Baile Funk, Baile

Dance Samba and Forró? Check. Listen to Bossa Nova? Check. Great, the next stop on your music tour of Rio has to be one of the Marvellous City’s many Funky Parties (also known as “Baile Funk”), an all night dance party that explodes throughout Rio’s Favelas giving tourists and locals alike the chance to how Brazilians really get down.

Originally inspired by the sounds of Miami Bass, Baile Funk popularized in Rio in the 1980′s and became a mainstream phenomenon in Brazil by the mid 90′s.  The songs, known for their politically charged topics, focus on social injustice, racism, poverty, sex and human dignity but the bottom line is once inside one of these gigantic parties, all rational thought is secondary to the heavy beats that will undoubtedly make you dance until the sun rises over Jesus the Redeemer.

The Favela Funk parties are heavily secured but please remember to pay attention and to only enter the parties with a respected tourism operator.

Check out Favela Tour for more info.  And if you want to visit the favelas but not stay in them, be sure to check out Oasis Rio for great apartments in the best parts of the city.