Malik Yoba: television's Renaissance Man

Ebony, Feb, 1996 by Muriel L. Whetstone

Malik Yoba is not a run-of-the-mill celebrity.

"Someone called me a Renaissance Man one day, and I liked that because that is what I am," says Yoba. "I write, I sing, I'm involved in the community. I act, I build things--that's my thing. I want to build schools, I want to build programs and I want to build parks. I want to build spirits as I build myself because I don't have all the answers. I'm trying to figure it out for myself, too. But one of the things that I have figured out is that when we help others we are helping ourselves."

Most television viewers recognize Yoba as the sexy young co-star of the popular urban police drama, New York Undercover. But what fans may not realize is that underneath Det. J.C. Williams' tough-guy exterior beats Yoba's passionate humanitarian heart. "A lot of people believe that you have to make it first before you can help someone else," he says, "and in a lot of cases that is true. But sometimes the help might be opening the door for someone or [simply] saying, `Hello.' It doesn't have to be some great act of altruism."

For two seasons, Yoba has portrayed Det. Williams, a no-nonsense but conscientious undercover cop who loves his job. He also loves his son, Gregory, who is portrayed by George Gore II. In the series, Det. Williams fathered Gregory as a teenager with the character Chantal Tierney. Although he does not live with the boy's mother, who is portrayed by Fatima Faloye, Williams is actively involved in rearing him. Yoba, who is himself single and childless, says some day he would like to have "a little tribe" of his own.

Det. Williams is partnered with Det. Eddie Torres, who is portrayed by Puerto Rican actor Michael DeLorenzo. Together the dynamic duo roam the streets of the Big Apple in search of bad guys. "We are a rare bird," Yoba says of the program. "We are the first dramatic series ever to be renewed for a second season that co-stars a Black and Latino." Praised for its true-to-life scripts, the program enjoys an intensely loyal following, particularly among Black viewers under age 25.

The program's musical script is another aspect of the show that keeps the younger set coming back for more. Each week different musical performers--from Mary J. Blige to Montell Jordan to Brandy--perform new arrangements of popular songs.

New York Undercover may have made Malik Yoba a household name, but the 28-year-old has been a familiar figure around New York City youth organizations since he was 17. "I think I was a misunderstood child in a lot of ways," he says in retrospect. "I think the school systems don't really promote individuality. They use a sort of antiquated way of teaching and reaching young people. As a kid who was misunderstood, I understood what kids were feeling."

Yoba now heads his own youth motivation project called "why are you on this planet?" Relying on his field experience as a youth counselor and using audience participation, interactive games, visualization exercises, poetry and journal writing, Yoba gives motivational speeches or holds one- to two-day workshops with youngsters around the world. "I created `why are you on this planet?' Yoba says in a project brochure, "to help [youngsters] discover that they do have the power to make the right choices. I use the skills and creative tools I've honed over the years and a lot of humor."

When he was a full-time youth counselor, Yoba combined his love of music and drama and taught those subjects to inner city youngsters in New York. As a member of various community organizations, he helped organize young people around social issues and inspired them to produce community events and projects. He also co-produced television, video and book projects and visited high schools, prisons and homeless shelters. And when he got wind of auditions, he would often try out.

In 1991, a friend told him about an open casting call for a movie about a Jamaican Olympic bobsled team. One of the last people to try out, on the last day of the open call, Yoba says he auditioned and forgot about it. To his surprise, about a month later he was summoned to Los Angeles for a screen test. After a few stops and starts Yoba eventually landed the part and in 1993 he debuted in his first major film, Cool Runnings.

After the movie's successful release, Yoba says he was faced with a decision: Should he continue working with the kids or devote his time and energy to acting? "I still wasn't sure if I wanted to pursue acting full-time," says Yoba, "although doing Cool Runnings was a lot of fun."

Selective about the projects he pursued and still "iffy" about becoming a full-time actor, Yoba was hesitant. He tentatively completed a few auditions, made a commercial and a couple of television guest appearances. He landed the New York Undercover role shortly after making a guest appearance on the television program Law & Order.

Yoba, who wants to release an album this year, says acting has not replaced his love of music. "Music is a greater passion for me than acting, he says. I play guitar, sing and write music. I've been doing this for a long time. I know that people know me as an actor, so when I talk about releasing music, there's always skepticism."