Miami based T-Vice is the undisputed king of the new konpa, a deliciously melodious Haitian tropical blend infused with American pop influences like hip-hop and R&B. For those in doubt of AKA's staying power, Garrote proudly assures, "We're going strong." An undeniable influence from the likes of Green Day and Alanis Morissette is audible when the threesome drops its sonic bomb. Their pop-punk sound is both energizing and haunting their appeal is reinforced by powerful singing and high-powered beats. The group is made up of lead vocalist Lori Garrote on guitar, Natalie Martinez on bass, and Nabedi Osorio on drums. In the meantime, AKA manages to play a few gigs a month and work on new material. Lately the band has limited its live shows to focus on its first album, Break Free.
Since 2004 these gals have spread their cute-but-tough look and infectious sound across Miami-Dade's expansive borders.
Good thing the all-girl trio known as AKA is around to represent for the ladies. So what is the one factor most of these groups have in common? They are mostly men. These and other local bands span a variety of genres including rock, hip-hop, electronica, and more. The ubiquitous Spam Allstars have garnered a loyal following playing Afro-Cuban jazz, while the tight-knit Down Home Southernaires appeal to throngs with their indie-pop sensibilities. We've all heard it before: "There is no music scene in Miami." Although the 305 may not be a band-manufacturing machine like Chicago, even elitist naysayers can't argue that the Magic City has its share of laudable live acts. This is canny subject matter for a group that understands the best pop should always be fun, catchy, and, above all, up to date with the latest craze. Now the group is riding high with the hit "On the Hotline," a delicious, slow-burning R&B-meets-hip-hop jam with a cool 2007 twist: a story of phone sex with a beautiful lady met on MySpace. Soon after, Pretty Ricky signed a deal with Atlantic Records, and this year released the top-selling album, Late Night Special. All of that hard work started paying off when the group's 2004 ditty to the thrills of heavy petting, "Grind with Me," became the most requested song in the history of Miami's Power 96. The four brothers Baby Blue, Spectacular, Pleasure, and Slick Em have been working for this moment their entire lives, playing virtually every venue in South Florida since 1997. After all, it's not every day that a Miami pop group gets to hit number one on the Billboard album charts (they held it for a week). The members of Pretty Ricky should be feeling pretty damn good about themselves.