A local music group speaks out against violence in the surrounding community

Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) – Devin Aaron and Waylen Williams have their own approach when it comes to creating music, excluding violent imagery and lyrics from their songs.

“It doesn’t always have to be associated with violence,” Aaron said.

The musical duo’s journey has not been without obstacles – obstacles like the stigma associated with rap music.

“It makes it kind of complicated for artists to get into places and certain meetings with certain people when violence is associated with the whole rap community whenever it’s not,” Williams said.

That stigma carried on after several arrests in last month’s drive-by shooting that killed a 6-year-old child. All of those arrested are between the ages of 18 and 26, and Lake Charles police say some were in a band.

“Some of these people identify themselves as members of an organization called ‘Nawfside Babies,'” LCPD leader Shawn Caldwell said.

Investigators say some of these rappers are taking to social media to air their grievances in videos brandishing guns and calling out specific members of local law enforcement.

“It was a beef with another side, not another organization with other gentlemen,” Deputy Chief Franklin Fondel said. “Then after that, it turned into rap music that turned into a jam.”

This isn’t the first time authorities have called rap group members murder suspects. It’s something that other musicians find offensive.

The Indigo Sun Group focuses on the concepts of success, relationships and self-innovation.

“It’s a big influence on just being positive, bringing peace to the community, or just coming together and truly loving each other,” Williams and Aaron said.

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