Zuzuka Poderosa (mc / dj /dope homegirl) drops Brazilian bred, Brooklyn based swagger like no other. A stylistic blend of Funk Carioca and NYC rumble add a breath of fresh air to today’s international music scene. She’s hard to miss with her unapologetic sultry Portuguese lyrics. This, coupled with booty bumping basslines, she packs New York nightclubs like sardines.
Zuzuka turns the BARBARY into a wild jungle on THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12th. Doors at 10pm. Free Entry.
McJawn: How did you first get into MCing and rocking the mic?
Zuzuka: I was a DJ before I got to the mic and all my life I’ve been interested in music. I have a Brazilian background, where we thrive on music. Then when was older i moved to the West Indies for a bit, then New York, which led me to love Drum’n'Bass music. Satellite & Breakbeat Science were like my second homes. I’ve spent so much time and money there over the years. Later in 2003 I met my good old friend J. Stones from Tropicalia in Furs Records. There I started my rare collection of Brazilian records. Joel & I started to throw parties in N.Y, the SambaFunkSoulBeat . Around 2005-2006 I met w/ the crew from Nossa that were also doing the Brazilian Favela/Clash parties in the city, we became friends and soon enough I went to the studio where they were recording and I quickly wrote ” Ai Voce Gosta” and got on the mic. Then boom!! All the DJ’s in NY had the song in their set, and I couldn’t believe they were really digging it. “Ai Voce Gosta” was, and still is such a hit. Kassiano produced it and Gandja Monteiro directed the video.
McJawn: How would you describe a typical baile funk in the favelas of Rio?
Zuzuka: Baile funk means a lot for the communities, it’s all about the communities you know. In every Favela there are huge Baile funk Balls. This is where residents go out to have fun. You don’t usually see a kid from the favela going to zona sul club and paying 100 reais to get in. It would be impossible. At those Baile Funk parties in the favelas, that’s where you will find the most amazing DJ’s and MC’s. You will also find gigantic speaker systems, fireworks, amazing dancers, and battles… it’s amazing!
But Baile has been looked down in society, since there’s lots of racism and lack of freedom of expression. Talking about drugs, sex, or violence disturbs the masses, especially the upper class. I have some friends that have been arrested because they were talking about smoking weed in their song and talking about sexual acts, so they got arrested for soliciting drugs and pornography. I mean, is that really necessary?
However, Baile Funk has become main stream, and all the kids from zona sul, or any other upper class neighborhood are listening to baile funk and I’m sure their parents are not so fond of it. It’s really breaking the barrier and those zona sul kids are going up in the hills to go to Baile Funk parties every weekend more and more. Just like Samba became a culture, I think Baile funk will become its own. Baile Funk just needs to have more freedom of expression. I just don’t get it. In Brasil, you can turn the TV on and all you see is ass, ass and more ass and that’s soliciting sex too, but the TV says it’s legal and it’s OK. Meanwhile Baile Funk culture is looked down upon for mere words.
McJawn: Baile Funk received a lot of exposure to places around the world as well as even main stream clubs in the past 5 years or so, do you see the funk carioca moving forward in north America and around the world?Zuzuka: Yeah it’s definitely been a huge movement, especially in Europe. In the U.S not as much, but I hope I can contribute to make Baile Funk big here in the U.S too. Outside of Brasil, Baile funk has earned respect from many other countries, and has become a phenomenon. Basically you take very little, put it on a MPC and create something entirely new. A pure form of ghetto music. This culture has changed the way that people view remixing and performing live electronic music.
McJawn: Working on any projects now? Any tours/albums we can look out for?
Zuzuka: We’re working to bring the monthly party that we throw every second friday at Le Poisson Rouge to Brazil in February. BOOmCha showcases singer’s, MC’s, producers, DJ’s from AfroBass, Kuduro, Baile Funk, Dancehall and many other genres. It’s the World Bass Movement Tour.
I haven’t put any album out yet, but by next year I will definitely surprise you all.
Meanwhile you can check my myspace for all my new music www.myspace.com/zuzukapoderosa
McJawn: You play a show in Philly next week! Philly is a dope place to bring new sounds, will this be your first show in Philadelphia?
Zuzuka: It is my first time playing in Philly and I’m super excited!! I know people in Philly always have had great taste in music. I remember back in the day we would drive there just to go to a dope drum’n'bass party on Thursdays. I will be playing The Barbary’s Double Dutch party on Thursday, November 12th alongside WOOLES DJ from Apavoramento Sound System who’s here from Brasil. I hope all the Philly Funkeiros come out en masse because this Amazon Warrior Queen is going to make this club wild like the jungle.
AMAZON JUNGLE. BARBARY. FACEPAINT. NOVEMBER 12th.
Photo Courtesy of Sarah Boyle.
