UK Loves Baile Funk

2006-12-12T12:49:00.000Z

2006-11-23T20:03:00.000Z

And another one ;o)

2006-11-14T22:07:00.000Z

we're back!

2006-10-27T17:18:00.000+01:00

Next RIO ROX freeeeee party: Wednesday Nov 1st

2006-10-25T01:55:00.000+01:00

Yep, yep, yep! You know the last one was BIG! This time around RIO ROX and Pure Spirit of Brasil shake things up a lickle bit bigger @ Proud, Camden... with some serious bad boy broken beats and another healthy helping of funk carioca (AKA baile funk).

FREE PARTY!
Wednesday November 1st: 7pm-1am
Proud, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8AH
Tubes: Camden Town/ Chalk Farm

4 Hero’s Dego
exclusive Brazilian set

Bembe Segue & Mark De Clive-Lowe
live latino broken beat

Sinden
baile funk from Kiss FM’s finest

Lynda Pheonix & Soozy Q
with Sheyi on percussion

Angola Collective
live capoeira

2006-10-13T12:06:00.000+01:00

RIO ROX 3- flyer back

2006-10-11T15:55:00.000+01:00

Be My Friend

2006-10-09T22:52:00.001+01:00

Yowza,

Come and be my friend on myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/ellejsmall for updated info on RIO ROX parties and ting and ting...

Elle J (RIO ROX) x

Free party! RIO ROX & Pure Spirit of Brazil: Wednesday 18th October @ Proud, London

2006-10-06T15:05:00.000+01:00

People: You know it makes sense!

Free party! RIO ROX and Pure Spirit of Brazil: Wednesday 18th October @ Proud, London

DJ SANDRINHO
(flying in from Rio to play authentic baile funk)

LYNDA PHOENIX
(with Sheyi on percussion)

RITMOS DA CIDADE
(live samba)

CARMEN SELEKTRA & MARTELO
(The Shower Rangers)

SINDEN
(Kiss FM)

plus Live Capoiera from The Angola Collective

2006-10-02T22:27:00.000+01:00

Funk fanatics,

Check out Samurai FM for Daniel Haaksman’s brand spanking new baile funk mix (including rare tracks).

http://www.samurai.fm/essayrecordings/index.php

This one's to celebrate the release of his second compilation on Essay Recordings: 'Baile Funk – More Favela Booty Beats' (check previous posting here for more info). His mix includes rare tracks that Essay were unable to clear for the new album (due to samples and politricks). For those of ya'll who dun know, Daniel Haaksman is said to be the first European to have ventured in to Rio’s baile funk movement. His now legendary 'Baile Funk – Favela Booty Beats' (released two years ago) exposed the genre for the very first time to Western ears.

Braaaaaap! x

RIO ROX party number 3!

2006-10-02T21:02:00.000+01:00

It's official! The next RIO ROX party is on its way back! Get ready to shake your booties, drink your caipirinhas and burst your eardrums... RIO ROX returns on Wednesday 18th October at Proud in Camden in conjunction with Pure Spirit of Brazil. And wait for the best bit... It's FREE!

DJ Sandrinho is flying in from Brazil's real favela bailes (ghetto raves) once again (who was at the first one? he smacked it!) to mash up the speakers with his authentic funk carioca AKA baile funk. The full line-up is still TBC but expect a mix-up of flavours this time around- from baile funk to Latino house to crunk to broken beat to samba!

FLYER SOON COME... save that date for your oh-so hectic diaries! ;o)

Mr Catra movie clip

2006-09-29T21:28:00.000+01:00

Hey people,

Well, it's been WAY too long. My apologies- been keeping my head down on the music journalsim front (now writing for Observer Review- BIG TINGS). Anyways, it looks like the RIO ROX parties are about to be back in full effect. YEE-HAH! Watch this space...

In the meantime I thought you might like to check out this cool trailer clip for the Mr Catra movie. Check the sound system. Now, that's what I call RAGGO! Mr Catra flew in from Rio's favelas to play at the last RIO ROX party. Real baile funk for the London people!

http://rosforth.com/mrcatra.htm

Beijos,

Elle J xxx

Rio Baile Funk: More Favela Booty Beats

2006-06-22T21:49:00.000+01:00

The new compilation is set to drop August 18th on Essay.

