Rosa Pistola selects 9 Brazilian funk remixes "that will blow your mind"

It’s no mystery that Brazilian funk is now being recognised globally and that it's finally being given the spotlight at dance music festivals and clubs around the world, but this genre is far from new. Its beginnings date back to the '70s and '80s, sprouting from the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo thanks to the arrival of American funk. Gradually, it influenced local musicians who began to interpret it by adding their own sounds, and by the '90s, the Brazilian style was defined - then called Funk Carioca - with influence from samba and pagode.

During this time, the genre began to grow and develop its unique sound as the youth in the favelas finally had access to technology and could create and record their own songs. Funk served as a form of expression to give a voice to the stories of their everyday life, addressing themes of violence, sex, poverty, inequality, crime, and more. However, by addressing these topics explicitly, derivative genres like Proibidão were consequentially banned or censored for years through the '90s.

Read this next: 10 crucial tracks telling the history of São Paulo's baile funk scene, curated by Baile LDN

By the 2000s, the genre reached a new level of popularity and became an important cultural expression of the favelas, symbolising resistance and struggle. Through music, the youth in the favelas created a unique identity that challenged stereotypes and the hegemonic narratives about their life and culture.

Despite controversies and repression from the authorities, Brazilian funk has been a tool of empowerment for many people. It has also sparked debates about topics like freedom of expression, censorship, and the role of culture in social dynamics over the years.

I put together this small selection of remakes and edits because, just like in Mexico, I’m amazed by how artists in some places have the creativity and talent to reinterpret things and turn them into something so personal and unique. I hope you enjoy this playlist that I made with much respect and love.

Rosa Pistola is due to begin a month-long residency at London's Colour Factory on Saturday, October 5. Grab your tickets here.

Rosa Pistola is due to begin a month-long residency at London's Colour Factory on Saturday, October 5. Grab your tickets here.