Before he was an Oscar winning actor, starring in films like Moonlight, Hidden Figures, The Green Book or terrorizing New York in the Cheo Hodari Coker vision of Marvel's Luke Cage, Ali could spit, but like for real. Prince Ali, as he was known on the mic, was down with the Hieroglyphics crew and had a career in Hip-Hop that was nothing to sneeze at. 

Recently, Rock The Bells caught up with the multi-hyphenate star and asked to combine his two worlds and reveal a Hip-Hop story that he would like to see told. His response was one of Hip-Hop's most distinct and lyrical legends that we lost in 2024. 

"There's an artist that I love and admire that I don't know if enough people know enough about, a brother by the name of Ka," Mahershala told Rock The Bells. "Extraordinary MC, him and Roc Marciano I think laid the groundwork for a really relevant underground sound that has had a wonderful life in the last like 12 years or so," he added. 

Though Ka was never a household in the commercial world, he was revered by his fellow MCs and critics alike for his mastery of lyricism and concept albums that felt nothing short of cinematic. Off the mic, the "Borrowed Time" MC was also a firefighter in Brooklyn and according to Mahershala, a true one of one that deserves to have his story told. "I would like to see a documentary on Ka and his life. I know he was an extraordinary man, he was a friend but also New York City Firefighter, extraordinary MC and an amazing producer. I think the world needs to see that."

As for his own musical endeavors, Mahershala still quenches his creative thirst for music, but these days, the onscreen icon has traded in the mic for the MPC. "I'm more into making beats now. I make beats a little bit," he revealed. "I'll just say I've been doing it for about 6 years now and I've been working on stuff with people. Some good friends have contributed to me getting to know my MPC a little bit better and getting to mess around and do some music."

His list of musical senseis suggests he is in good hands when it comes to messing with the tracks. "Adrian Younge has been a wonderful friend in that regard. Another one [was] Ka, God rest his soul, and I've been working on some music with a brother named Radamiz, an MC out of New York," Mahershala noted.

Regardless how much success the House Of Cards star has had in all of his endeavors, he still shows love to what this culture is and has full faith on where it's headed. "I love that Hip-Hop has sustained many decades and that it's continuing to grow and evolve, and I love that the founders and creators of the culture have been celebrated like they should be."