Here's the tracklisting:

01 Dennis DJ "Vascao 2000"
02 MC MDY "Rap de Caxias"
03 Mr. Catra & MC G3 "Cabelo Voa"
04 Os Magrinhos "Japonesa"
05 DJ Sandrinho "Berimbau"
06 Isaac DJ "Jiu Jitsu (Montagem)"
07 MC Sabrinha "Eu Solta O Som Da Voz"
08 MC Cula "E So Sentar"
09 Mr. Catra "Vem NhaNha"
10 Veronica Costa "Desce Glamourosa"
11 EDU K feat. Deize Tigrona "Sex-O-Matic (DJ Mavi+DJ Sany Mix)"
12 Juliana e as Fogosas "A Bocquinha É Minha"
13 MC Cris "O Meu Marido Nao"
14 MC MDY "Perrereca Pra Frente"
15 DJ Disconhecido "Dedinho Pro Alto"
16 Moleque Manhoso & Bonde Do Vinho "Dança Do Rodo"
17 Bonde Do Vinho "Toma Dengosa"
18 Roque Bolado "Catita"
19 Voltair "Cleck Cleck Boom"
20 EDU K "Hot Mama (Bonde Do Role Mix)"
21 MC Marcinho "Favela"

Says it all...

2006-06-09T12:14:00.000+01:00

This basically says it all about how my feet feel after last night's HEAVYWEIGHT RIO ROX party @ Guanabara, London!!! Big up to all who attended! You lot smashed it! Mr Catra, DJ Edgar, DJ Deeklin, MC Darrison and the capoiera crew were bloody unbelievable. Till next time xxx

RIO ROX flyer front

2006-05-31T14:32:00.000+01:00

RIO ROX flyer back

2006-05-31T14:27:00.000+01:00

RIO ROX baile funk party returns to the UK!

2006-05-30T12:28:00.000+01:00

It's official. The RIO ROX party is back! Following the huge success of our first party last Decemeber we're throwing another party NEXT WEEK! The legendary Mr Catra and DJ Edgar are flying in from Brazil to mash up the place alongside DJ Deekline and MC Darrison. All of you who made it down last time know the score- loads of sexy dancing, bad-ass beats, caipoiera artists and caipirinha cocktails! This time we're heading to Guanabara club in London...

What? RIO ROX baile funk party
When? Thursday June 8th from 9pm-2.30am
Where? Guanabara Club, Parker Street, Holborn, London: http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=51.5154&lon=-0.1228&scale=10000&icon=x
Who? Mr Catra, DJ Edgar, DJ Deekline, MC Darrison
How much? £5 all night!

Hit me on info@ellejsmall.co.uk for guest list.

Be there or be a hermit all your life.

Love from Favela Cantagalo to the UK

2006-05-13T17:10:00.000+01:00

Hey peeps,

Just got an email from both the key international manager/promoter of carioca funk, Adriana Pitti and favela Cantagalo's star DJ, Sany Pitbull. They read the article that appears in Dazed (below) this month and this is what they said:

Dear Elle J,

We just received and read Dazed. You were noticed. On behalf of Cantagalo's community, Sany wants to thank you to you and all the people breaking barriers and going to the bailes. Thank you for giving so much respect to Brazil's ghetto culture. Sany is pleased to know that your experience was so amazing.

Recently the police entered the favela and refused to renew the license for the community centre and stopped the bailes there. It stayed like this for one month but, because of so much attention from police and the media, the police and comunity came together to change the state of things. Now there is real police surveilance for the party and no more guns or drugs. Now the baile is just for the people who want to dance and enjoy funk music... there is still shit dancing on the bathroom floor though!

Hugs, beijos and come back when you can.

Thank you,

DJ Sany Pitbull & Adriana xxx

Inside Favela Cantagalo's Baile

2006-05-02T01:10:00.000+01:00

Hey peoples, I wrote the article below after raving at a baile in Cantagalo. A version of it appears in Dazed & Confused's May issue, out now. Go buy it for the wicked photo from Daniela Dacorso alone.

Inside a Rio Funk Baile
Words by Elle J Small

You’ve heard Rio funk’s syncopated beats but what’s it like inside Brazil’s actual bailes? Coke, tampons and guns are standard.

Three gun-toting guys are standing at the top of some steep-ass steps, guarding the entrance to favela (ghetto) Cantagalo’s throbbing funk baile (ball). Inside, a fast drumbeat rattles the wrought-iron roof. Below, the community take full advantage. Caipirinha cocktails are on sale for 1R (about 25p) for the 2,000-plus funk lovers. Cigarettes, sweets and beer are also up for grabs.

It’s been ‘interesting’ getting here. Manager to funk’s stars, Adriana Pittigliani decided to simply hail us a cab to one of Rio’s biggest, weekly underground bailes. The first refused, his expression as though we wanted to party in Iraq. By 2am a second taxi begrudgingly agreed, dropping us metres away from a bunch of seemingly corrupt police at the favela entrance.

