A gringo's eye view of music, art, culture, politics and life in general in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Expect to read about my interests (baile funk carioca, graffiti, favelas, food) as well as my general observations of life in this Cidade Maravilhosa.
It's always a good day when I awake to find new tracks from DJ Edgar in my inbox. This morning's delivery brought to me two new productions he's just completed featuring up and coming Paulista funkiera, Giovanna Avino, better known as MC Gi.
Gi got peoples attention recently when she entered into the running to replace Marina from Bonde do Role. While she didn't win the coveted spot with the group, she did manage to garner props from Brazilian Rolling Stone magazine and producer Edu K.
While I don't have a whole lot more information for you right now on MC Gi, I do know she has a full length CD in the works and there is a good chance these two tracks may find there way onto it. So keep your ear out for more in the future and, until then, enjoys these cuts courtesy of Edgar.
On September 19, 2008 the rest of the world will get a chance to see the newest film from Brazilian director José Padilha, Tropa de Elite or Elite Squad as they're calling it in English. This film, originally released in Brazil in October 2007, is the gritty portrayal of Rio's favela combat unit, BOPE or Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais.
Take a look at the original trailer. It's in Portuguese but you'll get the idea.
Tropa de Elite, set in 1997, tells the story of one BOPE captain ready for retirement, as he's charged with the mission of cleaning up two favelas before a visit to Rio by the Pope. The film delves into issues of corruption, brutality and vengance among the force. It is based on the book Elite de Tropa by Luiz Eduardo Soares and two former BOPE officers, Rodrigo Pimentel and André Batista. The book was an embarrassment to the BOPE and the two contributing officers purportedly caught quite a bit of flack for revealing the dirt on their unit.
Any good story needs a protagonist as well as an antagonist and early reviews of the film have dissed it for leaving the viewer with no one left to root for. Who does one cheer on when everyone is wrong? But this is the situation that exists in Rio; the traficantes run the favelas and the police run their criminal operations on the outside and the city as a whole pays the price.
One controversial aspect of the original book was references by Pimentel and Batista to BOPE as a 'killing machine'. With a logo such as theirs it's a bit hard to think otherwise; a skull crossed with two pistols and pierced through the top with a dagger. Their armored vehicle, the caveirão,outfitted with multiple gun ports and often criticized for its indiscriminate use within the favelas, is known on the street as 'the big skull'.
The war between drug cartels and the police has been going on so long in Rio and has become so convoluted, it's become impossible to tell who's right and who's wrong and whether BOPE is dishing out justice or merely revenge. To borrow from the tittle of a documentary on the subject, it has become 'a personal war'.
One thing that is certain, however, is that the tactics employed by BOPE are severe. The following video was filmed near the entrance to Morro Donna Marta (a favela) in the Bottafogo neighborhood near my home (yet a world away). It shows the BOPE forces preparing to enter the favela for a confrontation with the traficantes. While the ensuing firefight his heard and not seen, the footage is, none the less, quite disturbing. It all kicks off around the 3:21 mark. After the confrontation, the troops withdraw. Note the paramedic strapped with a machine gun around the 4:30 mark and the 'big skull' coming into frame around the 4:45 mark.
While you will be able to glimpse a fictionalized account of this nightmare unfolding from the safety of your local theater on the 19th of September, the residence of these hill side communities have this horror show live in their living rooms (literally) on an all too frequent basis.
*UPDATE* apparently Elite Squad is already available in the US on DVD, already having scene a limited theatrical release courtesy of The Weinstein Company. It will coming to select theaters in the rest of the world this September.
What's hotter than summer in Rio, more devastating on the mic than Hurricane Catrina but sweeter than an Açaí with all the toppings? It's one of the newest forces on the international baile funk scene, Brooklyn's own Zuzuka Poderosa. From the funk parties of São Paulo to the sweaty clubs of Gotham, this Funkiera has been making her mark and making marks take notice as she prepares for global domination in the year ahead. Don't sleep on this Vigarista or let the looks fool you or you might find yourself left in the dust.
In this installment from sunny and violent Rio, the San FranCarioca sits down for an exclusive interview with the one called Zuzuka. Suckahs take notes!
San FranCarioca: Oi, gata! Tudo bom?
Zuzuka Poderoda: Tudo, e voce??
SFC: Beleza! Why don't you start by introducing yourself to my loyal readers and tell us (all the many places!) where you are from.
ZP: Ok, I'm Zuzuka Poderosa and I live in Brooklyn, New York. I was born and raised in Brazil, but I'm half Indonesian. I've Been living away from home for the past 10 years.
