Malcolm London's Chicago home base greatly informs his work as an activist, educator, poet, and gruff-voiced rapper. The artist's first rhymes were penned at the age of 12, but he didn't use writing as a serious outlet until a few years later. Among his first recordings were appearances on early-2010s releases from the SaveMoney crew, including Caleb James' Ground Up, Nico Segal's Illasoul: Shades of Blue, and Dally Auston's The Wood. Around this time, Cornel West referred to London as "the Gil Scott-Heron of his generation." Since early 2015, London has co-organized and co-hosted monthly public sessions called OpenMike, conceived with Chance the Rapper and named in tribute to Brother Mike, a mentor in the city's hip-hop scene who died in late 2014. In October 2016, London issued Opia, an album featuring appearances from notable locals such as Jamila Woods, Vic Mensa, and Donnie Trumpet, as well as How to Dress Well. The self-released set was executive produced by fellow SaveMoney member EB. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi