#BUFFACOLD: MOLOTAV MALL
Shot by Rob Szobski, Lit716
Notable rapper and entrepreneur Molotav Mall continues to change the narrative. The longtime rhymer known for his brassy anthemic rap tracks and larger-than-life personality grants a new sonic offering on a joint album with rapper Duka Deniro, titled The Dialogue. The 808-pumping, melodic album gives a glimpse into the rapper’s musical palette today; a refreshing take and reintroduction to the artist who has been through some brand changes with businesses and collaborations - but still continues to shine a light on his unique artistry.
“I’m an artist, but more than an artist…I connect people together.”
A personality at the core, the seasoned rhymer first caught our attention in 2019 with the emergence of his recording studio, Chakra Bar Studio. Bringing art, music, and small events to an unassuming area in the city, South Buffalo, Mall’s artistic flare and colorful charisma grew a buzz that elevated himself and his consistent collaborators; talents like singer/songwriter Lindsay Bartlett, energetic rapper Keydolla, and gutter lyricist Madface Mossberg, among many others. Building a foundation off of his music, and also on his studio, gave Molotav Mall a curatorial edge with his work and industry relationships. His early projects like the 2018, 16-track Fuel 4 The People set the tone for his staple sound and position as a dynamic socialite.
“Fuel 4 The People” was a vibe when I was trying to like…bring a positive aspect. “Fuel 4 the People” was motivation music.”
His early mixtape which included its predecessor of the same name is all about positivity and relatability - a theme that can be traced back to his roots. Growing up in downtown Buffalo, and coming from a family of personalities who were also aligned with the entertainment industry, it’s no surprise the rapper and his music are creativity-orientated.
“I grew up in the Perry’s (Perry Projects) and I always had a lot to say. I used to read a lot of books...I used to always write; write poetry, write stories, draw, eventually that turned into expressing myself through music.”
Leading both with an artistic inclination and street sensibility quickly made Molotov Mall an anomaly in the city’s hip-hop scene, and possibly a leader of the rap music movement in South Buffalo. Dropping a slew of singles and small works after his mixtapes and continuing to highlight rising artists, the rhymer continued his work at Chakra Bar Studio until his rebrand last year. The studio is now a smoothie shop - a change due to growing a better relationship with the community is the rapper’s way of maintaining his presence and entrepreneurial grit.
“South Buffalo is segregated…I’m kinda here for a reason to help change the narrative around here. We giving back...There’s no healthy spots. There are only fast food spots and bars…we hangin’ in there.”
Despite Chakra Bar Studios being no more, Molotov Mall’s passionately positive approach to his business changes and his new project, makes for exciting anticipation of what he will do next. With The Dialogue fresh off the press and continuing to make its rounds, it’s clear the seasoned rapper has no sign of stopping. Listen to the project here.
GET FOKUS’D: TALES FROM THE PORCH EXTENSIONS
The Tales From The Porch exhibition series has become a staple in the city of Buffalo. Run by Get Fokus’d Productions, the multi-medium project shines a light on artists and figures in the community with an aim to understand different perspectives and break down stereotypes. Set to open the follow-up to the series this Friday, April 28th, Aitina Fareed-Cooke who oversees the project spoke with us about the event.
“Tales from the Porch extensions gives an opportunity for emerging artists to tell their own stories based off of their perspectives of what the porch is to them,” she explained. “And so they looked at the Tales From The Porch that was created from last year and then I guided them into interpreting those stories to a certain degree and transition into how they use their own artistic mediums to tell their own porch stories.”
Fareed-Cooke who is a rapper and also the owner of Get Fokus’d, organized a large community event around the 2nd iteration of her Tales From the Porch series that highlighted local community leaders last year. With a backdrop of musical performances, vendors, and a mobile photo installation, the multimedia showing of figures like Gail Wells of Buffalo Freedom Gardens or Alexander Wright, founder of the African Heritage Food Co-op, just to name a few was to showcase positive community perseverance and representation.
This go-round is all about highlighting young emerging artists. Under Fareed-Cooke’s leadership and her production company’s apprenticeship program called Fokus’d Kreatives, the 5 selected artists will take inspiration from Get Fokus’d last exhibition and apply different artistic applications to their work including photography, film, video production, illustrations, and many more - as a response.
Learn More About These Emerging Artists Below. And Learn more about Tales From The Porch HERE
ISAAC FAREED
Isaac Fareed, artistically known as Aizyk, is a multimedia artist who is a homeschooled high school sophomore. Fareed uses photography and illustrations to show people how he views the world. Using a fisheye lens coupled with digital illustrations, Fareed gives a “porch” to inanimate objects as a way of giving a voice to the voiceless.
TALLULAH GORDON
Tallulah Gordon is a SUNY Buffalo State University student studying Experimental Media Production. Gordon's piece focuses on the role that the Jewish folktale of the golem plays throughout history and the duality of the message it tells. Printed onto large curtains, the piece is meant to be read from right to left as is from the Torah.
KAITLYN LOWE
Kaitlyn Lowe, also known as The Galactic Griot, is an interdisciplinary artist from Brooklyn with a bachelor's degree in Media Production from SUNY Buffalo State University. She feels called to tell stories of the African Diaspora that encapsulate who folks truly are and what they dream they can become through poetry, photography, and video. Lowe's work is a direct response to some of the painful first photographs of Black folks in America. Lowe’s work captures the essence of African American artists from New York City as they purposefully take up space.
MYKISS WASHINGTON
Mykiss Washington is a student at Cheektowaga Middle School and studies photography at the Contemporary Photography and Visual Arts Center (CEPA Gallery) as a Photography Works participant. He chose to use a Polaroid camera to capture images of people and locations while gathering advice. His goal is to use photography to collect stories in order to gain counsel and share knowledge with others.
STEPHEN FORMAN JR.
Stephen Forman Jr., also known as Paulie! attends SUNY Buffalo State University as a Drawing/Painting major. He draws upon his Christian faith and the Black experience to create illustrations that tell stories of those who need to be seen and heard. His contributions to the Tales From The Porch Extensions exhibition include two paintings that critique the late-stage capitalist greed that affects Black bodies and homes all over the country.