Breathing in, so as not to nudge the spliff-smoking drug soldiers and their loaded rifles, we enter into a steaming mass of Brazilian teenagers. Cocaine-joint fumes, sweat and weed fill the air, but the majority of the people are here purely to flirt and grind. ‘Grind’- the word doesn’t really come close to depicting the sexuality on the dance floor. Think ragga meets grime (‘go go wine’ and ‘gun-finger’ are staple moves) and add heaps of raunchiness.

Three very fit ladies, clad in tinsy tops and tight hipsters –displaying enviable, washboard bellies- are up on stage showing the youts dem how it’s done. They call themselves Caçadores de Marido, which translates as ‘The Husband Hunters’. Every boy, and girl, in the baile is transfixed by their pornographic moves. For the funkers, this is far more interesting than the scary-looking 6’ 5 dude, openly counting a huge wad of notes with his moody amigos by the DJ booth. Sensing we shouldn’t really be present, a trip to the loos is the perfect ‘excuse-me’.

Going for a piss in a baile is like entering a whole different universe- one with no doors, where coke is openly snorted and shit flows out of toilets. In front of me, a wide-eyed teen is hovering over a loo; one hand balanced on her strong left thigh; the other pulling a bloody tampax from her vagina.

Saving ‘numbers twos’ for the luxury of our downtown apartment, we venture back to the dance-floor. An MC has stopped DJ Sany Pitbull’s set and is shouting something loudly in Portuguese and hissing ‘Shhhh’. The scary dudes are beside him and 2,000-odd people stop flirting and shut the fuck up. Everyone stares at the ground for what feels like an eternity. Afterwards, Adriana tells me we just participated in a one-minute silence to celebrate the life of a recently murdered drug lord from Cantagalo.

Senor Coconut

2006-04-03T18:03:00.000+01:00

Just a quick one... Senor Coconut currently has his 'Coconut FM: Legendary Latin Club Tunes' compilation out on essay and it features a few carioca funk classics alongside reggaeton and funk x

Track Listing
1. Coconut FM 1
2. No Te Vayaz Corazón [Cumbia Tropical]
3. Gira [Funk] - Alessandra,
4. Nova Dança (Melo Do James Brown) [Funk]
5. Labirinto Dos Carrasco [Funk]
6. Quiero Pare [Cumbiaton] - Chicho, ,
7. Llegamos los Pibes Chorros [Cumbia Villera] - Pibes Chorros
8. Cebolla [Cumbia Lunática]
9. Cambumbo [Reggaeton]
10. Dile [Reggaeton]
11. Coconut FM 2
12. No Me K'S-Tigues [Reggaeton]
13. Punta [Reggaeton]
14. Mueve la Cintura [Aciton] [Live]
15. Toma Toma [Funk]
16. Feia Pra Cascalho [Funk]
17. Pega Pega [Funk]

BPM Magazine Feel the Funk

2006-03-24T13:01:00.000Z

Hey peoples,

Just thought you'd like to see how much the love of funk is spreading. American music bible BPM has carioca funk on the front cover this month.

Elle J x

Sandrinho at Favela Chic, London TONIGHT!

2006-03-02T16:59:00.000Z

Just a quickie... the almighty DJ Sandrinho has flown in from Brazil and will be down at east London's trendy new Brazilian hangout, Favela Chic... tonight! So get your glad rags on and get your booty shaking to my favourite Rio funk DJ's beats.

And all y'all late-nighters need to get your butts in gear as the venue opens at 6pm, shuts at 1am and entry is limited. It won't cost you anything to get in, but you MUST get down there early to guarantee entry.

Address:
Favela Chic London
91- 93 Great eastern Street EC2
Tube: Old Street

Tel: 020 7613 5228

DJ Sandrinho & MC Xana

2006-03-01T15:39:00.000Z

A version of the article below is currently in the new issue of Dazed & Confused magazine. Go buy it... the mag's got a cool new look too x

Dirty Beats, Filthy Lyrics
Words by Elle J Small

Meet two of the biggest international movers on Rio’s baile funk scene.

“My first baile funk (funk ball) was at Praça Seca, near the favela (ghetto) Cidade de Deus (City of God). I was 14 and the enormous energy of the music conquered me. I became addicted.” That was 11 years ago. Today, you can find sexy Brazilian MC Xana shaking her perfect ass the world over. You could call her the Queen of Rio Funk and her partner in crime, producer/ DJ Sandrinho, the King. They’ve certainly already claimed those titles when it comes to international recognition, love and respect.

