From being a pillar of hip-hop in Quebec to leading the youth, his versatility knows no bounds [Video]

CBC Quebec is highlighting people from the province’s Black communities who are giving back, inspiring others and helping to shape our future. These are the 2024 Black Changemakers.

It can be hard to keep up with Malik Shaheed.

The Montrealer has worn a lot of different hats during his lifetime — too many to count.

At the age of 14, he ran a barbershop out of his home with people lining up for $5 haircuts. He’s worked as a DJ, a party promoter and a youth basketball coach. 

For nearly a decade, he was the face of Hip Hop, a weekly show on the now-defunct MusiquePlus television channel that aired rap music videos, interviews and provided Quebecers with a window into the culture at a key moment in its history. 

As big of a deal as MusiquePlus was at the time, Shaheed says he never let the exposure get to his head.

“Working at MusiquePlus, which was really an all-francophone, …