After making his national debut at this year’s 2011 BET Awards, Georgia-bred singer/songwriter Mali Music stopped by 106 and Park to premiere his new video, “The Job Experience,” off his upcoming sophomore effort, Mali Is. Accompanied by mentor and international megastar Akon, who stumbled across the Savannah crooner’s music at a recent BET Music Matters showcase and signed him up to his KonLive imprint shortly afterwards, the young singer says the union of the two artists is an invaluable learning experience, a blessing and a dream come true.

“For me to be able to have all of his experience and not only that, but his counsel, his support and belief in a God-centered and faith-based movement is just unreal,” says Mali Music, born Kortney Jamaal Pollard.

Soon after the release of his critically acclaimed 2009 album, The 2econd Coming, the inspirational songwriter’s rise to the spotlight has been a steady climb. Reluctant to classify himself as a traditional gospel artist, the passionate entertainer says the blueprint of gospel music is changing.

“I do believe that my music is bigger than gospel,” Mali says. “I’ll never deny the core of it, but that was just the platform that was available in the time frame that I came out, but I do believe that a new platform and a new genre is being created and built as we speak. I do believe that it's bigger than gospel but, for now, I’m okay with it being under gospel and inspirational category.”

The fresh new face of a new-age gospel era says that plenty more innovative material can be expected from his new album. With a suspenseful, action-packed and emotional first single, one can’t help but marvel at the well put-together lyrics and melodies. In addition to making his own waves on the music radar, the gifted singer managed to grab a guest feature song called “New Life” off Akon’s upcoming album.

This isn’t the first time Akon has bought forth peculiar artists with distinctive talents and star power. Case in point? T- Pain and Lady Gaga. Hopefully the inspirational maestro can make his guru three-for-three.

Mali is will hit stores in January 2012.

(Photo: John Ricard / BET)