ZUZUKA PODEROSA brings Baile Funk and the Jungle to Philly’s Barbary >>>McJawn Exclusive Interview
Zuzuka Poderosa (mc / dj /dope homegirl) drops Brazilian bred, Brooklyn based swagger like no other. A stylistic blend of Funk Carioca and NYC rumble add a breath of fresh air to today’s international music scene. She’s hard to miss with her unapologetic sultry Portuguese lyrics. This, coupled with booty bumping basslines, she packs New York nightclubs like sardines.
Zuzuka turns the BARBARY into a wild jungle on THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12th. Doors at 10pm. Free Entry.
McJawn: How did you first get into MCing and rocking the mic?
Zuzuka: I was a DJ before I got to the mic and all my life I’ve been interested in music. I have a Brazilian background, where we thrive on music. Then when was older i moved to the West Indies for a bit, then New York, which led me to love Drum’n'Bass music. Satellite & Breakbeat Science were like my second homes. I’ve spent so much time and money there over the years. Later in 2003 I met my good old friend J. Stones from Tropicalia in Furs Records. There I started my rare collection of Brazilian records. Joel & I started to throw parties in N.Y, the SambaFunkSoulBeat . Around 2005-2006 I met w/ the crew from Nossa that were also doing the Brazilian Favela/Clash parties in the city, we became friends and soon enough I went to the studio where they were recording and I quickly wrote ” Ai Voce Gosta” and got on the mic. Then boom!! All the DJ’s in NY had the song in their set, and I couldn’t believe they were really digging it. “Ai Voce Gosta” was, and still is such a hit. Kassiano produced it and Gandja Monteiro directed the video.
McJawn: How would you describe a typical baile funk in the favelas of Rio?
Zuzuka: Baile funk means a lot for the communities, it’s all about the communities you know. In every Favela there are huge Baile funk Balls. This is where residents go out to have fun. You don’t usually see a kid from the favela going to zona sul club and paying 100 reais to get in. It would be impossible. At those Baile Funk parties in the favelas, that’s where you will find the most amazing DJ’s and MC’s. You will also find gigantic speaker systems, fireworks, amazing dancers, and battles… it’s amazing!
But Baile has been looked down in society, since there’s lots of racism and lack of freedom of expression. Talking about drugs, sex, or violence disturbs the masses, especially the upper class. I have some friends that have been arrested because they were talking about smoking weed in their song and talking about sexual acts, so they got arrested for soliciting drugs and pornography. I mean, is that really necessary?
However, Baile Funk has become main stream, and all the kids from zona sul, or any other upper class neighborhood are listening to baile funk and I’m sure their parents are not so fond of it. It’s really breaking the barrier and those zona sul kids are going up in the hills to go to Baile Funk parties every weekend more and more. Just like Samba became a culture, I think Baile funk will become its own. Baile Funk just needs to have more freedom of expression. I just don’t get it. In Brasil, you can turn the TV on and all you see is ass, ass and more ass and that’s soliciting sex too, but the TV says it’s legal and it’s OK. Meanwhile Baile Funk culture is looked down upon for mere words.
McJawn: Baile Funk received a lot of exposure to places around the world as well as even main stream clubs in the past 5 years or so, do you see the funk carioca moving forward in north America and around the world?Zuzuka: Yeah it’s definitely been a huge movement, especially in Europe. In the U.S not as much, but I hope I can contribute to make Baile Funk big here in the U.S too. Outside of Brasil, Baile funk has earned respect from many other countries, and has become a phenomenon. Basically you take very little, put it on a MPC and create something entirely new. A pure form of ghetto music. This culture has changed the way that people view remixing and performing live electronic music.
McJawn: Working on any projects now? Any tours/albums we can look out for?
Zuzuka: We’re working to bring the monthly party that we throw every second friday at Le Poisson Rouge to Brazil in February. BOOmCha showcases singer’s, MC’s, producers, DJ’s from AfroBass, Kuduro, Baile Funk, Dancehall and many other genres. It’s the World Bass Movement Tour.
I haven’t put any album out yet, but by next year I will definitely surprise you all.
Meanwhile you can check my myspace for all my new music www.myspace.com/zuzukapoderosa
McJawn: You play a show in Philly next week! Philly is a dope place to bring new sounds, will this be your first show in Philadelphia?
Zuzuka: It is my first time playing in Philly and I’m super excited!! I know people in Philly always have had great taste in music. I remember back in the day we would drive there just to go to a dope drum’n'bass party on Thursdays. I will be playing The Barbary’s Double Dutch party on Thursday, November 12th alongside WOOLES DJ from Apavoramento Sound System who’s here from Brasil. I hope all the Philly Funkeiros come out en masse because this Amazon Warrior Queen is going to make this club wild like the jungle.
AMAZON JUNGLE. BARBARY. FACEPAINT. NOVEMBER 12th.
Photo Courtesy of Sarah Boyle.