Born and raised in Tepito, one of Mexico City's most iconic slums, Eme Malafe is a genuine artist and chronicler of the reality of life in the barrios bravos. Through his music and direct and eloquent lyrics, he has become known for his strong criticism of society and the system.
His most recent work, “Santos,” a film and music by Eme Malafe, presented in 6 chapters, is a story with fictional characters based on real events. Malafe plays the character of El Diablito. In his debut album, the artist delivers each of the songs' original music and the criticism and rebellion embodied in the songs. It is the soundtrack of the story that Malafe addresses in the film in which each song is crucial to each episode, a perfect and very well achieved combination between a music video clip with an episode of a series and ranging from regional, through rap, trap, drill, salsa, EDM and other musical styles
“Santos” is the film that Eme Malafe uses as an artistic visual medium and in a raw way to communicate social problems such as violence, drug trafficking, the disappearance of women, and the trafficking of minors, among others. It is also a chronicle of how a criminal is born and how these events that have become “normal” in a growing and transforming society are not “normal” for everyone.
“Santos” is more than an album of six songs; it is an essential means to at least begin to understand a complex reality in which the poor are blamed for their tragedies.
Without praising the violence and what many must live with, interpreted in his songs beyond those included in his album “Santos,” Eme Malafe conveys a pacifist message against social racism and the cultural pride of belonging to the neighborhood. This is how the artist feels: “If I were born again, I would be born in the barrio.” A phrase that is already identified as his own.
Among many anecdotes that can be told about the artist from the capital, one that stands out is the one in which he was shot and considered dead by more than one media through the news. After his recovery and being close to death, Eme Malafe returned to the studio with a clear idea to perform. After intense work with Radiante Mx (Producer) and Americano (Beatmaker), the result is “Santos”.
He is also a young man who has mobilized thousands of motorcyclists in Mexico City through his social networks, calling all the barrios to become one.
“Somos Un Solo Barrio [we are one barrio] is not a concert; it is not an event, it is not a march, it is not a ride; Todos somos un solo barrio' [we all re one barrio] is a celebration of being from this side in the society, of being from the barrios bravos, of belonging here. Today, I ask for a truce: today, I don't want robberies; today, I don't want violence; today, I don't want weapons.
The official figure is that more than 20,000 motorcycles responded to the call in a peaceful and supportive manner, drawing the attention of the national media. Unofficially, it is estimated that close to 100,000 people attended the call, as can be seen in this video.
