Marechal, Iky, Funkero e Aori nas escadas, Lapa, Rio de Janeiro

Just checked the documentary, “L.A.P.A.” this weekend at Cine Odeon.  Created by directors Cavi Borges and Emílio Domingos (I knew him as DJ Saens Pena from the Festa Phunk party.  When I said, “opa!  Parabens!  Muito bom, gostei muito!  Não sabia que vc era diretor….”  He replied, “pois é, tambem não sabia!”) over the past 8 years or so, it documents the ebb and flow of carioca hip hop.

Lapa is a neighborhood right smack in the center of Rio with a long history of bohemia, easily accessible by bus, kombi, metrô, car, foot, or bicycle which has been hosting an ever growing scene of MC battles that atract rappers from every different corner and style of carioca hip hop.  Most of the usual suspects…Aori, BNegão, Black Alien, Marechal, Marcelo D2, Chapadão, Funkero, Iky.

The film gives voice to some fantastic candid thoughts on the music business, being true to your art, life, work.  There are some beautiful moments in the freestyles caught on camera.  This is what was happening in the Rio hip hop world all this time while baile funk was getting all hyped out these last few years.  Like all the clever turns of phrase and witty observations that got left out of funk showed up here and had a family.  Sorry, but I don’t know if there will be an english version….

It was great fun checking the video from back in the day when I first arrived in Rio and seeing how everything and everyone evolved and grew over time.  Como o Aori fala no filme, “Amo essa vida pra caramba.”

yo, jean-phillipe, is that you at the battle at rocinha?  smiling….