Earlier this year we reported that Malice, one half of the Clipse, renowned for their "East Coast cocaine rap," had found God and renounced the drug trade. The move surprised many, and now Malice is further explaining his self-described salvation. The Virginia rapper sat down recently with Black Enterprise to talk religion, as well as his new book.
Malice said that he had actually always been a Christian, but before he was mainly talking the talk, not walking the walk. "I’ve always come from a Christian background," he said. "You know, the [Clipse’s] first album was, of course, called Lord Willin’. It was just that at that time I wasn’t paying attention to my Christian beliefs. I was definitely into doing what I felt like doing. If you were to ask me if I believe in the Lord, I would definitely tell you yes at any given time; but was I practicing the principles, and the statutes, and the decrees and the tenants of the Bible? I wasn’t doing any of that."
He went on to describe the moment he "woke up." "I realized I was in depression — just never being satisfied, always wanting and searching and looking for the next big pie, but never being able to reach it. It’s like you can see it, and just like when you’re about to achieve it, it’s snatched away from you, so you go at it again and you just keep going and you keep going," he said. "I’ve come to learn that the flesh doesn’t mean anyone well. The flesh is definitely out to destroy you. It never says, 'Hey, that’s enough.' ... Nah, the flesh is a train that never stops and it just keeps going and keeps going and keeps saying, 'More, more, and more.' It’s the spirit that tells you what’s right and what’s wrong.... It just depends on which one you want to obey and which one you choose to listen to. Without a shadow of a doubt I know who saved my life: It was Jesus Christ."
Earlier this year, Malice released his debut novel, Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind, and Naked. Inspired by his life and his newfound faith, the independently released book has sold approximately 10,000 copies. "The title is derived from Revelations 3:17 in the Bible, and it speaks about for as much as you thought you were rich, and as much as you thought you got everything going on, you were actually wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked," he said. "You may even be able to fool yourself into thinking you have things under control or you’re successful or you’re doing well, but it couldn’t have been any more clear. When I read that I knew instantly this is the title of the book and this best describes my situations and the state that I was in, and it was perfect to the tee."
To read the full interview, click here.

(Photo: Ben Hider/PictureGroup)