Racionais MC’s: Next album ‘will be one of our best works’, says Edi Rock

Despite having few details released, the fifth studio album by Racional MC’s was mentioned by the members of the iconic rap group on a few occasions. After KL Jay estimate launch for “mid-2024” and Ice Blue reveal partnerships with Mr. Jorge, Ed Motta, Hariel and more, Ed Rock opined that the album “will be one of our best works.”

It is worth remembering how the album in question is the successor to Colors & Valuesreleased 10 years ago with songs like “Black Zica,” “You Owe Me” and “How Much Is The Show Worth?.” During an interview with Rolling Stone Brazil at the launch event of Origins 3 – The Showreleased this Friday, 20th, by Free Sound, Ed Rock explained the dedication to the project.

“We work 24/48 on the album. So it’s all about focus. The focus is totally on the album at this point,” he said. “I go to the studio every single day, clock in and work through the night to be able to bring good quality, maintain quality and fidelity to what we’re recording.” Rational and rap represents our fans, friends, our gang and family. This is going to be some of our best work.”

In 2024, Racional MC’s are preparing to perform the only two shows in São Paulo this year, at Unimed Spaceon November 22nd and 29th. The presentations are part of the fourth edition of Boogie Weekfestival conceived by Eliane Dias focused on black power.

Racionais MC’s: How did KL Jay and Mano Brown create the hit ‘Jesus Chorou’?

“What is it, what is it? / Clear and salty, / Fits in one eye and weighs a ton.”So it begins”Jesus Wept,” one of the great successes of Racional MC’slegendary Brazilian rap group formed by Ice Blue, KL Jay, Mano Brown and Ed Rock. But, after all, how did the artists create this iconic song, present on the album? Nothing like a Day after Another Day (2002).

In a video rescued by Rap More, KL Jay appeared at a show and told the story of the creative process of the track composed by Brown. The artist created the base of the beat through a sample of “Free at Last,” song of Al Green which is part of the album Livin’ for You (1973).

The DJ came into contact with music when he was looking at various vinyl records, when he found Livin’ for You. Right on the third track, he was already interested in the sound of “Free at Last” and took the LP home, where he sampled it on MPC.

“I listened to it for two hours,” the artist recalled. “I listened to the music in the living room, in the kitchen. [Minha mãe] was in the kitchen making food and remained quiet, because she knew, intuitively, what I was doing. She said nothing.”

I would listen to it in the kitchen, in the bedroom, in the living room, on the street and in the bathroom to see if it sounded good, if the sample repetition didn’t get tiring. I kept listening.

After building the initial beat with sample, KL Jay called Mano Brown: “I showed it to him and he said, like this: ‘Crazy sound, huh… crazy. Send it to me and I’ll put the beat on.'” A month later, the singer showed “Jesus Wept” to the DJ.

He sang to me over the phone. I said, ‘Brownyou’re crazy, bro!’ Then we made one of the coolest raps in Brazil, man.

Finally, KL Jay took the opportunity to praise hip hop culture. “That’s the greatness of hip hop. Hip hop is ancestral, Afrofuturist, pan-Africanist. It’s not a movement, it’s culture. If it were a movement, it would be over by now. The culture that will last for another 100/200 years!”, he celebrated. Watch below:

🚨KL Jay reveals how the creation process of the classic song “Jesus Chorou” by Racionais MC’s went pic.twitter.com/nhClevGeFS

— Rap Mais (@RapMais) August 22, 2024