Malik Baptiste took the long road there and back. Almost two years since Pedals/Petals, his mixtape for No I.D.’s ARTium Recordings, one of Austin’s most successful hip-hop exports returns with “Man’s Best Friend.”
The 2023 release of Pedals/Petals signaled both a musical return and a local homecoming for the 29-year-old, Grammy Award-winning producer following a shot at the big leagues in Los Angeles. Soon after, he found himself without a significant push, dropped by ARTium, and searching for a new direction.
“My new approach has been shifted towards sustainability,” Baptiste explains of his recalibration. “In the past I sacrificed sustainability for a shot at ‘making it,’ not realizing they weren’t mutually exclusive. ‘Making it’ is achieving and maintaining to me now.”
The Austin producer’s return finds him collaborating with Bastrop MC Deezie Brown (Geto Gala), whose presence on “Man’s Best Friend” mirrors their creative relationship. “Deezie is raw energy and creativity. The role he plays on the song is who he has been for me in real life – motivation, inspiration, and drive,” Baptiste says. “Working with him has allowed one of the most natural flows of ideas I’ve had with any collaborator. We’ve got multiple projects in the works for sure.”
The track’s title carries spiritual weight for Baptiste. “‘Man’s Best Friend’ is the personification of my faith,” he declares. “My companion and guide through my life I’m refinding. I’ve often looked at dogs as symbols of unconditional love and protection, so using that metaphor throughout the song has a lot of personal spiritual significance.”
The producer, who constructed an upcoming single for Riders Against the Storm, has advice for emerging artists, reflecting hard-won wisdom: “Be patient. Saying no won’t ruin your career, and everyone is making educated guesses on how to break through, so nothing is guaranteed. Work with who you trust and do what you believe in.”
