Malik Flint, better known as bLAck pARty, is one of those artists who defy labels. A producer, songwriter, singer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist, his career has taken shape across multiple genres: funk, R&B, reggae, soul, and even country, without fear of experimentation. From his early work as a producer alongside Kari Faux to his involvement in iconic albums like Awaken, My Love! By Childish Gambino and hit series like Insecure, bLAck pARty has proven that music has no limits.

Now based in Los Angeles but deeply rooted in Arkansas, bLAck pARty presents his latest album, The Last Dance. Comprising 11 tracks, the record feels less like a mere collection of songs and more like a fully immersive experience from start to finish.

We sit down with him and talk about this new release, his collaborations, influences, and the vital role of the DJ as a sonic storyteller in our lives. He spoke to us about co-writing Moonlight with his father, how he blends genres without following formulas, and the importance of creating music that accompanies even the most ordinary moments of the day.

With his Late To The Party tour making its way across North America, the energy of The Last Dance goes beyond the studio, becoming a live experience that moves, transcends, penetrates, and keeps resonating long after the lights go out.

“The Last Dance” feels like a vibrant and cinematic sonic experience. What story or main emotion did you want to convey with this album?

I wanted this album to be an escapist paradise from the perspective of a DJ. People oftentimes forget how pivotal DJs are to creating the soundtrack to our experiences.

We know that “Moonlight” is very special because you co-wrote it with your parents. What was that family's creative process like, and what does this song represent for you?

I actually wrote “Moonlight” and “Sober” with my parents. We have a good workflow. My father actually wrote the lyrics to “Moonlight” years ago, and I came across it because he gave me his writing book when I first started working on the album. I like the song because it's one of the darker, moodier points in the album. Like a spooky love song. I really love bossa nova too.

Between dancehall, funk, jazz, and R&B, your sound embraces a unique diversity. How do you choose which genres to explore in each new project?

I don’t choose. I just go with what I want to hear in tandem. I really love all kinds of music. If that means blending hip hop with reggae or r&b with country, it’s all based on how I feel about the sounds and the lyrics, more so than the genre. I honestly don't care about genre. I’m an artist. I don’t think art should have to exist in its expected box.

“Hola Mami” paved the way for the album and has been so well-received. What did you want to express with that track, and what feedback from your fans has surprised you the most?

“Hola Mami” is a homage to Afro-Latin influence in pop music. I always think about the Stevie Wonder song “Ngiculela (Es Una Historia)” and it was always so interesting to me that he made a song where he sings in Spanish, Zulu, and English. I wanted to capture that same feeling.

You’ve collaborated with artists like S!MONE and Mack Keane. What do you look for in a collaborator, and what did they bring to the atmosphere of “The Last Dance”?

It’s always organic. I don’t try to force it. All of the singers that contributed to the album have very distinct voices and vocal timbres that add to the record as if they're another instrument in the band.

Your work as a producer and songwriter has taken you to projects like Insecure and Childish Gambino’s “Awaken, My Love!” What did you learn from those experiences that you apply to your music today?

I learned a lot. Working on “Awaken, My Love!” allowed me to learn to experiment and do the unexpected. Working on records for television shows rewired my brain to think about making songs that set the scene for moments in life. Like, yeah, you can chase hits, but sometimes people need a soundtrack for even the mundane parts of their everyday life.

You’re currently on your “Late To The Party” tour. What can we expect from these shows, and how do you plan to translate the album’s vibe to the stage?

You’ll have to come and check it out. I prefer surprises.

Coming from Arkansas and now based in Los Angeles, how do your roots and your current surroundings influence your lyrics and sound?

My roots are what make up the core of my musical understanding. Growing up in the South shaped my music taste in a way that I feel like I wouldn't have experienced music in the same way if I grew up anywhere else.

If you could describe the perfect moment to listen to “The Last Dance,” what would it be? What do you want people to feel when they finish listening to it?

Nighttime. I want people to dance or vibe out. That’s it, really. If you dance or if it makes you nod your head hella hard, I've done my job.

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