RMH TV: Maskinen x Brazil pt.3

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• published: 17 Feb 2009
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The last time I wrote I was still in Sao Paulo. I haven't had access to the Internet during my time in Rio. Lady Box from Copenhagen had just arrived. The idea was to go to Rio the day after they showed up, bu t they suggested that we'd stay and do a show with them at Vega. The night turned out to be a real winner! We met tons of interesting people and took the morning bus to Rio when the club closed. Out eminent camera man and travel guide, Per, knew of a great hotel, which we checked in to. It's located high up in a favela called Tavares Bastos, which is the same favela that Tropa De Elite a.k.a. "Bope" has his headquarters no drugs, in other words. "Bope" represents the slogan "victory through death." That' stated on their shirts. Bob, the man who runs the hotel is a retired foreign correspondent for BBC, who moved to Brazil 30 years ago and started a community center for the youngsters in Tavares Bastos. This earned him a good rep in the favela and the possibility to build his hotel, which is called "The Maze". The hotel is pretty much a representation of how the favelas look in general, labyrinths with tight, tight alleys. But, the absolute best thing with the hotel is the breathtaking view! We stayed in Rio for four days and the very first day, we contacted Mc Gringo, with whom Bonde Do Rolê suggested that we should hook up. A very interesting fella, who has really become integrated. He's originally from Stutgard, Germany, but moved with his Brazilian wife to Rio seven years ago and now lives in the favela that's at war with the favela where we stayed and where "Bope" had shot a young man who had cannabis on him. Gringo has released records, held TV-shows, etc. and really worked himself up within the Baile Funk-scene. He is very concerned with its developm ent and survival. When we first met him a Sunday night, he had already performed five shows and was on his way to his sixth and last show. If you're in Mc Gringo's company, you are allowed to film in places you otherwise can't. Our first stop was just an appetizer of what was to come. Gringo wondered if we wanted to see a "really, really GREAT Baile." Of course, we wanted to. We jumped into a cab and headed North to Arará, another favela. It truly was a "really, really GREAT Baile." Everyone in our crew was tense when we arrived. Everyone but Gringo. The Baile was larger than life and looked like a festival in a narrow alley, which otherwise looked deserted. The music blasted out from a wall of 17, 1x1 meter speakers, stacked on top of each other. Along the building walls, boys stood and sold cannabis from freezer bags to the people at the party. Suddenly, I saw that some of the boys had guns in their waistlines. That's how they work in this favela. A never-ending war between the favela and "Bope". (You who have seen the movie Tropa de Elit will recognize this. The rest of you watch it!) Gringo wondered if we wanted to film and went to ask the DJ, but it was, of course, completely out of the question. On our way home we passed Mangera, perhaps the oldest (it was founded in the 1940s) and most well-known favela. It was in Mangera the Samba and Flamenco was born. The following day, we met Gingo in a studio and did a song with him, Lady Bronx and the producer, Amazing Clay. Todo Mondo Tem Que Danca is the name of the track. It means, "Everyone has to Dance." Pretty simple and straight to the point, if you ask me. The day after that, Mc Gringo booked us for a gig and a so-called "Clip." In Rio, people don't work with videos, but with "Clips". Very entertaining. Some times it doesn't really turned out the way it was planned. This "Clip" was recorded by our camera man, Per, in Gringo's favela. Now we're back in Sao Paulo and about to hook up with Teshu to do some recording On Saturday we are performing at Gloria. VISIT: WWW.MYBESTFRIENDISMYGRIND.COM