After almost a year of preparation, local rap group Microphone Mafia is receiving some long-awaited success within the Bonaventure community.
Microphone Mafia is an Olean-based group that began making music in spring of 2015. The group consists of “Pretty Gary” Coleman, DJ PJ’s, KNIX and Crystal, friends who decided to work together after collaborating on a variety of songs. The group members believes that their diversity allows them to perform powerfully together.
The men of the group have known each other since high school and had made music together in the past. After being later introduced to Crystal, who is both a member of the group and the band manager, they decided to make their dreams a reality.
After promoting its music throughout the area, the band picked up listeners by catering to college students’ tastes, said Crystal.
“We have been very excited and honored,” she said. “We aim our music towards the college-aged group, so to see it do well is very uplifting.”
The group managed to bring their music to the Bonaventure community by passing out free copies of its mix tape “Smart Girls Only” to students on campus. Many students reacted to the music because of its themes, primarily focusing on college parties and the Olean-Allegany area. The songs “Bona Chick” and “Smart Girls Only” have been especially popular around campus over the past few months.
Recently the group has gained even more notoriety through its new music video for “Bona Chick,” which was filmed on campus. According to Pretty Gary, they had no trouble filming on campus.
“We are all huge Bonaventure fans; we have been to many games over the years, so we were pretty familiar with the people and know quite a few people,” Gary said.
Despite being a local group, the band uses professional technology and new songwriting techniques to create its music.
“We usually go online and go through a variety of instrumentals,” they said. “We freestyle over them until we get something catchy. We choose a topic, write a hook and then each person writes a verse.”
The group also added that they record in KNIX and Crystal’s home studio using Avid Pro Tools and Logic Pro X software.
The members credit their popularity to the allusion to the local community in their songs. One of their main goals is to further unify both the local and school communities.
“We try to make music that will bring people together,” the group said. “The people of Olean are very much behind the students. When the school gets praise and national attention we are very proud of their accomplishments.”
The group has been performing throughout the Olean area and plans to schedule more shows within the next few weeks.
“At our first show we had maybe five people show up,” Crystal said. “By our third show we were packing large bars. It seems like every time we play more and more people come to support us.”
The group also hopes to perform for fans on campus in either the Rathskeller or the Reilly Center.
“We would love to play during halftime at a Bona’s basketball game,” Crystal said. “That is the goal. We want to support the students like the students have supported us. Go Bona’s.”
Microphone Mafia is currently working on its second album. The group is available for contact on Facebook, and their music is available on both YouTube and SoundCloud. Fans can also purchase their merchandise through Facebook.
“Microphone Mafia never stops!” they said. “We live for making music. Our next album is very special to us. We can’t wait until it’s finished so we can share it with you.”
rootcm14@bonaventure.edu
