Productions, usually made by foreigners, like the Norwegian DJ Slowboy, generate success and controversy: is it a new trend or just the usual funk with a ‘gourmet’ label?
It is no longer a secret the ability to music The Brazilian company crosses borders and explodes internationally. Proof of this is the space that the sambaTHE MPB extension and mainly the bossanova won over Brazil.
However, the Brazilian music scene has changed and, now, what most dazzles the ears of the “gringos” is the funky. According to a survey carried out by the Spotify funk carioca and funk ostentação together added up to a 33% increase in performances outside the country last year. The countries that listen to funk the most, other than Brazil, are Portugal, WE, Italy, France AND Argentina.
The style began attempting Brazilian lands around 2017, according to Ramemes, Newera, SR Edu and Adresz, mainly on the platform soundcloud. The Brazilian phonk gained the air it has today with the drifting soundpopularized primarily by the American artist kordhell.
A Norwegian pioneered the ‘Brazilian phonk’
Later the genre will receive the name combined with ‘Brazilian’ thanks to the work of the Norwegian William Rød, 21, better known as slow. He admits that he was inspired by Brazilian funk. He said he was introduced to music MTG – Eternal Curse 1.0From DJ GLKfrom a friend and studio owner Aurora recordswhich ignited the idea of mixing phonk with Brazilian funk.
“I went with this idea in January 2023 and made a song in 30 minutes,” relates the artist. The track called Brazilian Phonk Manohe was responsible for starting the Brazilian phonk movement and, according to Slowboy, is his most listened to music.
Subsequently, he began to be inspired and listen to Brazilian funk more and more. “Crazy drums, rhythm and synthesizers are what I like to reference in my songs to develop my sound in this space,” she comments.
The artist realizes how much the genre has become a global promise. “I would say phonk, in general, is more popular in Eastern Europe, but listeners all over the world love the sound,” she says.
The Brazilian phonk gains space in Brazil
The popularization of rhythm also attracted the attention of Brazilian artists. And local artists started catching the attention of international producers. This is what happened to musicians MC Ramiro29 years old, and MC Mauro30 years old, who form the duo Dragon Boys and already boasts collaborations with Slowboy and Kordhell.
natural from St. Matthew, in the eastern area of São Paulo, the two began to devote themselves to music 16 years ago and saw in the Brazilian phonk the opportunity to make a living from art. In two months, the duo leapt from 500,000 to 1 million listeners on Spotify and became sought after by producers in countries like Israel, Russia and Italy.
Although Brazilian phonk has become very popular outside the country, artists already see space for the genre’s success in the hometown of the ‘mandelão’: São Paulo. They point out, based on Spotify data, that the city is where their music is played the most.
Previously, plays were concentrated in the United States and Germany, but at the top of the list is Brazil. In order, the countries that listen the most to the Dragon Boys’ Brazilian phonk are: Brazil, United States, Germany, MexicoFrance, Turkiye, India, England, Poland and Italy.
They even organized a phonk dance – the first festival of its kind. “People here are consuming it. What we’re trying to do is bring it to us,” comments Mauro.
Appropriation or cultural opportunity?
Since it is a rhythm that has recently become popular, especially abroad, the controversy surrounding the Brazilian phonk is initially due to the name. After all, can changing the title of such a popular genre that has been done for years in São Paulo into English terms be considered cultural appropriation?
Artists and producers are divided on the answer. For Alana Leguth, phonk was born out of North American, not Brazilian, references, and, therefore, the producer does not see the success of the Brazilian phonk as an appropriation. You point out that Brazilian genres have always been very popular abroad.
“Let’s look at examples of bossa nova in the 1950s, ax music in the 90s and Olodumwhich fascinated great artists such as Michael Jackson“, he says. “It’s easy to see how Latin rhythm has always filled the eyes of the international market.”
Ramemes, Newera, SR Edu and Adresz believe that the use of the term can be considered a cultural appropriation. “It’s the ‘witchcraft’ style funk created by the Brazilians, which, when it was made by a gringo, changed the name to Brazilian phonk,” they comment.
Norwegian Slowboy, who helped create the name, argues that funk and Brazilian phonk are different genres. “There are problems with understanding the difference and accepting the two genders. […] But music evolves and people start accepting it,” he says.
For the Dragon Boys, however, the Brazilian phonk is synonymous with opportunities for Brazilians who had never achieved space and recognition in the country. The artists report that, prior to the term’s popularization, they were already using ‘Brazilian phonk’ as a translation for possible international reach. The duo has also previously worked singing funk with phonk backing tracks.
It was thanks to the use of such a popular name abroad that the two opened the doors to the international market. “Here we already know guys from the ‘quebrada’ who have always done funk, have never had recognition and, thanks to the name, are hired by ‘gringa’ record companies”, reports Mauro.
They underline that, now, they have the support of international studios and see in them more “clear and honest” proposals than those suggested by the Brazilian record companies. For musicians, the Brazilian phonk name is also a way to bring the name and culture of Brazil abroad.
“I think this is the first time that there is a style of music that can become a trend like traponly this time it bears the name of Brazil,” completes Ramiro.
*Intern under the supervision of Charlise de Morais
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.
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