During December 05 the pair bestowed their fanny-thrusting beats and naughty lyrics on a rapid-growing fanbase across Zurich, Berlin, Munich, Paris and London. The venues were a far cry from Rio de Janeiro’s 500+ sprawling, underground bailes the duo normally frequent, but Sandrinho says as long as the “heated dancing and screaming” are present, it’s all good.

Born and bred in Rio’s violent favela do Borel, Sandrinho started DJing aged 10, after seeing his older brother, DJ Sapopemba, mix live at a local baile. He recently played funk (derived from Miami bass, samba, candomblé, capoeira, house and electro) to 10,000 in Sao Paulo and is considered one of the scene’s biggest DJs and producers. The exact level of his skills became clear after he caused south-London grime DJ Cheeky to pick his jaw off the floor during Sandrinho’s marathon set at London night Rio Rox. Innovatively using an MPC to create live drumbeats during his mix, Sandrinho is in a class of his own.

And Xana? Well, her name translates as ‘Pussy’ and she says, “Brazilians are shameless… in the best sense.” The sexual, gyrating dance-moves she executes during her sets back this up. Say no more.

· Look out for forthcoming releases by Sandriho & Xana on Berlin’s Man Recordings www.manrecordings.com

More Rio funk block-rockers

Producer/ DJ: Marlboro- considered funk’s pioneer, responsible for the first commercial release, has a huge radio show and helped compile ‘Rio Baile Funk: Favela Booty Beats’ (Essay).

MC: Frank- has a huge underground following, manages to somehow describe robbing somebody intelligently and charismatically through his lyrics and simulates sex during his sets.

Producer/ DJ: Sany Pitbull- respected member of the scene, huge in both underground bailes and downtown clubs. Google www.funkbrasil.com and translate the site for his interesting column.

Words by Elle J Small

EDU K 'Sex-O-Matic'/ Baile Funk Video Clip

2006-02-06T15:19:00.000Z

I'm toooo naughty. Been busy sunning my buns in Barbados and haven't been updating the blog as often of late. Sorry peeps. Got loads of interesting bits to post v soon though.

In the meantime, you've got to check this cheeky little video clip Daniel Haaksman sent me. It's in one of Brazil's countless funk bailes (balls)and features death by rump-shaking. I'm sure a few guys out there can think of worse ways to die!

http://www.manrecordings.com/Video/EDU_K_big.mov

The track in the background is 'Sex-O-Matic' by punk/funk man EDU K (recently signed to Man Recordings) and features the infamous female MC Deize (pronounced ‘Daisy’) Tigrona, who hails from Rio’s renowned favela City Of God. There's some bad boy remixes from DJ Mavi & DJ Sany, plus DJ Edgar too. Check out my full review in the next issue of Blues & Soul, UK.

Ciao for now x

Britney's bit Kev Federline does funk!

2006-01-10T00:41:00.000Z

Sadly, it is true. The lovely Daniel Haaksman (compiler of Favela Booty Beats and MD of Man Recordings) alerted me of the injustice. It's not exactly a funk track; more crunk pop but Kev reckons it is. HELP!

Check the link and tell me how much you love/hate it...

http://justjared.blogspot.com/2005/12/kevin-federline-popozao_30.html

Favela Funk article in RWD Magazine

2006-01-04T22:30:00.000Z

Hey peeps,

A version of my article below is out now in the Jan/Feb issue of wicked, free music mag RWD. You can pick RWD up in most UK record stores. x

The Baile Funk Phenomenon
Words by Elle J Small

Think ‘City of God’. Think grime meets electro meets Miami bass. Just don’t think James Brown. Rio funk is the soundtrack to Brazil’s favelas (ghettos) and it’s butting its bass into Britain.

Like grime in the UK, reggaeton in Puerto Rico and crunk in the US, funk (or ‘baile funk’, ‘carioca funk’ or ‘rio funk’ as it’s also known) was born and bred in the ghetto. But if you think Brixton, Harlseden and Hackney are hardcore, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

While tourists and rich Brazilians wine and dine in restaurants overlooking the white sands of Ipanema and Copacabana beach, every Friday and Saturday night there are countless baile funks (funk balls) getting ready to kick off in any one of Rio’s [estimated] 800 favelas (ghettos). Seen ‘City of God’? Well, you have it firsthand, that film is no exaggeration.

There is a constant war between rival commands (each favela is under a command, run by drug Lords- the main three are CV: ‘Comando Vermelho’, ADA: ‘Amigos dos Amigos’ and TC: ‘Terceiro Comando’) and between individual gangs -or ‘factions’- and the police. Members of the drug factions patrol entrances and various checkpoints in the favelas, 24/7. On a sunny afternoon in Rio, I saw several 17 year-olds with AK rifles strapped across their chests. At night a plastic bag full of coke is their other necessary accessory. Glamorous? Only if you find witnessing innocent members of the favelas with missing limbs as a result of crossfire attractive.

