Malcolm and Jarad met as toddlers at their families’ church. Malcolm became a part of their group a couple years later after meeting at a birthday party. As they bonded and grew, they found that they shared a mutual interest in Japanese Anime and Manga and WWE, and a common factor seemed to be the music. Malcolm’s mother explained, “They loved the theme music. We’d come out of the show, and they’d be all duh-nuh-nuh-nuh,” wailing away on an air guitar.
But their families were not always so enthused. Actually, it initially struck their mothers as cause for concern. Tabatha Dawkins tells the NY Times, “when I heard their music, I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to get him back to church.’”
What had been expected of the boys when they first began toying with instruments bought at Toys R’ Us, was that they would emulate and create music that was more conventional within the black community. “I thought, if they would play anything, it would be R&B and pop,” admitted Tabatha. Instead, they progressed from covering Linkin Park, to Metallica, and finally to writing their own fully-fledged metal songs.
Jarad told Business Week that they were teased by other kids at school. “They’d make fun, say a black kid wouldn’t listen to this music,” he explained. But the boys persevered, apparently paying very little attention to the snickering. Deciding to ‘go pro’, the band approached Malcolm’s mother, who encouraged them to hit the streets. They performed on the corners of Times Square and eventually booked Amateur Night at the Apollo. Despite the loss there, they continued to showcase their skills to the public. With the help of Alan Sacks, they have now played several Brooklyn Nets halftime shows at the Barclays Center, opened for Guns N’ Roses, and performed at venues such as the Paramount and Webster Hall.
Not to mention signing the record deal, rumored to hold a value of nearly two million dollars, is like achieving the impossible. Jolene Cherry stated, “Obviously, metal sales are not what they were, and that genre is a reach”, however she added with confidence, “but you never know what could happen.” These kids have had the chance of a lifetime handed to them, proving that dedication and hard work can move barriers.
Unlocking The Truth has now recorded their first single, and are looking to release their first EP this fall.
Photos: NY Times
