Rio De Janeiro’s Jaca Beats continues to fuse baile funk (known as funk carioca or favela funk in Brazil) and house beats with his latest single, “Faixa Preta.”
The trill of haunting chords sets the tone. As a syncopated backbeat begins to breathe life into the song, the female vocal slithers in. With such a sensual start, the crisp and punchy drums catch you a bit off guard. As thick as they are, though, their weight turns the sultry, R&B-tinged number on its head. The result is thumping, raw, and sexy. Funk carioca is an amalgamation of sounds, and Jaca pulls that thread with a compelling, modern twist.
Favela funk’s popularity rose alongside that of hip-hop and dance music. In the ’80s Miami bass, hip-hop, and freestyle dominated South Florida record stores. It was a sound that already had deep roots in the diaspora. It’s easy to see why DJs from Rio returned with those records after traveling to Miami. The sound evolved as it merged with Samba and was further influenced by Afro-religious music that was popular among Black communities in Brazil.
Like hip-hop and Miami bass, favela funk was popularized in Rio De Janero’s predominantly Black favelas. By the mid-’90s it had gained mainstream acceptance in Brazil. With lyrics that delve into race, sex, violence, and social inequality, the parallels between it and hip-hop are stark. The genre has come under similar cultural criticism for its glorification of violence and degradation of women. While the lyrics often push the limits, it can be seen as an authentic representation of life in the favelas.
“Faixa Preta” by Jaca Beats is available as a free download.