It ain’t all blood and tears though. Yes, 36,000 people died by gunfire in Brazil in 2004 and, yes, poverty in the favelas (mainly populated by black Brazilains) is rife, with drug dealing and prostitution often being the only option of making proper money. There are no giros in favelas. However, there is a strong and warm sense of community. The atmosphere buzzes with good vibes and outside the aforementioned wars, there is hardly any crime (the drug Lords, some of whom even provide doctors for their people, see to that). Favela citizens even leave their front doors wide open while, at night, young and old buss serious moves to samba, hip hop or funk.

The bailes (balls) are free parties thrown by the drug faction leaders, who pay the funk (pronounced ‘funk-ee’) DJs and MCs to perform. Why? Everyone knows if you want coke or weed, you go to a baile (pronounced ‘bal-ee’). However, the majority of the baile funk ravers are tea-total youts looking for a heavy, free night out. As for artist/ DJ beef? It just doesn’t happen. These people have more important shit to focus on.

Entering a baile funk as a gringo (foreigner) for the first time can be pretty daunting- especially if your luminous blonde hair makes you look like an albino rabbit on stilts. If, however, you ignore the guns at the entrance and the occasional fucked-up cokehead asking for “um beijo” (a kiss) and concentrate on the fanny-thrusting, head-nodding, speaker-smashing music and the wicked vibe, it’s all good. Turn the volume down and you could be at a heavy-duty grime rave…minus the screwfaces.

The music itself derives from Miami bass and some say its roots also lie in samba. Sampling is rife and MCs chat about shit like arse-fucking and guns over a mad mix of sounds reminiscent of hardcore, electro and even old skool garage.

DJ Marlboro is responsible for the first ever, official Rio funk release (in 1989), has a daily radio show on a commercial station and is recognised as the spearhead of the scene, internationally. However, like any form of underground music, there are countless young bloods (from the 800-odd favelas) ready to steal that crown. DJ Sandrinho is one of the main contenders. A bad-ass producer, he has twisted up funk’s sparse beats and is taking the music to a different level. Sandrinho is also transporting his unique style of DJing (CD decks and live beats via an MPC) out of the favelas and into Rio’s rich, downtown clubs. Of course he’s not the only one moving things forwards; DJs Dennis, Sany Pitbull and Sonny are also spreading the love outside the ghettoes; as are MCs Frank, Mr Catra, female MC Xana and group Bonde do Tigrão. There are hundreds of baile funk DJs, MCs and singers though, so new and exciting talent -as with grime- is always emerging.

Piracy –again, as with grime- is standard in the ghettos. Playing for several hours (sometimes over seven) in a baile and getting paid a tiny amount by drug Lords is often the only way DJs/producers (every producer has to DJ to survive) make money. The answer is in making money outside the favelas.

Can funk cross the Atlantic to Europe and beyond? It already is. America’s Diplo fell in love with the music after a chance listening to a mixtape in Argentina and has paid Brazil, in particular Rio- funk’s birth city, frequent visits ever since. And it was funk that inspired M.I.A.’s ‘Bucky Done Gone’ track- the first single released off her album, produced by boyfriend, Diplo. German music journalist and DJ, Daniel Haaksman has also caught the bug and is responsible for compiling the Essay Recordings release, ‘Rio Baile Funk: Favela Booty Beats’. In the UK, Sao Paulo-bred, London-based DJ/production duo Tetine are repping the scene, combing funk beats with electro in their sets, while DJ Deekline mixes up baile funk at his monthly Bounce! night at Bar Rumba, alongside Cutlass Supreme and DJ Disco D (50 Cent’s producer ‘The Ski Mask Way’). With grime artists crossing genres and teaming up with different beat-makers and MCs, the timing for Rio funk to kiss the UK couldn’t be better.

