By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Dubbed the biggest baile funk (Carioca funk music party) in the world, the Rio Parada Funk (The Rio Funk Stop) returns with its third edition this Sunday, November 24th. From 12PM to 8PM over two hundred attractions including fifty DJs, forty MCs and ten Bondes (groups of dancers) will fill twelve stages spread along the renowned Praça da Apoteose (at the Sambódromo).
This event will mark the first time the venue, which annually hosts the internationally famous Carnival competitions, will hold the massive funk event.
“Getting to the Apoteose is an achievement,” producer of Rio Parada Funk Leila Tupinambá told The Rio Times.
“The Apoteose this year, represents a great victory for the funk movement. Besides all of the symbolism, the Apoteose is the home of samba, which like Funk, was marginalized and today is the official culture of Rio de Janeiro.”
Coordinated by Mateus Aragão, Rio Parada Funk aims to further establish funk’s role in mainstream culture. The hope is that through mobilizing large gatherings, the cultural power of the music can be seen and its potential to bring social and self awareness to the masses will continue to grow.
“What I like best about Funk, is the truth of its lyrics and originality of its beat.” said Tupinambá, who also earlier this year became the new producer of the Eu Amo Baile Funk (I Love Baile Funk), the long-running festival held regularly at Lapa’s Circo Voador. “Funk is the most current, sincere and truthful music in Rio.”
Funk, also known as ‘funk carioca’ and baile unk, began in Rio. Its origins can be traced to the 1970s but it first entered into the Brazilian mainstream during 1980s. Inspired by imported Miami Bass records combined with a lingering love of 1970s American funk, funk carioca eventually added Brazilian rhythms and traditional sounds, creating a distinct new musical genre, that were eventually recognized worldwide.
With its lyrics that spoke of Rio’s urban culture, funk carioca became known as voice and the true expression of the favela. Funk carioca also inspired dance gatherings known as bailes funk and later the dance known as the passinho.
Performers for the 2013 Rio Parada Funk are a mixture of both old and new artists. Confirmed acts include; Mc Tarapi, Marcello Silva, Fernanda Abreu, MC Claudinho, Mr. Catra, MC Marcinho, DJ Marlboro, Leo Justi, Wladimir Gasper, Tati Quebra Barraco, MC Sabrina, Coringa and many others.
The line-up was chosen by a group, led by one of the legends of carioca funk, DJ Grandmaster Raphael, with the help of other big names in funk including DJ Sany Pitbull.
In the past years, as funk gained popularity internationally, a resurgence of the genre began in the Brazilian mainstream as well. Funkeiros (funk performers) have rocketed to popular success, including Brazilian chart toppers MC Anitta and Naldo.
Tupinambá said, “[Funk] is the largest cultural expression of Rio de Janeiro, so the present state of funk is its rise, but above all, what is important is it’s official recognition. Everything is funk today. The greatest pop artists of the moment are funkeiros.”
What: Rio Parada Funk 2013
When: Sunday November 24th, 12PM to 8PM
Where: Praça da Apoteose, Rua Marques de Sapucaí , s/n – Santo Cristo
Entrance: Tickets are free but must be printed out from the Rio Parada Funk website. Tickets will not be available at the event entrance. There is a limit of four tickets per person. The event is for all ages but minors under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a legal guardian or an authorized adult who also must remain at festival while the minor is present.