A biography for Malik Yobahasn’t been written yet.
“My favorite scripture is, 'Your gifts make room for you.' It's something I tell people all the time.”
“I used to walk in the burnt up Harlem of the '80s, and I'd look at brownstones that were dilapidated or apartment buildings, thinking 'Whoever designed this and built this did not want it to look like this.' So, I used to visualize one day being able to contribute and build in Harlem.”
“I'm happy with getting older and getting more focused. I thought I was focused when I was young, but you're only as focused as experience will allow you to be.”
“I'm a very funny person that doesn't get the chance to do a lot of comedy, and the same thing with my accents.”
“I believe in making your own opportunity.”
“When you do a pilot, you can't always tell what you have.”
“As your life expands your focus expands or contracts.”
“Fred Bumaye shows great promise as a young filmmaker with a passion for story and the cinematic language.”
“I'm proud to be part of projects that literally change lives.”
“I think it's hard for anyone to get into real estate or Hollywood.”
“Accents are definitely one of my strong suits, and a lot of folks don't know that.”
“When I'm doing a role the one thing I ask is 'Is this believable? am I being truthful?'”
“I'm a rabble rouser, man!”
“Being a part of 'Empire' was a wonderful experience and opportunity to work with everyone involved.”
“I knew that I wanted to create a restaurant like Hard Rock Cafe or Planet Hollywood that celebrated not just music or Hollywood, but who we were as people of color, as Caribbean, African, Cajun and Southern people.”
“Most people haven't figured out when you are of service to other people outside of just yourself, the doorway for opportunity and blessings come in a very very different way.”
“Being raised Muslim, we had to get up at the crack of dawn to pray. There was no sleeping in, no getting up Saturday morning to watch cartoons because there was no TV in the house. But you got up and you worked, cleaned the house.”
“No matter what your dream is, first you have to think that anything is possible.”
“I don't think it pays to just be an artist, particularly for kids of color - there will be fewer roles.”