Introduction to Rio’s Funk:

Check out these three banging booty-shakers…
Ø ‘Slum Dunk presents Funk Carioca’ Mixed by Tetine (Mr Bongo)
Ø ‘Rio Baile Funk: Favela Booty Beats’ (Essay)
Ø ‘Favela On Blast: Rio Baile Funk 04’ Mixed by Diplo (Big Dada)

And if you can speak Portuguese, Brazil’s language, read this book…
Ø ‘Big Beats- A History of Funk’ by Silvio Essinger (Editora Record)

Funk meets Grime meets Miami Bass:
The dance moves, crowd and scenes are ridiculously similar, but what about the beats? RWD flew to Rio, pegged it around London and got on the blower to ask the ‘sperts…

FROM UK AND US…

UK UNDERGROUND PRODUCER: MIZZ BEATS“I’m really feeling this. I can definitely see some similarities between funk and grime- mainly the simple yet effective production techniques. The samples they use are crazy and the beats are like Miami bass. After listening to DJ Sandrinho’s funk mixtape, I can hear MIA got her sound from funk. I wanna check Brazil out!”

UK GRIME DJ: CHEEKY“This is nuts! After seeing an underground baile funk DVD, I’m shocked. If you turn the music off, you could be at an Eski dance! The beats are a lot slower than grime, but you could mash it up in a set. I’d liked to hear some of the MCs from each scene mix it up with producers from each scene. I want to check funk out at a rave.”

ECLECTIC US DJ/PRODUCER: DIPLO“People outside of brazil are getting into funk. I reckon in about ten years grime can fuck with funk properly. Sadly, with grime/ hip hop many people are just about fame and money. Plus UK labels infiltrated grime, fucked everybody and sucked the people up before the scene made an agenda and the culture became properly tight.”

GENRE-DEFYING UK DJ: CUTLASS SUPREME
“I already play Rio funk- mainly DJ Marlboro’s beats, but it’s hard to get hold of funk music. I DJ ghetto tech, Miami bass, breakbeat, grime, jungle and my own beats. Funk is really raw so the UK crowd can definitely relate to it. I want to see more DJs and MCs hooking up like they did back in the day. Bring back the booty shaking!”

FROM BRAZIL…

BAILE FUNK MC: XANA
"I’ve been dancing around to DJ Wonder’s remix of Lady Sovereign’s ‘Little Bit Of Shhh!’ and praying with candomblé [Brazilian religion with African and catholic parts, where people play percussion, sing and speak in the name of the dead and the Gods]. The female MCs and producers in grime sound sexy but also political to me.”

BAILE FUNK PRODUCER/DJ: SANDRINHO“I have been listening to the Mizz Beats remix of Lady Sovereign’s ‘Hoodie’ and I’m really feeling it. I have mixed it with some berimbau (the instrument used in the Brazilian martial art capoeira) cuts and have been playing it in my home favela, do Borel. I will be emailing the UK to ask if they’re ready for the Brazilian mix!”

BAILE FUNK PRODUCER/DJ: SANY PITBULL
"I like the simple cuts from these guys. The producer Terror Danjah sounds ‘muito legal’ [very cool]. I could play his beats, mixed up with some funk, at the Baile do Galo, where I am resident, in favela Cantagalo. [Favela Cantagalo translates as ‘Singing Cock Ghetto’ and is where RWD got jiggy at a mental baile funk rave].”

BAILE FUNK MC: MR CATRA
"I am already aware of grime and like it. To me, it sounds similar to baile funk from the early 80s. I think there is link all over the world with this same strong feeling. Human rights and desires are melted into celebration through music in so many communities. In Rio 2million people come to our baile funk parties in a good month."

Words by Elle J Small

Funk Music Recommendations

2005-12-20T12:56:00.000Z

Soooo.... Here are my reviews of the music streams (featured in www.fmagazine.com) that you can listen to in my below post. More music recommendations coming soon. These are international releases but still top notch and very underground. Most 'proper' fresh funk music can only be purchased in the favelas in Rio. Anyone for a holiday?

xxx

Mixed by Tetine…
‘Slum Dunk Presents Funk Carioca'
Mr Bongo

“What the hell is funk carioca?” you’re probably asking. Well, it’s the dirty bass-driven, dance music straight out of Brazil’s Rio ghettos, or favelas as they’re commonly known. Some say funk carioca stems from Miami bass, others say it’s an immaculate conception from the streets of Rio. Wherever it came from, the sound is rapidly spreading out of Rio’s favelas, into trendy Brazilian sound-systems and across the globe. This superb introduction to funk carioca is compiled and mixed by Tetine. The nutty, electronica-loving Brazilian duo who today reside in good old east London and can be held responsible for bringing funk carioca (or Rio funk as it is sometimes called) to the UK. Like Marmite, you’ll either love it or hate. F are head-over-heels in love.

T1: Os Salientes: ‘Fofucha Preparada’
While 80’s acid house ravers will be able to relate to the wonderfully basic beats, you’ll need an English-Portuguese dictionary to understand what on earth this is about. We don’t care though. Quite simply, it’s bloody brilliant.

