Funk Carioca - Criticism

Criticism

In Brazil, Funk Carioca lyrics are often criticized due to their violent and sexually explicit, as well as misogynistic content - the degradation of women as objects for sex is a recurring theme in funk Carioca. Girls are called "cachorras" (dogs) - meaning bitches - and "popozudas" - large asses, and many songs revolve around casual and degrading sex practices with them. "Novinhas" (young/underaged girls) as sexual objects are also a frequent theme in funk songs. Some of these songs, however, are ironically sung by women.

The extreme banalization of sex and the incitement of promiscuity is viewed as a negative aspect of the funk culture. Besides the moral considerations, in favelas, where sanitary conditions are poor and sex education low, this might lead to public health and social issues. In such communities definitive contraceptive methods are hardly available and due to lack of education and awareness family planning is close to nonexistent. This environment results in unwanted pregnancies, population overgrowth, and eventually the growth of the communities (favelização).

The glamorization of criminality in the favelas is also frequently viewed as another negative consequence of funk carioca. Some funk songs, belonging to a style known as "proibidão" ("the forbidden"), have very violent lyrics and are sometimes composed by drug-dealing gangs. Its themes include praising the murders of rival gang members and cops, intimidating opposers, claiming power over the favelas, robbery, drug use and the illicit life of drug dealers in general. Authorities view some of these lyrics as "recruiting" people to organized crime and inciting violence, and playing some of this songs is thus considered crime.

Due to the lack of regulation and the locations where they usually take place, "bailes funk" are also very crime prone environments. They are popular hot spots for drug trade and consumption, dealers display power frequenting the parties heavily armed, and even murder rates are high.

More popular funk artists usually compose two different sets of similar lyrics for their songs: one gentler, more "appropriate" version, and another with a harsher, cruder set of lyrics. The first version is the one broadcast by local radio stations; the second is played in dance halls, parties, and in public by sound cars. Recurrent lyric topics in Funk Carioca are explicit sexual positions, the funk party, the police force, and the life of slum dwellers in the favelas. Another large part of the lyrics is the use of the world around them - mainly the poverty that has enveloped the area. This is usually denounced in the lyrics and the hope for a better life is carried through many of their messages.

However, while they do talk about violence and crime, the lyrics of Funk Carioca songs do not advocate sexual violence. Additionally, while funk carioca frequently makes references to sexuality, it often employs euphemisms instead of bold statements.

With its recent success in Europe, it is also criticized that Brazil is exporting music that is much inferior compared to the Bossa Nova and the Brazilian rock that was made famous in the 1950s. It has been rumored that most of the funk projects in favelas are also financially backed by drug lords, thereby some lyrics deal much with challenging the police and law.

Since mid 2007,Funk Carioca started to change drastically. The sound moved towards new "mouth" beats,and the use of drum machines became increasingly rare. Use of new technology (Software and Hardware) stalled,which drastically decreased the production quality. Along with that,creativity also started to fall,causing a "dirtier" approach in the lyrics. In 2010/2011,there was a huge sex wave of lyrics. as from 2012,mostly themes are based in robberies and crime stories,ostentation of clothing brands,cars,alcohol beverages,weapons,and the discrimination and banalization of woman,especially teenagers. Social issues and love lyrics,which were dominant until the late 90s/early 2000s,almost disappeared.

Funk also turned mainstream,something which exposed even more heavily the sound. along with these changes there was the birth of a new pseudo-subculture,"funkeiros" are those which follow a heavy ritual,listening to funk almost every time,intensely frequenting "Bailes",along with prostitution clubs. They created many unique slangs,some not talked by common people. many individuals of these groups are also involved with low income crime,such as theft or armed robberies,and are hated by diverse classes of the population,other subcultures and police. some criticize them for having no etiquette or manners,and for visible ignorance.