How did gringos react to MC Bin Laden’s feat with Gorillaz?

The band gorillaz released the track “controllah” with the funkeiro MC Bin Ladenand caused controversial reactions from gringos for the artistic name of Mc – a reference to the man who knocked down the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001.

“Are you telling me that there is a Brazilian rapper named MC Bin Laden?” wrote an American internet user on Twitter.

Honestly, you can say what you want about the quality of the music at this stage: but it’s totally worth it just for the fact that there’s now a Gorillaz song featuring someone called MC Bin Laden.”

Honestly you can say what you want about the quality of the music this phase: but it is entirely worth it just for the fact there’s now a Gorillaz song with someone called MC Bin Laden https://t.co/9oW3JsjxkK

—Harrison Day (@hjday101) February 27, 2023

With verses in Portuguese and a short chorus sung in English by Damon Albarn, the song was released on Monday, the 27th, as part of the deluxe version of the disc Cracker Island.

It is worth noting that this is not the funkeiro’s first international work. In 2017, mc bin laden signed with the label True Panther Soundsfrom New York to the EP It’s Grade. At the time, the company said it was “excited to bring the music of this movement [funk] for the rest of the world”.

Problems with the consulate

In 2016, MC Bin Laden was prevented by the American consulate in Brazil from traveling to the United States. His presentation at MoMA, Museum of Modern Art in New York, had to be cancelled.

It is not known if his stage name influenced the decision. According to G1 all necessary documentation was delivered and the visa bin Laden he was released, but the consulate asked for a “drug test” and the singer team was unable to schedule in time.