How can a well-meaning rapper sing amidst so much misfortune and sleep peacefully?
the edition of 2023 Lollapalooza it revealed weaknesses and exposed wounds that committed Brazilian pop didn’t want to hear. Now that it’s known about the slave labor in his neighborhood, the joke that became out of the country after Drake skipped a show to fill the jar at a nightclub in the United States, and the way he cut taxes on Brazilian artists, it is necessary to ask no to its directors, but to the artists themselves: And then? How to resolve this contradiction between what is sung and where is sung?
The question is serious because it puts the artist first. Lolla has militant, racial and gender-based pop as one of her fronts. Rap and funk, two styles adhering to this discourse, represent something like 40% of her programming. Lil Nas XPedro Sampaio, Baco Exu do Blues, Black alien, Ludmilla, Filipe Ret, L7NNON, Rashid and Drake himself were some of his bets in 2023 to be part of the social validation group of ‘Lollapalooza project’. They are strong names that must be present to please the fans, of course, but also (let’s not be naïve) the transfer market. Festivals can be, but they can’t look monochromatic.
Well, the year that once again had Lollapalooza creator Perry Farrell from Jane’s Addiction as one of the attractions started off badly, followed by many cancellations, made up for in moments from great shows and ended badly. Even before its gates were opened, an inspection conducted by São Paulo’s Ministry of Labor and Employment rescued five workers who provided services for the festival. According to the ministry, the men provided beverage logistics services and worked informally, sleeping on the floor or on wood, without electricity, mattresses and without receiving personal protective equipment (PPE). Each would receive R$130 per day of work, but, it turned out, they were victims of working hours that reached 12 hours a day.
The festival began and ended with no performer threatening to say anything against slave labor into the microphone, leaving an unpleasant aroma of selective outrage. The subject of slave labor performed by peripheral workers is itself something that generates historical reproaches from rappers of the lineage of Baco Exu do Blues and the reverent Black Alien. But there no one even threatened to leave the program because of this. Similarly, shouldn’t we know why there are such discrepant differences in the fees paid by the festival? The case has distant jurisprudence: the only episode in which the groups decided to challenge the giant Rock in Rio dates back to 2001, when a group formed by O Rappa, Cidade Negra, Raimundos, Charlie Brown Jr, Skank and Jota Quest decided to boycott the party. The conditions offered, the fees and the structure were, according to them, a disgrace compared to what foreigners would receive.
The 2023 stages took your breath away. Lis Nas X made one of the best shows, ushering in the narrative of an imperial and shining gay power. Ludmilla, rarely used in a secondary schedule, arrived with an exemplary vocal evolution and put on a beautiful show. Billie Eilish has been honest and generous with her fans, proving herself to be a great artist. Rosalía and DJ Skrillex, who was hastily scheduled to replace Drake, did what they could to end things in high spirits. Not everything worked out, but the important thing, at a certain point in the event, is that the most difficult edition of the festival ended early.
The Lollapalooza risk needs to start calculating. For fans who buy tickets without any guarantee of seeing their idols – the most affected in this edition were fans of Blink 182 and Drake, but Omar Apollo, Willow Smith and Dominic Fike also did not come -, it would be worth the create a “Favorite Artist” option when shopping online? With it, the organizers would be obliged to return the full amount to the ticket owner if the chosen artist does not show up. For artists who build their careers on noble causes, wouldn’t it be worth putting a clause in the contract that guarantees they will tread on a land free from slave exploitation? This cure alone would cause exemplary noise.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
