See this short documentary on MC Gringo, directed by Ben Holman:

Funk is still on the move in Rio, the 808 based beats with which baile funk became known in Europe has completely disappeared, the Tamborzinho – based on a beatbox loop by Mr. Catra – continues to rule the genre, plus a more “Bahian” influence that is heavily on a percussion tip. On the vocal front, Kid MCs are on the rise, our recent release with Feadz, and my release “Kid Conga” with MC Miltinho is only a fraction of the kid voices increasingly used in baile funk. Grab some of the latest funk bangers here, they all reflect the current trends in Rio funk.

DJs Dinho + Fú – Aquecimento Michael Jackson

Phabyo DJ feat. MC Nego – Passinho Do Popeye

Sandrinho DJ – Rap Adriano Imperador feat Mc WF

Our correspondent Natalie Brunner wrote us this news bulletin from Rio yesterday:

Thanks to the kindness of DJ Sany Pitbull I was able to take a pre-look at the exhibition “Funk-Se” (”Funk You”). “Funk-Se” includes a series of events focusing on fourty years of Funk Culture in Rio de Janeiro. The exihibition is taking place in “OI Future Nave”, a school and cultural space in Tijuca, in the zona norte of Rio. The hallways of the places are decorated with flyers of Bailes from the 1970ies.
On display amongst other are excerpts from the movie Favela on Blast, a how -to –play- the MPC video featuring DJ Cabide and photographs by Dani Dacorso who did the covers of Daniel Haaksman´s compilation “Rio Baile Funk More Favela Booty Beats” amongst others. While I was checking out DaCorso´s work, a group of 12 year old school girls stormed the not yet open exhibition and started a lively discussion about the tits of Mulher Melancia, a well known funk artist displayed in the exhibition.

Funk-Se opens on the 7th of July and closes on the Saturday the 11th with a Funk Battle in Lapa. For all those who won´t make it to Rio in the next few days, the exihibition is very well documented online and most of the works can be seen online as well.

More infos on the exhibition here: Funk-Se

Okay, I promise this is the last post I will do on MJ, but I just wanted you all to hear this. My homie Dj Whatever let me know about this one. This mix is called “Michael Jackson – The Soulful Years” done by Jaycee, who happens to be Ludacris’s tour dj as well as a radio host on V-103 Atlanta. It’s not a tribute mix actually, because this mix was done in 2006. I like it for Jaycee’s selection, his skills on the turntables and the whole flow of the tape. Recommended!

When in Rio last week I finally found a nice office space for the new Man Recordings Rio office, located in the neighbourhood São Conrado. Thanks to recent amazing sales of our music both digital and on vinyl (+300 % despite the financial crisis) we are now able to open a Southern American office. Built in the 1950s by Oscar Niemeyer on a solid rock, it has a splendid view to the sea. The house is surrounded by jungle and also has a nice pool, which makes it a perfect place for social events, i.e. record release parties. We´ll keep you posted on upcoming dates. Err, just kidding!!