T6: Deise Tigrona: ‘Injecao’
Like the UK’s grime genre and America’s crunk, Brazil’s funk is both extremely underground and nearly totally masculine. So it’s a breath of fresh favela air to hear a female vocal. She’s not exactly Aretha, but that’s not what carioca funk is about.

T9: Cidinho & Doca: ‘Rap Da Felicidade’
You’ll find ridiculously out-of-tune vocals, just like these, all over carioca funk. What’s amazing is they actually work really well. How or why, we’re not quite sure; they just do. The melodies may not be for everyone, but we love ‘em.

T16: Gaiola das Popozudas: ‘Vai Danada’
You’re mum will scream, “What’s that ruddy racket?” and your mates will think you’ve gone mental when you starting belting this out of your system. Go nick some candy and let your teeth rot. This is 100% for the big kid in you.

Various… Rio Baile Funk
‘Favela Booty Beats’
Essay recordings

We’re good to you aren’t we? Been boogying around your office to Mr Bongo’s Slum Dunk compilation and caught the funk bug? Well, here’s a further education into the world of Rio funk. Weirdly enough this speaker-smashing bad-boy comes from a German label! Well, it’s not that weird really. It’s compiler, Daniel Haaksman, is a DJ and journalist, based in Berlin. Daniel spent several weeks partying (hard, by the sounds of things) in Brazil’s notorious baile funk parties, deep in the depths of the favelas (ghettos/shanty towns). He then went on a mission to hunt down the biggest and baddest tracks. This is the result.

T4: Os Tchutchucos: ‘Chapa Quente’
One minute you’re meandering along on a gondolier, the next you’re bang smack in the middle of a favela funk party. Then you’re back on the boat being serenaded by an accordion. Madness.

T6: MC Mascote: 'Bate Le Palme De Mao'
Murky and frightening, this joint will hide down a dark alley and jump you for your I-pod just when you think the coast is clear. UK Undergrounders: can you hear the scary resemblance to grime?

T12: MCs Nadinho & Beth: 'Tapinha'
Take one drum and a crazed dude who shouts a lot and you’ve got the intro to ‘Tapinha’. Next take a whining girl (who sounds like she’s about 11 years-old) and a dodgy PC with kiddie music software. Hey presto, you’ve got a superb Rio funk tune.

T13: SD Boys: 'Planta Dominado'
Possibly the biggest and baddest of the compilation, this tune screams, “Rave! Rave or die!” Could this be the most urgent piece of production ever made? Quite possibly. Do you hate it or love it? That’s the most important question. We love it!

xxx

Listen To Funk Music Here

2005-12-14T00:42:00.000Z

As promised, here are some places you can listen to funk on the net.

The first link is to three of my favourite tracks from the 'Rio Baile Funk: Favela Booty Beats' album, compiled by Daniel Haaksman, on German label Essay Recordings:

http://www.fmagazine.com/music/index.php?pg=UNDERGROUND&num=61

The second is to three of my favourite tracks from the 'Slum Dunk Presents Funk Carioca', mixed by Tetine, on the UK label Mr Bongo:

http://www.fmagazine.com/music/index.php?pg=UNDERGROUND&num=58

If you have any problems with these links, just go to www.fmagazine.com and you will find the albums in the 'underground' section.

x

Brazil's favelas (ghettos)

2005-12-06T22:24:00.000Z

Hi people,

Feeling like shite right about now. Typing this with a box of Kleenex attached to my head... reckon it's a combo of all that late-night flyering in the UK's freezing cold and post RIO ROX party exhaustion.

Anyhoo, I promised I'd tell you more about how bailes funk (funk balls/parties) work . When my article is printed in RWD mag, I will post the wordage up here. In the meantime to fully understand funk, you must know about the favelas (ghettos). I'm sure a lot of you already know about them, but just in case.

Here's a very short piece of info on favelas that I find pretty accurate after being there. Of course, essay after essay could be written about favelas and this is just a taster:

http://www.ipanema.com/rio/basics/e/favela.htm

I took the pic above in Rio when I was there in January this year. This is a snapshot of just one of Rio's estimated 700 favelas. In case you just blinked... that's 700 favelas in Rio alone! More pics to follow of my recent visit (once I get a chance to bloody print em)

Peace x

Off Tha Richter!

2005-12-05T14:30:00.000Z

Oh me gosh! How good was last night? Too bloody good, judging by my blisters and lack of vocalness today.

Big thanks to all who reached. The vibe was wicked. Shouts out to all the sexy, booty-shaking Brazilians... you guys showed us Brits a thing or two on the dance floor. Loved that British-Brazilian-Spanish sandwich at the end! Phew. I'm gettin all hot under the collar just thinking about it!

