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A common misconception with music is that if it is popular, then it must be good, or if it is good, then it must be popular.
With any genre of music, it is safe to say there are great and not-so-great bands. I’ve often heard popular music that falls into the latter of the two categories.
At least that’s the impression I get when I turn on the radio and hear overly produced pop stars from an endless revolving door of so-called artists.
Popular music seems to revolve around a simple formula: Find someone that is easy on the eyes, write and record the music for him or her, put him or her on tour and if he or she is selling, wash, rinse and repeat. Somewhere along the line this became acceptable.
“Top-40” radio is a poor representation of who we are as American artists and musicians in 2012. I cringe to think that what we hear daily will be considered the music of our time.
Internet radio stations and stations like Baton Rouge Community Radio WHYR 96.9 FM and KNSU 91.5 (housed on the campus of Nicholls State University) have the right idea by offering music that is not part of the “top-40” selection. Of course, anyone who cares to scratch below the layer of bologna will know that real music is always happening.
Malachi “Mal-E-Mal” Martin, of Houma, is one of the driving forces behind the hip-hop collective known as Aquaforce and says “it is frustrating as an artist” to hear rap music on the radio and know that there is no message behind it. It is simply a “bragging contest,” Martin says.
It paints a picture that rappers are only concerned with sex, drugs, cars and money. Martin says that “people are influenced by what artists say and do, whether it is negative or positive and artists should be careful of the message they are portraying because it can change the way people think.”
People get the wrong idea about hip-hop and dismiss or discredit the genre for this reason. The same goes for formulated country tunes about pick-up trucks, tractors and red Solo cups.
Aquaforce believes that “many elements of hip-hop have been forsaken, and their mission is to bring it back for the people.”
Martin came from a musical family, so for him, it has always been about the music. He began playing drums for his church at 12 years old and continues to do so. While majoring in art at Delgado University, Martin met his soon-to-be counterpart and fellow emcee who goes by the name “Future.”
Martin and Future bonded through skating and music and would go on to perform as Aquaforce in sold-out venues all over New Orleans, such as The House of Blues, Howlin’ Wolfe, Dragon’s Den, The Republic, The Blue Nile and Ampersands.
By taking every opportunity to perform and get themselves known, they quickly gained success, and popularity led them to tour the country and play major festivals like SXSW 2009 in Austin, Texas and B.O.M.B. (Bring Our Music Back) Fest 2010 in Durham, Conn. Aquaforce was invited to record in Atlanta, Ga. and to shoot a music video in Brooklyn, N.Y.
They have been on line-ups with Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, Mute Math, of Montreal, The Cool Kids, Girl Talk, Jay Electronica, Ludacris, Curren$y, B.O.B., Wiz Khalifa, Chip tha Ripper, Kidz in the Hall, Mickey Factz, 88 Keyz and more.
Aquaforce has three “mix-tapes.” “Burgundy,” “Legend of Tony Earl” and “Hat Snatchers” are available for free download at www.aquaforce.bandcamp.com.
Martin feels that the lyrics and stories found in their music are real scenarios that anyone can relate to and after all, relating to people is the point of making music.
Malachi “Mal-E-Mal” Martin, Robert Mandavi Epps and Future make up Aquaforce, a hip-hop group with Houma roots and a budding reputation in New Orleans.
