Rock in Rio confirmed this Thursday (27) that it will have a day dedicated to rap on the Sunset stage for the first time in the festival’s history. Racionais MC’s will be the attraction that closes the space’s schedule on September 3 this year.
“It’s a right conquered, it’s a recognition of the greatness and representativeness of this movement within our country”, says Mano Brown, leader of Racionais, by telephone to Lineup. The artist returns to Rock in Rio after performing, also on the Sunset stage, alongside Bootsy Collins in 2019.
On the same day, São Paulo native Criolo welcomes Cape Verdean singer Mayra Andrade, whose album “Lovely Difficult” has collaborations with great names in Brazilian music such as Chico Buarque and Caetano Veloso.
“Rock in Rio, a long time ago, became a festival in Brazil”, says Criolo about the diversity of the event, which had its first edition in 1985. The rapper, in 2017, took the stage with Alcione, Martinho da Vila and Jorge Aragão for a samba day. “Of course he [Rock in Rio] It has this way, this roots and its DNA that started in Rio de Janeiro, but it has been becoming plural for a long time and I feel that the reception is very great.”
Carioca Xamã, featured at Espaço Favela, in 2019, performs an unprecedented show in the company of Brô MC’s, an indigenous rap group.
“It was the best show of my life so far. I always say that everywhere I go, interviews, with my friends, in the circles of friends of musicians”, says excited Xamã, owner of the hit “Malvadão 3”, which arrived to the first place among Spotify’s most listened songs in Brazil at the end of 2021.
Formed by Kelvin Mbarete, Bruno Veron, Charlie Peixoto and Clemerson Batista, the quartet Brô MC’s from Mato Grosso do Sul will bring many elements of indigenous culture to the stage: “We always use painting, headdress, necklaces, which are from our culture , and most important of all: our language”, says Kelvin. “Also, information that we take with our songs is our reality. Often, large centers do not know about this indigenous culture, which is so precious.”
To complete the lineup, Rio de Janeiro DJ and producer Papatinho and rapper L7nnon (read Lennon) invite MC Hariel and MC Carol to the presentation.
“I’ve been in hip hop for over ten years and if they told me back there that one day Rock In Rio would have a day just for rap, I wouldn’t believe it”, says Papatinho. “Rap and funk have evolved a lot in terms of quality and technology, and it was only a matter of time before they conquered all spaces in the country.”
L7nnon, bred from Realengo, in the suburbs of Rio, observes the growth of the genre in the country and says he wants to send good messages to the public. “I know I have the privilege of being heard by a lot of people, so I have to use this platform of mine to pass on the right vision and serve as an inspiration to millions of young people who went through the same situations as me in Brazil.””
Postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival, which would take place in 2021, had to be rescheduled for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th of September 2022, at the Olympic Park, where it takes place. the City of Rock was set up.
The artistic director of the Sunset stage, Zé Ricardo, says that the space follows the movements of the music. and proposes dialogues about humanity using music as a centerpiece. With rap, with its trajectory of resistance, the festival highlights important social agendas and opens space for relevant conversations.
“Rap is the voice of the periphery. It represents people on the periphery in the culture through the faithful portrayal it makes of the reality of thousands of Brazilians”, he says. “The rap narrative goes far beyond beats and rhymes. It provokes a reflection on what we are as a society.”
“Little by little, and already happening, the audience that listens to hip-hop, that listens to this aspect of black music, will occupy its space in the big festivals as rap will also occupy space”, says Mano Brown.
About the importance of musical style, Shaman adds: “I think that art teaches a lot. It brings information to people who have not had the opportunity to discern. I was educated and I educate my audience.”
Vaccination passport
At the beginning of the year, Mano Brown said on his social media that the public could only see his shows and Racionais if they presented proof of vaccination against Covid-19. “It’s mandatory, right? And we’re just following the protocol. Following the protocol of preserving the public”, reaffirms the artist.
After the rapper’s statement, journalist Silvio Navarro wrote on Twitter: “Mano Brown requires vaccination certificate to enter his shows. Criminal record certificates are not required”.
Criticized, he deleted the text and justified: “It has absolutely nothing to do with racism or musical style – and yes, lyrics about violence and crime. As the message was not clear and many people were offended, I apologize.”
“As for the reaction of people who were against and associated rap with crime, with an audience of delinquents, every youth movement experiences that kind of prejudice,” says Brown. “And rap, because it’s a movement of black culture, much more, right? So it’s nothing new for us, for those of our culture it’s nothing new to be confused. We live with it, we sing it. Rap that’s it, he says that. Got it?”
Brown says that if there can be anything positive about this kind of statement, it’s that there is identification of the person who thinks that way. “And if there’s a good side to it, it’s knowing where the enemies are, let’s say it like this. It’s no longer invisible to be notorious. They’ve always existed, people with that thought… And that feeds our will, our wanting. ‘ Moro’?”
In interviews, Roberto Medina says he is in favor of mandatory vaccination, but the festival still does not have a defined guideline on the subject, but he says that it will follow the health rules in force.
Mais Rock in Rio
So far, Rock in Rio has released names from the World stage, such as Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Megadeth and Sepultura + Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira, which will perform on the 2nd; Post Malone, Marshmello, Jason Derulo and Alok perform on the 3rd; Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato and Iza, on the 4th; Guns N’ Roses and Måneskin are scheduled for the 8th; Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Billy Idol and Capital Inicial play on the 9th; Coldplay, Camilla Cabello, Bastille and Djavan on the 10th; and Dua Lipa and Ivete Sangalo close the event on the 11th.
On the Sunset stage, the confirmed attractions are Joss Stone, Corinne Bailey Rae, Gloria Groove and Duda Beat with shows scheduled on September 8th; Avril Lavigne is scheduled for the 9th; CeeLo Green pays tribute to James Brown on September 10th, while Ludmilla and Macy Gray perform on September 11th.
The 200,000 tickets that went on sale on September 21 are sold out. For R$545, Rock in Rio allows fans to buy without knowing the entire program and then choose the festival days they want to go. Selection can be made until April 1st, the month in which the next sales round begins.
Rock in Rio 2022 Schedule
September 2nd
World
Iron Maiden
Dream Theater
Megadeth
Sepultura + Brazilian Symphony Orchestra
Sunset
No attraction announced
september 3
World
Post Malone
Marshmello
Jason Derulo
Alok
Sunset
Racionais MC’s
Criolo and Mayra Andrade
Shaman and Brô MC’s
Papatinho and L7nnon invite MC Hariel and MC Carol
september 4th
World
Justin Bieber
Demi Lovato
Behind
Sunset
No attraction announced
september 8
World
Guns N’ Roses
Moonlight
Sunset
Joss Stone
Corinne Bailey Rae
Gloria Groove
Duda Beat
September 9
World
Green Day
Fall Out Boy
Billy Idol
Initial Capital
Sunset
April Lavigne
September 10th
World
Coldplay
Bastille
Camila Hair
djavan
Sunset
CeeLo Green
September 11th
World
Dua Lipa
Ivete Sangalo
Sunset
Ludmilla
Macy Gray
ROCK IN RIO 2022
When: September 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11
Where: Olympic Park (Av. Embaixador Abelardo Bueno, 3401, Barra da Tijuca, West Zone, Rio de Janeiro)
How many: R$ 545 (Rock in Rio Card, already sold out); new sale in april
More information: rockinrio.com