Nuff respect goes out to the amazing capoeira martial artists/dancers who came down and freestyled some serious moves. You guys are MASSIVE!

BIG, BIG PROPS to the one and only DJ SANDRINHO for his mad mixing skills and crazy live drum beats on the MPC. You're my DJ! BIG, BIG PROPS to the sexiest female MC to walk this earth, XANA. You go girl! Every British man was asking me if you're bum was real! The Baile Funkers Sandrinho and Xana flew in to London from Rio via gigs in Berlin, Munich, Paris and more and were STILL smiling after about 2 hours sleep in 7 days! Love your vibe.

A HUGE thanx to my UK family... DJ CUTLASS SUPREME, you are, quite frankly, a BAD BOY! You guys have to check him out at his 'BOUNCE! night, down at Bar Rumba, Shaftsbury Avenue, London W1. He plays down there with Deekline & Wizard and loads of other big names on the first Saturday of every month. Miami Bass, Booty Breaks, Crunk, Grime and even a little Baile Funk. Check: www.wideadventure.com

NUFF LOVE goes to the wicked DJ CHEEKY who mashed up some grime and bumping underground sounds B2B with Sandrinho on the decks. They're not ready! And thank you, Cheeky, for bringing down your lyrical b-boys MC MEGA (South Agents) and MC DESPERADO (South Soldiers). You lot were heavy! Love the fact that Mega and Deperado were bubbling over baile funk beats... some MCs are too narrow-minded to do that crazy shit... not you two. BAD!

Last but by no way least, a HUGE thank you goes out to Brazil-bred, UK-based baile punk funk duo TETINE. You came down and represented last minute and you were too cool for words. I love your vibe. You're my kinda people! Check: www.tetine.net for their crazy adventures.

Thousands of kisses and hugs to all my people who came down and represented. Too many names to mention, but you all know who you are! You lot are wicked. I know many of you are all feeling like shit today and sitting at your desks, cursing me... but it was worth it, wasn't it?!!!

Finally, a massive thanks to EDZY from the SOHO SOCIAL CLUB for being probably the friendliest and coolest club manager in the world. You're bar staff are tops too. And of course DEEKLINE and SI from WIDE... I owe you two a JD and a bifter!

None of this could have happened without the love, dedication and sleepless nights spent (designing the flyer, driving around London like a nutter and generally being a trouper) by the sexiest man in the world, SIMON HALL. I love you babes. And the hardest working woman in the music industry (asides from myself), ADRIANA PITTIGLIANI... You're the best filha da puta ever! UK people, get ready for this lady! X

Finally... yes, I know I've said that a few times already, but I mean it this time... finally, thanks to all the lovers of Rio baile funk out there. We're gonna make this shit international people!

Check back for photos soon xxx

RIO ROX party flyer front

2005-12-02T16:09:00.000Z

RIO ROX party flyer back

2005-12-02T16:05:00.000Z

2005-12-02T15:51:00.000Z

I'M THROWING A PARTY THIS SUNDAY! YOU'RE INVITED!

RIO ROX THIS SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER - 8pm till late
At...The Soho Social Club,
139 Wardour Street, Soho, London, W1

Why?
Because I've just got back from raving hard to Rio baile funk music in Brazil and want to spread the love!

This is a one-off baile funk night with DJs from Brazil and the UK. Baile funk is the soundtrack to Rio's favelas (ghettos)... think City of God meets miami bass. Rio Rox will play a mixture of baile funk (nothing like normal James Brown funk!), electro, miami bass, grime and dirty underground sounds.

DJ Sandrinho & MC Xana (flying in from Brazil, playing baile funk, female MC!)
DJ Cutlass Supreme & MC Hyperactive (from the UK, playing miami bass, booty shaker and ghetto tech)
DJ Cheeky, MC Jammer & MC Skepta (playing grime and underground UK sounds)
Tetine (London-based Brazilian duo playing a live set of punk funk carioca)

Where? The Soho Social Club, 139 Wardour Street, Soho, London, W1 (below Gama restaurant, opposite The Ship pub)

When? This Sunday 4th December

Time? 8pm till late

How much? Just £3 all night! Come on... it's only three squid!

Tube: Tottenham Court Road or Piccadilly Circus

The Rio Baile Funk Phenomenon

2005-11-25T10:08:00.000Z

Dear Lovers of Baile Funk,

I have started this blog just for you. In the forthcoming months you can read wordage on baile funk, info on funk artists, events, new releases and basically anything to do with the funk phenomenon.

Um beijo,

Elle J Small x