A Brazilian funk group called Coral das Quebradas, made up of six MCs who perform using only their voices and hand claps, has expanded into a children's version of the project, Coral das Quebradas Kids, after amassing millions of views online and drawing attention from schools and established musicians.
The group's manager, MC DR, who is also an actor known for roles in the Netflix series "Sintonia" and "DNA do Crime," told CNN Brasil that the format began almost by accident. The artists were already making clap-and-voice videos of their funk songs to promote them ahead of release, he said, until he saw a video of three children singing songs from other genres side by side and decided to adapt the idea to funk, recording the singers shoulder to shoulder while clapping in their own style.
The first video made in this format used a song by MC Colin, one of the choir's members. It reached around 10 million views and 1 million likes on TikTok shortly after being posted, according to the group.
From viral clips to classrooms
The success opened the door to children's television. TV Cultura invited the group to record a version of "Lava uma mão, lava a outra," a song known to fans of the children's program Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum, and the choir agreed, releasing a clap-based rendition. MC DR said he had watched Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum himself growing up and could barely believe the invitation when it came.
That video's reception convinced the group there was room to build a children's branch of the project. The previous week, the members performed at two schools on their own initiative. MC DR said the shows were unpaid and were done specifically because children had embraced the project.
Ewellin Tavares, who follows the project, said the group has kept receiving videos of children copying the claps at school and even on rides in school vans. She said parents make up the biggest part of the audience, but children are close behind.
The role of hand claps
Keeping rhythm with hand claps while singing takes practice, though it has long been part of the group's routine. MC DR said the habit has become second nature to him, tracing it back to when he began clapping while singing funk at age 11, a practice that has stayed with him for close to two decades.
Tavares said the claps also serve as a creative tool, helping the artists find references and work out rhythms while writing new songs.
Igor Carvalho, chief executive of the music production company GR6, said the project reflects a broader shift in how the funk industry is professionalizing. He said Coral das Quebradas shows that artists now want to do more than produce songs that go viral and tell the stories of the communities they come from; they also want to bring education and content beyond their own experiences.
Coral das Quebradas Kids
Building on the response from young audiences, the group formalized the children's spinoff under the name Coral das Quebradas Kids. The version will have its own album and music videos featuring animated versions of the members.
Its first track, "Banho é Bom," was released on digital platforms on Thursday, September 10. The project has also produced a collaboration with Galinha Pintadinha, a well-known Brazilian children's entertainment franchise, which took part in the group's recordings.
Choosing songs children already know is part of the strategy, the group said, since it draws in young listeners while introducing elements of funk in a setting far removed from where the genre is usually heard.
Big-name partnerships
The project's reach has caught the attention of established figures in Brazilian music. According to the group, television host and singer Xuxa shared and commented on their version of "Cinco Patinhos," and musician Arnaldo Antunes reached out after the choir performed one of his songs.
The children's music duo Palavra Cantada also expressed interest in the project and, according to the group, backed the initiative and authorized the choir to use its songs for the children's album. Coral das Quebradas has also collaborated with pagode singer Mumuzinho and has other partnerships under negotiation. Carvalho said some of these connections happened spontaneously, with established artists approaching the group after discovering their work.
A tribute to Mamonas Assassinas
Among the projects already cleared for release is a collaboration tied to Mamonas Assassinas, the Brazilian comedy-rock band whose six members died in a 1996 plane crash and whose songs remain widely popular in Brazil. The choir's team said Mamonas Assassinas' representatives got in touch for a new recording after the group's online success.
The plan is for the choir's members to wear clothing inspired by the outfits Mamonas Assassinas used to perform in, with the production also expected to feature the yellow Brasília car associated with the band.
Coral das Quebradas is made up of MC Zignani, MC Kauan PV, MC Collin, MC Chaverin, Horácio MC and MC DR. Carvalho said the format's ability to reach beyond funk's traditional audience is one of the project's defining traits, allowing the genre to enter spaces it might not otherwise access without losing what makes it funk.
