We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jamal Bates. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jamal below.

Jamal, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned in multiple ways. I’d start with seeing my cousins doing music and YouTube videos and kind of being a fly on the wall and just getting a close up perspective at an early age then that evolved into trial and error repeatedly for nearly 10 straight years. My biggest artistic inspiration is Michael Jackson though. His brilliance in showmanship is what I strive for in my works. The most essential skills I’ve learned so far is persistence and self confidence. Believing in my own abilities has kept me going and keeps my inner flame alive. I’m sure there is plenty things I could have done to speed up my process but honestly I’m glad I’m not rushing through life because I would be at a disadvantage if I was at a level I couldn’t truly handle. God has me on this amazing journey of finding myself through creation despite all that is against me, yet I still strive for true excellence.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those who don’t know, I am from New Orleans and I left to come to Texas because of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Being from New Orleans, I was always surrounded by good music so music has always been vital but my true love comes from movies. I remember ever since I was really young I would listen to my favorite songs over and over because the way I would imagine what i was hearing made the music feel magical. I learned that I love to imagine scenes based off the music. That’s how I developed my passion for music and cinematography and acting. I got into this industry with my 2 cousins Lj and Tre who go by Lonnie Stark and Cartier Tre. We used to record music in the closet of the apartment we shared for a time and that era was iconic for us because it was literally just music and good times. These were early high school days where that really became life for us. We would travel to different venues around Dallas and I would watch in awe at my cousins performing on stage as it was just me watching two future legends make their name. Few years later about 2019 I decided I wanted to start my career and dropped my first song. We went thru many ups and downs as artists but true artists are never in the box. The simply just make the box. My box is now cinema. True cinema. Now I’m at a point where I want to make people feel things with more than just sound I want them to see what I see when I sit back and listen to my favorite songs and make them feel how I felt. That’s my current goal. Me and my team DMG are in production for our first short film based on Wukong and his story called Journey to the West.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. My main goal is to create and bring people of all ages, backgrounds and religions together to coexist as humans and to feel good things together. I want everyone impacted by my works to remember where they come from and look to the future for growth. Mentally and spiritually.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partners are my family and closest friends from childhood. Ok I’ll admit it.. I’m the youngest in the core group so really I’m the only one who knew everyone as a kid but we were all young. These guys are my foundation and they are valued. I wouldn’t be where I’m at without them. Like I previously mentioned Lj and tre are my cousins and we met at my grandparents house I remember because that’s where all the family functions used to be back in New Orleans. Everyone else in our group I’ve met through my cousins as well because they went to school with them. Special shoutout to Jay, Gabe and Darius. And last but not least my lovely girlfriend Nani who shoots most of videos. She’s great. These people are DMG. These people are the ones that want what I want which is to be great. They add to my passion and I just wanted them to be highlighted here because they truly are remarkable folks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/mallprime
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mallprime/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDyPSkOIjx3aOq3SAifClvg

Image Credits

Jamal Bates