Funk began to be born from the mixing of several musical genres from the black culture of the United States, mixing influences of soul music, R&B, jazz and even rock. Its rhythm highlights the bass and the guitar, in addition to bringing a more sensual beat. Since its creation, there was a negative view around this style of music since funk is a word of sexual connotation.
The main artists of the genre were: Sly and The Family Stone, Earth Wind and Fire, James Brown, Rick James, Parliament and Lyn Collins. These were some of the names that made funk famous, bringing its influence during the 1970s to the “baladas carioca”.
However, funk established itself as a genre also made in Brazil, especially in the "favelas" of Rio de Janeiro, only in the 1980s when the first DJs of the style emerged. The main one was DJ Malboro who, in addition to bringing the electronic drums, was the first to release a totally Brazilian funk album. On his album, called "Funk Brasil", from 1989, there were songs like "Rap do Arrastão", which showed a problematic reality of Brazilian cities. His success in the genre was such that for a long time his beats defined the songs and brought international recognition, even motivating a partnership with the British rapper M.I.A., with the song "Bucky Done Gun".
In the 1990s, Brazilian funk remained as a way to portray life in the "favelas" of Rio. Songs such as "Rap do Silva" and "Rap da Felicidade" denounced the poverty and police violence present in the most needy regions. Still in the 90s, a subgenre of funk, melody began to be successful with the duo "Claudinho & Buchecha" and their hits such as "Só Love", "Quero te Encontrar" and "Fico Assim Sem Você".
A great change in the genre happened in the 2000s - with the emergence of "Furacão 2000", a record label dedicated to bringing new names of funk, especially MCs such as MC Créu, Tati Quebra Barraco, Bonde do Tigrão, MC Carol, Valesca Popozuda and even Anitta.
In the following decades, funk gained even more relevance and a growing number of fans. Variations such as “funk ostentação”, 150bpm, brega funk and even a revival of the funk of the 90s with the album "Baile" (2021), by FBC and VHOOR. Despite its success, for being a musical style that was born from the favelas, funk was and is still discriminated by a part of the population.
But, still suffering a certain resistance, many artists managed to gain notoriety and success in Brazil. Some even internationally, such as Anitta, winner of the american music awards 2022, as the best Latin female artist. This shows how funk has a significant value in world culture. Its music and style are a trademark of the country and deserves all the recognition as an important part of history, mainly for bringing protagonism to people from less favoured regions.
Discover the best models of Citrus sandals to enjoy at funk parties:
Anitta
Pocah
Lexa
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A company with tropical roots that seeks to exalt and bring Brazilian culture to the United States, through customized sandals, combining the best of Brazil: joy, beauty and lots of color.