Written July 15th, 2009
My search for prominent Brazilian artists to consider for the Beat the World soundtrack brought me to 2 more noteworthy groups. In Sao Paulo I met CIA, producer for the renown Racionias MC’s and, last night in Rio, Director Rob Adetuyi and I met with the key members of Afro-Reggae.
The Racionias MC’s have been noted for their conscious music and philanthropic activities, since their early years on Zimbabwe records. From the very beginning of their careers they’ve been active in their home state of Sao Paulo, performing benefit shows in juvenile detention centers, health clinics, youth sports programs, and samba schools.Racionias MC’s have also participated in the Ministry of Education’s ARAPensado e Educação (loosely translated as “The Rap Thinking and Education”) program, and the National Theatre’s Música Negra em Ação (Black Music in Action) project. During a 1994 show they were arrested for inciting violence, so they left Zimbabwe records and start their own label, Cosa Nostra. Sobrevivendo no Inferno (Surviving in Hell) sold 500,000 copies, and won them awards for Best Rap Group and Audience’s Choice at the 1998MTV Brasil Video Music Awards.
AfroReggae is a Brazilian cultural group from Rio de Janeiro. Forged out of the police massacre of 21 people in their local community in 1993, they have gone on to establish an international profile for their pioneering work in taking young people out of the drug/gang culture of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. The AfroReggae band was formed from this movement, as oppose to the more typical model of a band creating a social organization. The brand that helps to fund their activity, Grupo Cultural AfroReggae, now runs over 70 projects across a range of disciplines including music, dance & theatre, circus, and radio & new media with over 3,000 young people in Rio de Janeiro. They also provide social support mechanisms for young people, guiding many into employment in Rio’s mainstream.AfroReggae balances the impact of high-quality performance with the importance of arts as a social process.
It is truly inspiring to meet such talented artists who are not only dedicated to creating great music but also committed to using the music and their prominence to transform the lives and opportunities of young people in need.