SFC: So you're based in the Rotten, er I mean Big Apple now. What's the current state of Funk music in NYC and how would you say The City has added it's own spice to the genre's musical evolution?
ZP: It's still very underground, so to speak speak. NYC itself is not a big place. Many people who are involved in the nightlife scene know about [baile funk] or at least have heard the name somewhere. As for the evolution of baile funk in NYC, I hope I can be a big contributor to make it big here. I think it's working. Whenever I see someone listening to baile funk for the first time, I get an immediate positive reaction.
SFC: You wear many hats in this game: poet, MC, DJ, event producer and promoter. How did you come to be involved with this thing called Funk?
ZP: I started to like funk when I was 10 or 11yrs old. My brother used to take me to see Furacão 2000 in the club where he used to go. In New York I used to hold an event called Samfunksoulbeat with my partner DJ Flashblack. Then I met these guys from Nossa who started throwing baile funk & reggae parties in town. So one day at the studio I asked them to let me get on the mic to say a couple of Brazilian words. That's when I wrote that same day in the studio, "Ai Voce Gosta"… and it worked! I couldn't believe people were really into it!
SFC: Being involved with the music on so many levels (and even having read some of your poetry), it's obvious to me that you are quite a strong female. Detractors of baile funk often like to claim that the genre can be denigrating to woman. How would you respond to this?
ZP: I can imagine that. Just like dancehall is for many people who don't want to understand the lyrics. It depends on the person really. I don't want to start analyzing how Brazilians behave in society....machismo, etc. I think women today have the ability to turn things around and have the first word as well. I try to do that at least. It's not the only degrading part about baile funk. Baile funk has been discriminated against for a very long time for different reasons, such as the level of class, the level of color, and other political issues. But it's even harder for the haters now to see that it's becoming bigger & bigger and appreciated worldwide.
SFC: You have worked with some heavy hitters in the game: Amazing Clay & MC Gus, DJ Cassiano & DJ Sujinho from the Nossa crew just to name a few. What's next on the horizon for Zuzuka Poderosa?
ZP: Yes! I'm working on my album, and I hope to be working with producers worldwide as well. I want to make it international. I think it's a good way to spread the word.
SFC: I know that when you were in Brazil last, you did a show with carioca funk legend, Mr. Catra. What was that like?
ZP: I was in Sao Paulo. I met him and his crew a few days earlier. He was asking me a few questions and he asked if I had anything to show him, so I did some acapellas for him and everyone was loving it. After that he invited me to go to his show a few days later. So I showed up at the show and soon after he told me he was going to hand me the mic. So I told him to bring it on! I couldn't believe that was happening. I still can't believe actually. I love Catra. He inspires me a lot.
SFC: Damn, like that? Represent! Alright girl, one last question before I let you go... With the recent advances in the human genome project, I'm hoping we will soon have a definitive answer to this burning question. But until then, maybe you can help shed some light on the subject. Just how do Brazilian females get their bundas bouncing the way they do? I mean really!?
ZP: It began in Africa baby...
SFC: Hahahaha! Like everything good! Muito obrigado, minha amiga, for taking the time to chat with the San Francarioca! Anything else you want to add or anyone you want to give a shout out to before we wrap this up?
ZP: To everyone in Brazil for welcoming me at the shows I did… Sany Pitbull, Rio Neurotic Bass Crew, Daft Funk, all the amazing people in Belo Horizonte who came to see the show, Akira Matsui, Mr. Catra Family, the Vigaristas girls for going to Brazil and representing with me, Helida, Zero Bloodshake, Luiz, Thiago DJ, DJ Nuts, DJ Comrade and Xao Productions and my friends and family who are always there for me!. Oh! And sorry if I forgot to mention anyone else. I really mean to say thank you so much to all of you guys…and to the San Francarioca!!
SFC: Ta bom, gata.... com respeito e um beijo. Tchau!
Nothing really abnormal about that in a South American country. Except that this time the troops aren't just showing up for election day; they are being called in two months in advance. This is unprecedented (and possibly just the tip of the iceberg).
Rio's Governor, Cabral Filhos, known for his policies of heavy confrontation with traficantes, defended the decision saying it was to allow for free campaigning in all parts of the city and to prevent residents of the favelas from being forced to cast their vote for a candidate backed by a drug faction.
Well, ok. Fair enough. But then they're leaving, right?
