At the age of 7, Malcolm-Jamal Warner had already envisioned his future. “I told my parents that I would become a famous poet, actor, or basketball player,” he shared during our conversation on this week’s episode of “Renaissance Man.” With his impressive career as Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” his musical talents, and his recent appearance on Fox’s “Accused,” Malcolm-Jamal Warner truly embodies the essence of a renaissance man.
Growing up, Malcolm-Jamal was surrounded by the arts and intellect, thanks to his father, who attended the same university as poet Gil Scott-Heron. This exposure also influenced his taste in sitcoms. While shows like “Diff’rent Strokes,” “The Jeffersons,” and “Sanford and Son” were popular among his peers, it was “Benson” that captivated him the most. “Benson was always the smartest dude in the room,” he shared.
As fate would have it, Malcolm-Jamal eventually starred on “The Cosby Show,” a groundbreaking sitcom that not only transformed America but also validated the existence of the black middle class. Reflecting on this experience, he expressed a sense of pride and gratitude. He understood the responsibility of representing not only himself but also the show’s ideals in his everyday life.
Being part of “Cosby” opened doors for Malcolm-Jamal. As a teenager, he even had the opportunity to host “Saturday Night Live” and select the musical guest, ultimately choosing Run-DMC. He also directed the music video for New Edition’s “N.E. Heart Break” in 1989. Filming in New York allowed him to immerse himself in the golden era of rap, where he even encountered a young LL Cool J, who predicted his own future fame.
In recent years, Malcolm-Jamal has developed a love-hate relationship with modern hip-hop. He believes that it often promotes negative messages, including black death, drug use, self-hatred, and misogyny. While acknowledging the controversy surrounding Mr. Cosby’s views on youth culture, he understands the intention behind those statements. He hopes to address these issues in a loving manner and highlight their impact on young minds.
When it comes to his own music, Malcolm-Jamal’s style defies labels. While he primarily plays bass, he also dabbles in piano and trumpet. He resists categorization under neo-soul, jazz, or R&B. He emphasizes that music has never been a primary source of income for him, and he has never signed with a record label. As he reminds us, he was a poet before anything else.
Last September, Malcolm-Jamal released his fourth album, “Hiding in Plain View,” which earned a Grammy nomination. The album delves into themes of self-healing and explores black culture. It also imparts the wisdom he wished he had received as a young man: “It’s OK for people not to like you.”
It’s safe to say that Malcolm-Jamal Warner is well-loved by many.
Detroit native Jalen Rose is a member of the University of Michigan’s iconic Fab Five, a group that revolutionized college basketball in the 1990s. After a successful NBA career spanning 13 seasons, Rose transitioned into a media personality, currently serving as an analyst for “NBA Countdown” and “Get Up,” as well as co-hosting “Jalen & Jacoby.” Rose also executive-produced “The Fab Five” for ESPN’s “30 for 30” series and authored the best-selling book “Got To Give the People What They Want.” In addition, he is a fashion tastemaker and co-founder of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, a public charter school in his hometown.
