Contemporary Brazilian music

September 5, 2009 5:41 PM

Going to Brazil next month and want to listen to some Brazilian music in the vein of Rap das Armas by MC Junior and MC Leonardo (the opening song in the film Elite Squad)--any recommendations?
posted by zinegurl to media & arts (7 comments total)

Rap da Felicidade, a classic.
posted by Zé Pequeno at 6:32 PM on September 5

that type of music goes by many names http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk_carioca
posted by bravowhiskey at 7:40 PM on September 5

OH MY GOODNESS! I LOVE that song (but I never knew the name). And yes, I've just jumped into the deep end of the genre known as carioca/baile funk.

Download the Diplo mixtape "Favela Strikes Back." (I found it with google-fu).

You will not be disappointed. (I hope.)
posted by the NATURAL at 4:56 AM on September 6

Can't help you on the music (I was introduced to several bands I had never heard of before while I was there, but they were all North American ;-))

Have fun - I consider it my "alternate, adoptive country" to Canada (if I was ever to move somewhere it would be there), I was there for 3 weeks and it was beautiful. Yes there were bad parts as well, but the good outweighed the bad.

Where are you going? With a group/friends? I can offer you some advice if you've never been.
posted by jkaczor at 10:23 AM on September 6

My favorite Brazilian bands are Cansei de ser Sexy and Bondo do Role, both of whom got a decent amount of blog hype a few years back, and play an interesting mix of styles (read: funk/dance/hip hop).

It's also worth seeking out a lot of the things the aforementioned Diplo was doing in 2004-2005, like his first mixtape with British-Sri Lankan rapper MIA, "Piracy Funds Terrorism" or his legendary dj set, "Favela on Blast", which was generally considered the introduction of funk carioca to those outside of Brazil (well, North Americans at least).

Some google-fu should give you zips or mp3s to download.
posted by sleeping bear at 10:24 PM on September 6

That would be great jkaczor! I'm going with my husband to Rio, the Pantanal, and Salvador. Did you go to Salvador? If so, what was your experience with the city?

Sleeping bear--I love CSS and have seen them in concert.
posted by zinegurl at 6:15 PM on September 8

Thanks for the recommendation for Bondo do Role--listening to them on MySpace now and really like their music! (didn't realize they sang "Gasolina" which I have heard)

Thanx also for the Diplo recommendation--I'm a huge MIA fan so the fact that he's performed with her is definitely a good sign.
posted by zinegurl at 6:27 PM on September 8