The city: the game of Racionais MC system to fight it from within

Together with the Orquestra Sinfônica de Heliópolis, Mano Brown’s group weathered the storm and represented young people who could not have been there

Rap has successfully solved its historical dilemma since it decided to accept the game of the “system” and be part of the big festivals. The compensation is good, the visibility is high, but there is something that is worth more and justifies what has already been defined as a day of betrayal”: representativeness.

Even within a festival like The Town, which costs BRL 815 a day, the voice of the young people who cannot enter the well-guarded walls of the Interlagos Racecourse rang out, represented by two powers from the suburbs of São Paulo: the Racionais MC’s, the largest rap group in the country, and the Orquestra Sinfônica de Heliópolis, reported as the first to appear in a favela in the world.

“What is it, what is it? Clear and salty, good for the eyes and weighs a ton” @RATIONAISCN#THE ONLY ONE 🥇 #TheTown2023NoMultishow #RacionaisMCsEOrquestraNoMultishow pic.twitter.com/Sh1ZqLGNBa

— Multishow (@multishow) September 3, 2023

They emerged onto the stage of The One at 10.15pm, with scenes of a gloomy city displayed on a big screen. Mano Brown came up with a “Racionais MC’s in the house!” and soon chapter 4, verse 3 began, followed by A Thousand Faces of a Loyal Man.

From then on the presence of the orchestra was strong. The strings didn’t surpass the strength of KL Jay’s samples and backing tracks (maybe something to fix), but managed to print melodic lines that enhanced the drama of the group. Seeing them together seemed to have more symbolic than artistic value, but the strength of the encounter was there.

Those who have taken that stage live in the community of Heliopolis and struggle to study with the students of the great master Isaac Karabtchevsky, mentor of the group. Conductor Edilson Ventureli, executive director of the Baccarelli Institute and in charge of the orchestra, explained before the evening that 70 musicians aged between 18 and 25 were expected for the show, most of whom live in Heliópolis or in the regions close to the community.

This show is EXCITING! ✨ @RATIONAISCN #THE ONLY ONE 🥇 #TheTown2023NoMultishow #RacionaisMCsEOrquestraNoMultishow pic.twitter.com/ohynwjRNeu

— Multishow (@multishow) September 3, 2023

The rain, which had stopped at the start of the show, came back hard, and what was gloomy turned scary with Nego Drama. Much water fell at that moment, with thunder and lightning as the screen showed the names of young black men murdered in the suburbs. It was as if the group was inserted into a “system” to fight it from the inside, and as if heaven responded. The violence of the rain, cold and windy, became his best scenery until the end of the show.

Source: Terra

Earl

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.