"Cabral said the number of troops to be sent and the date would be set by the Superior Electoral Tribunal and state officials. He added that he intends to keep the troops there after the elections to help combat crime (emphasis is mine)." [1]
Oh boy. Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Besides sounding a lot like martial law is about to be selectively put into affect, maybe it's because the last time the military was used to provide protection in a favela, things didn't work out so good. (we won't even talk about what happened in 2006)
Two of my favorite shops when I lived in San Francisco were Fabric 8 and Upper Playground. What sets these two spots apart from the rest of the retail menagerie in SF is their support for local artists, their connection to the streets and their fiercely independent spirit. When I first visited Rio in April, I stumbled upon what I feel to be these stores Brazilian brother (or sister, if you will. no need to get hung up on gender politics), Home Grown.
Owned and operated by my man Marco and his small crew of dedicated cariocas, Home Grown occupies an unassuming second story space up above the hustle and grind of Ipanema. The shelves and racks are stacked with clothes fabricated by local designers and the walls draw you into works of art directly related to the walls of Rio itself. The back of the shop stocks a formidable selection of Montana spray cans and caps to insure the cycle keeps on cycling.
On August 5th, Marco and the Home Grown cognoscenti hosted their third collective show featuring new work by local artists culled from the carioca street art movement: Marcelo Lamarca, Rafael Dória, Rafo Castro and João Burle. Unfortunately, due to a language snafu (my portuguese is crap. mario's english is good but he's been known to mix up tuesday and thursday), I missed the actual opening. The good news is that when I did show up Thursday, I had the place to my self to peep the new work. Below are a few of my favorite pieces for you all to enjoy. Each of them, in their own way, captures a bit of that carioca spirit that makes this cidade so marravilhosa!
by: Rafael Dória(spraypainted stencil on steel)
by: Rafael Dória(acrylic on canvas)
by: Rafo Castro(acrylic on canvas)
by: João Burle(spraypaint, acrylic on canvas)
When in Rio, pop into Home Grown, say 'what's up' to Marco and the crew and find a little piece of Rio to take home for your self!
Home Grown Rua Maria Quiteria 68 Ipanema, RJ +55 (21) 2513 2160 www.hg68.com.br
*update* there were a lot of other pieces i was feeling but my flicks of them didn't come out so hot. make sure you check the links to the home grown blog for more photos of the other artists work. respect to all the artists that participated!
This post really doesn't have anything to do with Brazil but it's my blog and Isaac Hayes was a hero of mine. I really don't even know what to say though about a man of his stature that contibuted so much to the world of funk and soul music and, well, to the world in general. And to be honest, I'm feeling a little too choked up to even write much...but I'll try.
Mr. Hayes began his career as a writer, arranger and producer for the legendary Stax label from Memphis, Tennessee. Without him, Sam & Dave wouldn't have been the same soul men that they were and Otis would have never sounded the same. Along with David Porter, Mr. Hayes was responsible for penning some of Stax Records biggest hits, which is to say Soul Music's biggest hits. From his early jazz influenced material to his sound track to the film Shaft to his unforgettable appearance in an outfit of solid gold chains at the Wattstax concert in LA in 1973, the man could not be touched.
The world will be a different place without him. I'll leave you with his moving rendition of 'Stormy Monday'. For those that knew him and loved him and his music, there won't be much sunshine tomorrow. Rest in peace, Black Moses.
*UPDATE* Please go the comments section of this post to find a download link to an incredible tribute mix of Mr. Hayes' music put together by one Dj Haylow. Download this essential mix now before it is gone. If you love soul music, this is something you will want to own forever. Thanks to my boy Grainger for posting the link in the comments, thanks to 4oneFunk for originally posting this on their myspace account, thanks to Haylow for putting this mix together, and of course, thanks to Isaac Hayes for leaving us with so much beautiful music!
I got a nice email the other day from Daniel Haaksman of international funk powerhouse, Man Recordings in Berlin. Daniel and his stable of artists have been featured prominently in a few postings here on the San FranCarioca. My recent video interview with Dj Beware caught his attention and he wrote asking for permission to repost it on his blog, Man Recorder. Of course I was flattered and told Daniel, by all means, go right ahead. If you're a fan of carioca funk or innovative dance music in general, do yourself a favor and head over to the Man Recorder now to read recent posts on influential German New Wave act, DAF (Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft or German American Friendship, a reinterpreted expression from the Cold War era) as well as more newness from those crazy Italians, Crookers. Essential reading (and listening)!
What's hotter than summer in Rio, more devastating on the mic than Hurricane Catrina but sweeter than an 
Nothing really abnormal about that in a South American country. Except that this time the troops aren't just showing up for election day; they are being called in two months in advance. This is unprecedented (and possibly just the tip of the iceberg). 
Two of my favorite shops when I lived in San Francisco were 
I got a nice email the other day from 
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