Translated roughly Funk proibidão means "strongly prohibited” and is a grittey sub-genre of funk carioca, which emerged from Rio's favelas in the early '90s. Taking its cues from US funk and hip-hop and European techno, then fizzing it up with Brazilian sounds. The sound has long been a big part of Afro-Brazilian expression and resistance and Funk Proibidão was given it’s name 'strongly prohibited' by the police who fearful of it’s power started banning Funk Proibidão from the airwaves and making it near impossible for artists to hold Fluxos [events] by introducing a huge list of laws that imposed heavy fees on permits/security/closing times/etc.
Although a lot of Funk Proibidão talks about sex, drugs, violence and gangs it also addresses issues of corruption, the dissatisfaction of poor people and gives an honest look into the daily reality of life in the favelas.
