second City. Named after his father’s hometown of Montego Bay, the so-called
“Second City” of Jamaica, The Second City was a hard-hitting, lyrically-driven record that
focused on optimistic themes. The album debuted at Number 11 on Billboard’s hip-hop chart
and received a Dove nomination for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year. It also produced a number
of hit singles, including the Top 40 Christian hit “Not To Us / Good Love,” the Dove-nominated
“Ever Louder” remix featuring Natalie Grant (which earned more than 6 million streams), and
“Fuego.” A blend of Steven’s Jamaican roots and reggae influences, “Fuego” became one of
the most diverse hits of his career and received several remixes. The tropical “Fuego (Remix)”
arrived in 2020, featuring an appearance from Shaggy and gaining 2.5 million views with its
cinematic music video. Shaggy also appeared on “Fuego (R3HAB Remix),” which was released
later that same year year, as well 2021’s “Fuego (The SoulBots Remix),” which also featured
vocals from Latin pop singer Melanie Pfirrman. Together, the “Fuego” remixes up 3.6 million
Spotify streams.

With “Glory On Me,” Steven begins another chapter of his singular career. It’s the first of
several releases planned for 2021, including a new EP that doubles down on his hip-hop roots.
“It’s music we need in a time like this,” says Steven Malcolm, who has risen to meet the
moment, delivering songs that invigorate and inspire. This is hip hop with a heart. A glorious
thing, indeed.