Sticking To The Script
Photos provided by DJ Sean Malik
By RayJaun Stelly
Originally from Iowa and with a musical background on both sides of his family, DJ Sean Malik moved to Seattle at the age of 12. Upon his arrival in the Pacific Northwest, he instantly found his love for hip-hop. It was perfect timing, considering he was at the school age when students were allowed to carry instruments. DJ Sean has stuck with the craft from grade school to the present day.
“Music has always been a way of life and expression. My dad owned a record store before we moved to Seattle, and I would go work there after school. Once I finished my homework, I would dig in the crates,” said DJ Sean. “This was my subliminal introduction to hip-hop. Then we moved to Seattle, and that was a game changer. I went to my first show in 1985 and started DJing the next morning because I studied how the DJ scratched.”
Creating his own blueprint and study guide—whether it was watching movies, going to shows, or mimicking the likes of Jazzy Jeff and Grandmaster Flash—putting in the hours to develop his skill set, Sean was able to cultivate his own style and routine. That level of dedication paid off; he was part of a hip-hop group selected for a compilation by the National Black United Front, and by the age of 16, Sean had a single out nationwide.
Sean expressed, “This always kept me focused. Growing up, my goal and ambition was to be like Run DMC. People around me were saying they wanted to be an attorney, doctor, or architect. My thing was that’s what people’s parents wanted them to be. Hip-hop is what I could and still identify with. Having a musical background helped, and here I am still doing it.”
Although the DJ isn’t the artist, if you go back to the roots of hip-hop, their role was critically important, and in the present day, you can see the level of appreciation for them beginning to circulate. But Sean isn’t your normal DJ; he also writes rhymes, and sometimes those in attendance have the opportunity to hear him perform. Along with that, he also wears the hat of producer.
“The first time I heard a hip-hop record, I was hooked. The more I got into it, the more I identified with it. I would write rhymes for the group, but I was shy and didn’t really start reciting them until the group dispersed and I became a solo artist,” said Sean. “I released my first solo project on my own independent record label. I still write and have projects coming out.”
Through the hours spent studying his own created blueprint for the musician he wanted to be, DJ Sean has been able to provide for his family. Even with the ups and downs that come with any career, he finds motivation by understanding how much has been invested throughout this journey.
“The way I look at it is, what else would I be doing? I am way too far invested in terms of time, resources, and finances. This is my life; I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. For me, it’s a way of life,” said Sean. “It is a part of who I am. I don’t know what else I’d be doing otherwise, although I am an entrepreneur outside of music. But this is what I do. Music is starting to get back to being fun for me, and that has helped a lot with where I am at in life.”
Throughout his career, DJ Sean has opened for countless national acts and is part of the first class of DJs for 206 Zulu Radio on 91.3 FM. In addition to that, he has received honorable mentions from national magazines and digital publications.
At this point in his life and career, Sean is transitioning from survival mode to strive mode. He’s upgraded his equipment, refocused his direction, and is collaborating with different artists. He is broadening his range by being more open to projects or ideas he may not have considered some time ago, which is a testament to his growth and maturity.
Find DJ Sean on Instagram @dj.seanmalik.
