Panoramic view of the anonymous favela composers from the Rio infamous favelas, whose songs were during several years curated by Bezerra da Silva, himself a legendary composer and father of gantsta samba.

Years before American gangsta rap hit the headlines, Bezerra's music conveyed a unique style with its explicit, in-your-face attitude with ironic undertones and social denunciation and of irony defending the necessity to dodge and skive the laws which are made to protect the rich.

This team is composed by young pagodeiros, from the thriving favelas high up on the hills of Rio de Janeiro, the lowlands surrounding the city. Known as "Popular P", "Adelzonilton", "Walmir da Purificação", "Roxinho", 1000tinho, these are the true poets of the hills, in and out of prison, subjected to torture, scratching an existence as electricians, mechanics, fireman, people coping daily with violence and tragedy, and for this very reason, are the most faithful register of their social reality.

Duration: 52' and 70'
Directors: Marcia Derraike and Simplicio Neto

Click here to listen to Defunto Caguete

Inspiration

Known as "Popular P", "Adelzonilton", "Walmir da Purificação", "Roxinho", 1000tinho, Bezerra's team are the true poets of the hills, in and out of prison, subjected to torture, scratching an existence as electricians, mechanics, fireman, people coping daily with violence and tragedy, and for this very reason, the idiosyncratic reality of 'malandragem" (gangsta cool), of law evasion for survival, which inspires them to write sambas that are contagious and the most faithful register of their social reality